By Emily Rivers
Last updated 19th July 2023

Guide to laying a new driveway in 2023

A new driveway can add between 5-10% to the value of your home, so if you’re considering moving it’s well worth the cost. There are lots of different materials you can choose for your new driveway, and that will determine how much it costs. But how much should you budget?

Your new driveway will cost anywhere between £2,400 and £9,500 for a medium-sized driveway of 60 square metres. The material you go for, the size of your driveway and whether you’ll need an existing driveway dug out are all factors to consider when budgeting for a new driveway. In this guide, we’ll take you through all the things you need to be aware of when it comes to how much a driveway costs, including what to discuss with the builder.

Benefits of a new driveway

There are lots of benefits of a new driveway. Whether you’re planning on moving soon or you’re going to stay put for a little longer, there are plenty of reasons to get a new driveway installed:

Increase kerb appeal

A beautifully-laid driveway looks stunning and gives visitors and prospective buyers a great first impression.

Lower insurance premiums

Having private off-road parking tends to bring your home insurance premiums down. Your car is less likely to get damaged, vandalised or stolen if it’s parked on a driveway away from the street.

Convenience

It’s so much more convenient to have your car parked outside your house on a driveway. Gone are the days when you’re running late for work and you’re desperately trying to remember where you parked the car on your street! 

New driveway cost

What is the cheapest option for a driveway?

Generally, asphalt (or tarmac) is the cheapest driveway material. Laying a driveway is very labour-intensive, so that’s where most of the cost lies. Tarmac driveways are the quickest to install, so are normally the cheapest. Expect to pay between £1200-£5500, depending on the size, for an asphalt driveway.

Driveway options and their costs

The cost of labour for your new driveway will depend on the type of material you choose, how long it takes and where you are in the country. Here are the supply costs of a new driveway so you can get an idea of how much money you need to put aside.

Driveway material

Cost per m2

Block paving

£30 - £50

Resin

£30 - £50

Gravel

£30 - £60

Tarmac

£40 - £65

Concrete

£50 - £100

Block paving driveway costs

Block paving is made up of decorative bricks, which means that you can choose from an array of patterns. You can go for something subtle or choose a design that makes your driveway stand out from your neighbours’! While it has a relatively low supply cost, there is a lot of skill involved and it takes one of the longest times to install, so it is one of the most expensive options.

Resin driveways

There are two different types of resin driveway: resin bound and resin bonded. Resin bound driveways are made up of aggregate (gravel) that is mixed with resin and then laid on the surface, while resin bonded driveways involve putting down a layer of resin and sprinkling aggregate over the top. Resin bound driveways are more hardy as the gravel is mixed in with the resin, while you’ll find that the aggregate in resin bonded driveways may become loose over time and need relaying.

Gravel driveway costs

Gravel driveways are made up of rocks, stones, clay and sand. It’s laid on top of a prepared surface and doesn’t take long to install, making it a cost-effective option. However, you’ll need to maintain a gravel driveway regularly as the gravel will displace easily and need replacing.

Tarmac driveways

Tarmac is the name given to a type of asphalt, which is made up of aggregate or crushed stone and tar. This type of driveway is quick to install and can be laid over existing driveways, which normally makes it the cheapest option for a driveway. However, they don’t last as long as other types of driveway; you should expect to have to replace it after around 20 years.

Concrete driveway costs

Concrete driveways are one of the most long-lasting options; they should last around 50 years. They’re perfect if you have heavy vehicles as they can withstand a lot of weight. If you choose a pattern imprinted driveway, you’ll need to maintain it every year with new sealant, so it’s worth considering how much time you have to carry out repairs. 

Additional new driveway costs

As well as the materials needed to install your new driveway, there are a number of other costs you might want to consider when you’re having a driveway installed.

Removal of an existing driveway

One of the most costly parts of having a new driveway laid can be the removal of an existing one. The driveway company will need to rip up the material and dispose of it in a skip - it could cost anywhere between £700 and £1750 for removal and disposal.

Groundwork costs

If you don’t have a driveway currently, you’ll need to make sure that the ground you want the driveway to be laid on is prepared properly. Groundworkers will excavate the soil and level out the ground, which can cost around £15 to £20 per square metre.

Weed membrane

Driveways can look scruffy very quickly if weeds are allowed to grow. To help prevent them from growing through, you’ll need a weed membrane laid before the driveway is installed. You should expect to spend around £30 to £50 per square metre.

Driveway gates

If you really want to finish off your driveway, you can get gates installed. This will usually be done by a separate company and it could set you back as much as £1600 if you choose electric gates. Metal gates are the most cost-effective option at around £400.

How long does it take to lay a new driveway?

How much your driveway costs will depend on how long it takes to install, which is usually determined by the size of the driveway and the material you choose. Take a look at the table below to see how long each material takes to lay, depending on the size of the driveway.

Time to lay a driveway based on the size of the project
Driveway material Small (30m2) Medium (60m2) Large (90m2)
Block paving 1-3 days 3-4 days 4-7 days
Resin 3-5 days 1-2 weeks 2-3 weeks
Gravel 1-2 days 2-3 days 3-4 days
Tarmac 1-2 days 2-3 days 4-5 days
Concrete 1-2 days 2-3 days 4-5 days

Get quotes to lay a new driveway near you

You want to make sure that your driveway lasts a long time and can withstand stains and bad weather, so it needs to be installed properly. Make sure you get a range of quotes from reputable driveway installers so you get an idea of how much you should pay.

Post a job on HaMuch to get competitive quotes from a range of driveway companies now.


Estimates for common driveway specialist jobs;

JobEstimate
Lay a tarmac driveway£3,250
Resin driveway£6,500
Cost to lay a new driveway£3,400
Lay an imprinted concrete driveway£4,150
Lay a new gravel driveway£3,125
Driveway gates£3,200
Lay a concrete driveway£3,500
Lay a block paving driveway£5,140
2. Enter postcode to get estimate
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Rates for other trades

New driveway cost in the UK
New driveway cost in the UK (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKNew driveway cost
New driveway near London£2,848
New driveway near Birmingham£2,520
New driveway near Leeds£2,568
New driveway near Glasgow£2,696
New driveway near Sheffield£2,768
New driveway near Bradford£2,584
New driveway near Liverpool£2,504
New driveway near Edinburgh£2,856
New driveway near Manchester£2,544
New driveway near Bristol£2,736
New driveway near Kirklees£2,592
New driveway near Fife£2,944
New driveway near Wirral£2,504
New driveway near North Lanarkshire£2,664
New driveway near Wakefield£2,592
New driveway near Cardiff£2,488
New driveway near Dudley£2,512
New driveway near Wigan£2,544
New driveway near East Riding£2,560
New driveway near South Lanarkshire£2,592
New driveway near Coventry£2,504
New driveway near Leicester£2,520
New driveway near Sunderland£2,656
New driveway near Sandwell£2,512
New driveway near Doncaster£2,656
New driveway near Stockport£2,552
New driveway near Sefton£2,496
New driveway near Nottingham£2,640
New driveway near Newcastle Upon Tyne£2,664
New driveway near Kingston-upon-Hull£2,552
New driveway near Bolton£2,536
New driveway near Walsall£2,520
New driveway near Plymouth£2,664
New driveway near Rotherham£2,760
New driveway near Stoke-on-Trent£2,560
New driveway near Wolverhampton£2,520
New driveway near Rhondda, Cynon, Taff£2,464
New driveway near South Gloucestershire£2,736
New driveway near Derby£2,632
New driveway near Swansea£2,520
New driveway near Salford£2,536
New driveway near Barnsley£2,712
New driveway near Tameside£2,552
New driveway near Oldham£2,552
New driveway near Trafford£2,544
New driveway near Aberdeen£2,920
New driveway near Southampton£2,696
New driveway near Highland£2,544
New driveway near Rochdale£2,552
New driveway near Solihull£2,512
New driveway near Gateshead£2,656
New driveway near Milton Keynes£2,816
New driveway near North Tyneside£2,680
New driveway near Calderdale£2,552
New driveway near Northampton£2,680
New driveway near Portsmouth£2,688
New driveway near Warrington£2,528
New driveway near North Somerset£2,728
New driveway near Bury£2,552
New driveway near Luton£2,864
New driveway near St Helens£2,512
New driveway near Stockton-on-Tees£2,672
New driveway near Renfrewshire£2,760
New driveway near York£2,504
New driveway near Thamesdown£2,720
New driveway near Southend-on-Sea£2,720
New driveway near New Forest£2,752
New driveway near Caerphilly£2,488
New driveway near Carmarthenshire£2,504
New driveway near Bath£2,752
New driveway near Wycombe£2,856
New driveway near Basildon£2,776
New driveway near Bournemouth£2,792
New driveway near Peterborough£2,848
New driveway near North East Lincolnshire£2,592
New driveway near Chelmsford£2,760
New driveway near Brighton£2,712
New driveway near South Tyneside£2,672
New driveway near Charnwood£2,568
New driveway near Aylesbury Vale£2,792
New driveway near Colchester£2,624
New driveway near Knowsley£2,504
New driveway near North Lincolnshire£2,504
New driveway near Huntingdonshire£2,904
New driveway near Macclesfield£2,560
New driveway near Blackpool£2,472
New driveway near West Lothian£2,752
New driveway near South Somerset£2,792
New driveway near Dundee£2,752
New driveway near Basingstoke & Deane£2,824
New driveway near Harrogate£2,552
New driveway near Dumfries & Galloway£2,264
New driveway near Middlesbrough£2,656
New driveway near Flintshire£2,544
New driveway near The Wrekin£2,624
New driveway near Newbury£2,816
New driveway near Falkirk£2,624
New driveway near Reading£2,864
New driveway near Wokingham£2,880
New driveway near Windsor & Maidenhead£2,880
New driveway near Maidstone£2,816
New driveway near Redcar & Cleveland£2,664
New driveway near North Ayrshire£2,752
New driveway near Blackburn£2,552
New driveway near Neath Port Talbot£2,488
New driveway near Poole£2,800
New driveway near Wealden£2,704
New driveway near Arun£2,720
New driveway near Bedford£2,864
New driveway near Oxford£2,776
New driveway near Lancaster£2,496
New driveway near Newport£2,512
New driveway near Canterbury£2,568
New driveway near Preston£2,520
New driveway near Dacorum£2,872
New driveway near Cherwell£2,752
New driveway near Perth & Kinross£2,840
New driveway near Thurrock£2,808
New driveway near Tendring£2,576
New driveway near Kings Lynn & West Norfolk£2,568
New driveway near St Albans£2,872
New driveway near Bridgend£2,464
New driveway near South Cambridgeshire£2,872
New driveway near Braintree£2,712
New driveway near Norwich£2,424
New driveway near Thanet£2,472
New driveway near Isle of Wight£2,696
New driveway near Mid Sussex£2,752
New driveway near South Oxfordshire£2,816
New driveway near Guildford£2,904
New driveway near Elmbridge£2,864
New driveway near Stafford£2,536
New driveway near Powys£2,376
New driveway near East Hertfordshire£2,880
New driveway near Torbay£2,568
New driveway near Wrexham Maelor£2,584
New driveway near East Devon£2,496
New driveway near East Lindsey£2,472
New driveway near Halton£2,512
New driveway near Warwick£2,512
New driveway near East Ayrshire£2,560
New driveway near Newcastle-under-Lyme£2,560
New driveway near North Wiltshire£2,672
New driveway near South Kesteven£2,584
New driveway near Epping Forest£2,840
New driveway near Vale of Glamorgan£2,488
New driveway near Reigate & Banstead£2,864
New driveway near Chester£2,552
New driveway near Mid Bedfordshire£2,864
New driveway near Suffolk Coastal£2,544
New driveway near Horsham£2,800
New driveway near Nuneaton & Bedworth£2,512
New driveway near Gwynedd£2,224
New driveway near Swale£2,688
New driveway near Havant & Waterloo£2,688
New driveway near Teignbridge£2,528
New driveway near Cambridge£2,840
New driveway near Vale Royal£2,560
New driveway near Amber Valley£2,632
New driveway near North Hertfordshire£2,896
New driveway near South Ayrshire£2,632
New driveway near Waverley£2,904
New driveway near Broadland£2,384
New driveway near Crewe & Nantwich£2,576
New driveway near Breckland£2,448
New driveway near Ipswich£2,544
New driveway near Vale of White Horse£2,808
New driveway near Salisbury£3,000
New driveway near Gedling£2,648
New driveway near Eastleigh£2,688
New driveway near Broxtowe£2,632
New driveway near Stratford-on-Avon£2,552
New driveway near South Bedfordshire£2,864
New driveway near Angus£2,672
New driveway near East Hampshire£2,744
New driveway near East Dunbartonshire£2,688
New driveway near Conway£2,336
New driveway near Sevenoaks£2,840
New driveway near Slough£2,880
New driveway near Bracknell Forest£2,872
New driveway near West Lancashire£2,512
New driveway near West Wiltshire£2,672
New driveway near Ashfield£2,664
New driveway near Scarborough£2,456
New driveway near Stroud£2,672
New driveway near Wychavon£2,552
New driveway near Waveney£2,448
New driveway near Exeter£2,464
New driveway near Dover£2,544
New driveway near Test Valley£2,688
New driveway near Gloucester£2,696
New driveway near Erewash£2,632
New driveway near Cheltenham£2,744
New driveway near Bassetlaw£2,680
New driveway near Scottish Borders£2,960