How much does a new driveway cost per square metre?

MyJobQuote's 2026 guide gives installed ranges of £40 to £100 for gravel, £60 to £90 for tarmac, £70 to £120 for resin, £85 to £130 for concrete and £115 to £175 for block paving. The FMB gives lower starting rates.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

MyJobQuote gives about £2,000 and the FMB says from £2,300. It is usually handled by the council or an approved contractor and is often not in a builder's quote.

What should a driveway quote show?

The excavation and waste removal, sub-base, edging, drainage or permeable build-up, the surface itself and any kerb or council work, listed separately.

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How much does a new driveway cost? Block paving vs resin vs tarmac

By the GlowUpp team · 27 October 2026

A cracked, weedy driveway next to a new block-paved driveway

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Driveway prices depend on the material, the size and the groundwork. Here is what two published UK guides say, including the extras that catch people out.

Installed cost per square metre

MyJobQuote's 2026 driveway guide (updated 6 October 2026, based on real homeowner quotes) gives these installed ranges:

Gravel: £40 to £100 per m²
Tarmac: £60 to £90 per m²
Resin: £70 to £120 per m²
Concrete: £85 to £130 per m²
Block paving: £115 to £175 per m²

The Federation of Master Builders' driveway guide (21 May 2026) gives much lower starting rates: from about £20 per m² for gravel, £25 for block paving and tarmac and £30 for resin, with a rough guide of 'from £33 per m²' and totals 'from £2,000'. Treat those as starting prices, not typical ones.

Total for a typical drive

MyJobQuote's installed totals for a one-car drive (30 m²) are roughly: gravel £1,000 to £2,500, resin £1,200 to £2,000, tarmac £1,300 to £3,200, block paving £1,200 to £4,000 and concrete £2,500 to £4,000. For a 60 m² drive for two or three cars: gravel £2,100 to £4,800, resin £2,500 to £5,000, tarmac £2,500 to £5,000, block paving £2,500 to £8,000 and concrete £5,500 to £8,000. The guide itself notes that its totals and per-square-metre figures do not match exactly, which shows how much depends on the site.

Groundwork and extras

Site preparation and grading: £750 to £1,500 (MyJobQuote).
Removing an existing drive: £500 to £2,000.
Soakaway drainage: about £850.
Decorative edging: £15 to £40 per linear metre.
A dropped kerb: about £2,000 (MyJobQuote) or from £2,300 (FMB), usually arranged through the council or an approved contractor.

Why the base matters

Most failures come from a poor base, so make sure each quote shows the excavation, sub-base, edging, drainage and surface separately. The FMB says a comparable quote should list all of these.

Rules to check

Paving over a front garden can need planning permission if the surface does not drain properly. See our guide to choosing a driveway surface and check with your council.

See the finish

Upload a photo of your drive to GlowUpp to see AI-generated ideas for materials and layout before you ask for quotes. These figures come from published UK cost guides, several of them from trade and quote-comparison sites, so treat them as planning benchmarks, not quotes. Prices vary by region, property, specification and time, and GlowUpp does not set or guarantee them. Always get itemised written quotes. Always ask a qualified professional before moving gas, electrics or plumbing, or changing anything structural, and check your lease or local rules if you rent or live in a conservation area.

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Where these figures come from

Prices checked October 2026. Check the guides for their latest figures.

MyJobQuote: New driveway cost guide · Last updated 6 October 2026; based on real homeowner quotes.
Federation of Master Builders: Costs for a new driveway · Dated 21 May 2026; starting rates are lower than MyJobQuote's.

Common questions

How much does a new driveway cost per square metre?: MyJobQuote's 2026 guide gives installed ranges of £40 to £100 for gravel, £60 to £90 for tarmac, £70 to £120 for resin, £85 to £130 for concrete and £115 to £175 for block paving. The FMB gives lower starting rates.
How much does a dropped kerb cost?: MyJobQuote gives about £2,000 and the FMB says from £2,300. It is usually handled by the council or an approved contractor and is often not in a builder's quote.
What should a driveway quote show?: The excavation and waste removal, sub-base, edging, drainage or permeable build-up, the surface itself and any kerb or council work, listed separately.