Driveway paving cost estimate
by
Checkatrade

Driveways can be a seriously wonderful feature for a property, especially when done right. And one of the most common styles for a driveway is paving. We’ve put together this guide to give you an idea of the average driveway paving cost estimate in the UK.

Whether you have a small area of off street parking to look after, or a large driveway, you want to add kerb appeal whilst keeping ongoing maintenance down. When talking about driveway paving costs it’s always good to speak to a number of local driveway experts to get their estimates, so you can compare prices.

How much does it cost to pave a driveway?

Block paving is one of the go-to choices for many British homeowners. With the wide variety of styles and colours to choose from, you can exactly the right paving to match your home. The average cost to pave driveway with brick paving is about £80 per m2.

If you’re looking at block paving for your driveway the cost to pave 50m2 would cost you about £4,250. That would depend on the materials used. For concrete blocks the cost to pave a driveway would be about £40 per m2. For natural stone blocks the price is around £80 per m2. Or, if you want to use clay blocks, we estimate the driveway paving cost to be around £85 per m2.

Factors affecting the cost to pave a driveway

The total price you pay to pave your driveway will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Size of driveway
• Shape or complexity of design of driveway
• Type and quality of materials used
• Any prep work or digging needed
• Where you live

When getting quotes for your paving driveway costs, it’s important to understand what is included in the price and what isn’t. It’s easy to base the cost on the square metre size of the driveway, but ask your local driveway specialists to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and possible extras.

You’ll need to consider things like any excavation that might be needed. And additional finishes, like borders or additional treatments, may be charged on top of the base price.

Asphalt driveway paving costs

If you’d prefer to go for asphalt (otherwise known as tarmac) driveway instead of paving, you’re looking at a cost of about £60 per m2. The great thing about asphalt is that it’s really easy to lay and holds up really well as a driveway material. That said, it does require maintenance and will most likely need resurfacing every few years.

Concrete driveway costs

Another option for your driveway is concrete, which is an extremely durable and hard-wearing material – making it an ideal choice for something like a driveway. In fact, concrete driveways can sometimes last for decades without needing much attention. As an alternative to paving, installing a concrete driveway will cost in the region of £50 per m2.

Driveway paving material costs

If you’re considering sourcing the materials or installing the driveway yourself, you’ll want to calculate the amount of blocks you’ll need. It’s always sensible to add 10% for wastage to make sure you have enough blocks to finish the job.

Concrete blocks – £20 to £60 per m2
Clay blocks – £70 to £100 per m2
Natural stone blocks – £50 to £105 per m2

Benefits of driveway paving

At the end of the day, your choice of driveway material will often depend on your own personal taste and the style of your property. But if you’re on the fence and are wondering why you should choose paving, here are some of the reasons why:

Low maintenance

Block paving is brilliant at withstanding the elements, and won’t require a lot of maintenance. Keep it clean with soap and water and enjoy a sturdy driveway that’s easy to look after.

Durable

As well as being easy to maintain, paving is also built to last the test of time (and pressure). Block paving is so durable it could withstand the pressure of an aeroplane – so a few cars is no bother for a paved driveway. With little wear and tear, block paving is also resistant to most chemicals, oils, salts and frosts.

Versatile

With so many colours and styles available, you can easily find driveway paving to suit the look you’re going for. You can even customise paving if you have very specific ideas for either the colour, design or layout of the paving.

Easy to repair

One of the joys of a paved driveway is that you can make repairs easily. If bricks or blocks get damaged, you simply replace the broken ones. There’s no need to redo the whole driveway, meaning the upkeep is low on cost and quick to do.

Useful driveway paving checklist

• One of the biggest challenges will be deciding on which colour and style you want for your driveway paving.
• Contact your local council if any excavation work is needed for your driveway project.
• Speak to local driveway specialists to get accurate estimates and detailed costs for paving your driveway.
• Shop around for fair and competitive paving driveway prices.
• Always hire a tradesperson with experience and ask to examples of their previous work.