How Much Does a Driveway Cost

How Much Does a Driveway Cost?

According to InstantCost.co.uk's 2026 UK driveway pricing data, a new driveway costs between £55 and £160 per square metre supplied and fitted, which for a typical double driveway of around 36m² works out to roughly £1,980 at the cheapest end and £5,760 at the most expensive. Material choice is the single biggest lever on that figure, and it's worth understanding that the cheapest option upfront isn't automatically the cheapest over time once lifespan and drainage requirements are factored in.

Cost by Material

Concrete is genuinely interesting in this table, at £85 per m² it's the third cheapest material but offers 25 to 30 years of life, the joint-longest alongside Indian sandstone, which makes it arguably the strongest value proposition per year of service if appearance isn't your primary concern. Gravel is cheapest upfront at £55 per m² but has the shortest lifespan at 10 to 15 years, meaning you may well replace it twice within the life of a concrete or block paved driveway.

Cost by Driveway Size

These figures apply InstantCost's confirmed per-m² rates across their standard size presets. For a mid-range choice, a block paved double driveway at £110 per m² comes to roughly £3,960, and a resin bound one at £130 per m² to roughly £4,700.

What's Actually Included

InstantCost's pricing includes 20% VAT, excavation, sub-base preparation, and removal of the existing surface, which genuinely matters when comparing against quotes elsewhere. A meaningful share of any driveway's cost sits in the groundwork rather than the visible surface, on their example 36m² double driveway, groundwork and excavation accounted for £2,430 against £2,178 in materials. A quote that looks unusually cheap per m² is worth interrogating on exactly this point, since skipping or shortcutting excavation and sub-base is where the difference usually hides.

The Planning Permission Factor That Changes the Maths

Since 2008, UK regulations require permeable surfaces, or drainage to a permeable area, for any new driveway over 5m² fronting the public highway. Gravel, block paving, and resin bound are all permeable and therefore need no planning permission. Tarmac, concrete, and Indian sandstone are not permeable, and need either drainage installed or full planning consent from your local council.

This changes real-world comparisons more than the headline rates suggest. InstantCost prices a drainage or soakaway installation as an £850 optional extra, so on a 36m² double driveway, tarmac at £75 per m² comes to £2,700 plus £850 drainage, totalling £3,550, against block paving's £3,960 with no drainage needed. The gap between a cheap impermeable option and a mid-priced permeable one narrows considerably once that requirement is properly accounted for.

Optional Extras Worth Budgeting For

An EV charger is worth mentioning specifically, since installing one at the same time as laying a new driveway avoids disturbing a finished surface later. That work must legally be carried out by a qualified electrician regardless of who's doing the driveway itself.

Installation Timelines

Most UK driveway installations take 2 to 5 days in total. Resin bound and tarmac are among the quicker options at roughly 1 to 2 days for the surfacing itself on an average double driveway, while block paving and Indian sandstone typically take 3 to 5 days given the labour involved in laying individual units. On InstantCost's example 36m² double driveway, estimated install time came to 2.9 days including all groundwork, which is a realistic figure for the full project rather than just the visible surfacing stage.

Choosing Between Materials

Choose gravel if budget is the primary constraint, you're comfortable with a surface that needs occasional topping up and raking, and you want to avoid planning permission entirely. It's also genuinely the most DIY-friendly of the six.

Choose tarmac for a neat, uniform finish at a low price point, accepting that you'll need drainage or planning consent as an impermeable surface.

Choose concrete if long-term value matters more than appearance. At £85 per m² with a 25 to 30 year lifespan, it's arguably the best cost-per-year on the list.

Choose block paving if you want a permeable surface with strong kerb appeal and a 20 to 30 year lifespan, and don't mind occasional weed maintenance between joints.

Choose resin bound for a modern, seamless finish with no weeds and no planning permission needed, accepting the higher upfront cost and possible UV fade over time.

Choose Indian sandstone if appearance is the priority and budget allows, since it's the most expensive per m² and impermeable, meaning drainage costs on top.

If you're leaning toward gravel specifically because of the price, it's worth knowing it's also the most realistic material to lay yourself, which changes the cost picture considerably again. Our related guide covers how to lay a gravel driveway properly, including the sub-base depth and membrane placement that determine whether a DIY gravel driveway lasts its full 10 to 15 years or develops ruts within the first one.

Common Mistakes and What to Do Instead

Mistake: comparing per-m² rates without checking what groundwork is included. Excavation and sub-base often account for more than the surface material itself. Confirm whether removal of the existing surface, excavation, and sub-base are all included before comparing two figures.

Mistake: ignoring the drainage requirement when pricing impermeable materials. Tarmac, concrete, and Indian sandstone all need drainage or planning consent above 5m² fronting a highway, typically an extra £850. Factor this in before concluding they're cheaper.

Mistake: choosing purely on upfront cost. Gravel at £55 per m² is cheapest but lasts 10 to 15 years. Concrete at £85 per m² lasts 25 to 30. Over twenty years the cheaper option may well cost more in total.

Mistake: not budgeting for edging. Edging or kerbing at £380 is genuinely functional rather than decorative on most surfaces, providing structural support that stops edges breaking down over time.

Mistake: leaving EV charger installation until after the driveway is finished. Installing at the same time avoids disturbing a new surface and is considerably less disruptive than retrofitting.

Mistake: not getting three quotes. Driveway pricing varies meaningfully between installers for the same specification, and this is a large enough project that comparing properly is worth the time.

What It Costs in the UK: Quick Reference

All figures based on InstantCost.co.uk's 2026 UK driveway pricing data, which includes VAT, excavation, sub-base preparation and removal of the existing surface. Always confirm with two to three local quotes before booking.

Getting a Fair Quote

Ask any installer for a written breakdown covering excavation depth, sub-base specification and thickness, whether removal and disposal of the existing surface is included, and whether any required drainage is priced in or extra. These are consistently where quotes differ despite looking similar on the headline figure. For permeable materials specifically, confirm the installer is genuinely installing it as a permeable system with an appropriate sub-base, since the planning permission exemption depends on it actually functioning that way rather than just using a nominally permeable surface material.

Staying Safe and Compliant

Check with your local authority before work starts if your driveway fronts a public highway, particularly if you're choosing an impermeable material, since requirements can vary between councils. Confirm any EV charger installation is being carried out by a qualified electrician and certified appropriately, this isn't something a driveway contractor can complete without the relevant electrical qualifications.

Planning permission rules and permeability requirements can be updated and vary by local authority, so always check current guidance with your council before committing to a material choice.

FAQ

How much does a new driveway cost in the UK? Between £55 and £160 per square metre supplied and fitted depending on material, so roughly £1,980 to £5,760 for a typical 36m² double driveway, according to 2026 UK pricing data.

What's the cheapest driveway material? Gravel at £55 per m², though it has the shortest lifespan at 10 to 15 years. Concrete at £85 per m² offers arguably better long-term value with a 25 to 30 year lifespan.

Which driveway materials don't need planning permission? Gravel, block paving, and resin bound are permeable and exempt. Tarmac, concrete, and Indian sandstone are impermeable and need either drainage installed or planning consent for driveways over 5m² fronting a public highway.

How long does a driveway take to install? Most UK installations take 2 to 5 days. Resin and tarmac are quicker at 1 to 2 days for surfacing, while block paving and Indian sandstone typically take 3 to 5 days.

Does the quoted price usually include groundwork? It should, but always confirm. Excavation and sub-base preparation often cost more than the surface material itself, and quotes that exclude them can look deceptively cheap.

Should I install an EV charger at the same time as a new driveway? Generally yes, at around £1,100 it's considerably less disruptive than retrofitting later, which means disturbing a finished surface. The electrical work must be done by a qualified electrician.