single drive ~15-20 m2, double ~30-40 m2
Advanced options
Rates assume full job: excavation, sub-base, edging, surface: which is why the digger day costs the same whether you top it with gravel or resin. The planning rule that catches people: any NEW hard surface over 5 m2 between house and highway needs permeable surfacing (or drainage to a soakaway), or planning permission. Gravel and permeable block/resin sail through: sealed tarmac and concrete need the drainage answer.
What The Driveway Cost Calculator Works Out
- Estimated cost: area x the installed rate per square metre for the surface. Gravel runs GBP 35 to GBP 55 per m2, tarmac GBP 60 to GBP 80, pattern-imprinted concrete GBP 80 to GBP 100, block paving GBP 90 to GBP 120 and resin-bound GBP 110 to GBP 150, so a 30 m2 double drive costs about GBP 1,400 gravelled or GBP 4,000 resin-bound. The range shown is 80% to 125% of the estimate.
- What the price includes: excavation to 200 mm to 250 mm, a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, edge restraints and the surface. The digger, wagons and most of the labour cost the same whatever goes on top, which is why the gap between gravel and resin is narrower than showroom instincts expect.
- The rules bit: since 2008 any new hard surface over 5 m2 between house and highway must be permeable or drain within the property, or it needs planning permission. A dropped kerb is a separate council application done by approved contractors.
- Quoted rate and region (advanced): type in the per-m2 figure from your quotes to replace the default, and apply a regional multiplier: London and the South East typically run 20% above the national average, the North and Scotland about 10% below.
- Dropped kerb (advanced): GBP 1,500 to GBP 3,000 depending on the council, the number of kerb stones and whether services need protecting. Without one, driving over the pavement is an offence and damage to the footway is yours to pay for.
- Drainage and other extras (advanced): a soakaway or ACO channel drain for sealed tarmac or concrete usually costs GBP 300 to GBP 800; breaking out and removing an old drive, retaining walls, gates and lighting are the common extras not in a per-m2 rate.
- All-in project cost and cost per m2 (advanced): the regional surface cost plus kerb, drainage and extras, and the same figure divided by the area so quotes with and without extras can be compared like for like.
- Cost per year of life (advanced): the all-in cost plus annual upkeep over the expected life, divided by the years. Gravel needs a GBP 40 or so top-up most years and lasts 15 years before relaying; block paving lasts 25 with weeding and occasional re-sanding; resin wants re-sealing every few years.
- Net of house value uplift (advanced): the project cost less what you expect it to add to the house. A tidy drive rarely returns its full cost, but in permit-parking streets the space itself can add 5% to 10%, which is worth more than any surface on it.
- Surface comparison table (advanced): all five surfaces priced for your area, region and extras, with typical life, upkeep and the resulting cost per year, so the cheapest surface up front can be checked against the cheapest to own.