Concrete driveways are one of the most cost-effective and low-maintenance options for your home. A neat and tidy driveway adds kerb appeal, giving potential buyers and visitors a great first impression of your property. So how much will a concrete driveway cost? We’ll explain all in this guide.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
A concrete driveway of 50m2 (fitting 2 small to medium-sized cars) costs an average of £3,500. This price estimate includes all labour and materials as well as waste disposal for a standard square or rectangular driveway with good access.
It’s worth noting that this cost is for a flat concrete driveway. An imprinted concrete driveway will cost more – around £4,150.
The actual cost of your concrete driveway will depend on a variety of factors:
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Size: The bigger your driveway is, the more it will cost. However, you may save money per square metre on very large driveways
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Shape: Straight driveways are easier to lay than driveways that wind around your property, so expect to pay more if your driveway is a complicated shape
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Access: How easy your driveway is to access with equipment and machinery affects the cost
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Whether you have an existing driveway: It may cost more to remove the materials from an existing driveway than if you have a brand new space waiting to be excavated
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Condition of your space: If your driveway specialists will need to spend a lot of time removing rubble and debris or levelling the area, this will drive up the cost
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Where you live: Prices vary around the country. If you live in London or the south east of England, you’ll pay more than those in the north or in Scotland. Check our table of prices from driveway specialists around the country for a more accurate estimate for your area
The best thing to do to find out how much your concrete driveway will cost is to get free, no-obligation quotes.
Pros and cons of concrete driveways
It’s a good idea to consider both the pros and cons of concrete driveways before deciding whether it’s the driveway surface for you:
Pros
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Long lifespan: Concrete driveways are one of the most long-lasting types of driveway. It could last as long as 50 years
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Low-maintenance: All you need to do is sweep your driveway every now and again, and you can use a pressure washer to clean off stubborn stains
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Strong: Concrete is very strong, so will have no problem taking the weight of multiple cars
Cons
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Plain: A flat concrete driveway looks very plain, but you could choose a stamped design to make it look like block paving or cobbles
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Can stain: Oil, petrol or diesel spills can stain concrete driveways, and they are nearly impossible to remove
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May be expensive to repair: Although rare for concrete to crack or become damaged, repairs can cost a lot of money because most of the time you will have to have your driveway resurfaced. This could cost almost as much as the initial driveway installation
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
How thick your concrete driveway should be depends on the type of vehicle you’ll keep on it. If you’ll only drive standard passenger vehicles onto it, a thickness of 100mm is adequate. However, if you’ll keep a caravan or other heavy vehicle on it, it’s best to have a thickness of 130mm.
How do I calculate the concrete for a driveway?
If you’re using a driveway company to lay your concrete driveway, they should be able to handle calculating the concrete they need. However, if you’re buying the materials yourself to save money or you’re just curious, there’s a simple formula you can use to figure out how much concrete you need:
Concrete volume = width x length x depth
For example, if your driveway is 5m x 10m, and you need the standard 100mm depth, you would do the following calculation:
5m x 10m x 0.1m = 5m3
It’s a good idea to add 10% for wastage, making the amount of concrete you need for your driveway 5.5m3.
How much does it cost to remove a concrete driveway?
If your concrete driveway is looking tired and is beyond repair, or you’re thinking of upgrading to a block paved driveway or other material, you’ll need to have it removed.
It usually costs around £50 per m2 to remove a concrete driveway, so a 50m2 driveway would cost £2,500.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete or lay slabs for a driveway?
Whether it’s cheaper to pour concrete or lay slabs for your driveway depends on the type of slabs you choose.
You can pick up concrete slabs for less per m2 than poured concrete, but more durable, attractive ones may cost the same or even more. Plus, since slabs have joints, weeds can grow in the gaps, which will mean more maintenance for you.
Which is better: tarmac or concrete?
In our opinion, concrete driveways are better than tarmac driveways. Concrete lasts much longer than tarmac and needs less maintenance, as tarmac cracks more easily and can be damaged by sun exposure.
While concrete is generally more expensive than tarmac, it could last double the time, so while the initial outlay is higher the cost over its lifespan is less.
Is a concrete driveway worth the money?
A concrete driveway is worth the money if you’re looking for a long-lasting, low-maintenance driveway. While there are more attractive materials out there such as block paving, they won’t last as long and will require you to weed or patch repair much more often.
Read our other driveway cost guides to weigh up the pros and cons of each material to help you decide which one is best for you.
The best way to get an accurate price for a concrete driveway is to get quotes. Post a job on HaMuch now and we’ll match you with driveway specialists in your area.