Dropped kerb costs in the UK for 2025

Lowering the kerb at the edge of the road so you can safely access your private driveway is a game-changer. But how much does it cost to drop a kerb?

The average cost of a dropped kerb will be around £1,800 to create a new vehicle access point or £1,100 to widen an existing access point. These prices cover the labour and material for the dropped kerb only.

However, there are several other driveway access cost factors that will affect your final quote. This means the final cost could be around £2,500.

Here, we explore different costs and considerations to help you confidently budget. We also help you find reliable dropped kerb installers using our free search directory below.

What is a dropped kerb?

Simply put, a dropped kerb allows you to drive onto your private driveway or land outside your home without mounting a kerb. This is done by removing a section of the roadside kerb and then resurfacing the pavement to ‘make good again’.

So far, so good. However, dropping a kerb outside your property is more complex than it sounds. You’ll also need to consider:

• Underground pipes and utilities
• Nearby structures – Such as signposts
• Planning permission – Don’t comply with local council regulations, and you might have to pay to reinstall the kerb again
• Finding an approved dropped kerb installer – This is one job you’ll need to leave to the professionals

What are the benefits of a dropped kerb?

If you have the budget and space available, dropping the kerb at the front of your home to create off-street parking is a no-brainer. The benefits include:

• Property access – No more worrying about people parking across your driveway (hopefully!)
• Additional parking – This is worth its weight in gold if you live in a city short of parking spots or have multiple cars.
• Safety – Lowering the pavement allows cars to drive safely on and off your property without damaging the kerb (or cars!)
• Accessibility – Smoothing out the access to your driveway will make your home more accessible to wheelchair and powered mobility vehicle users
• Enhance saleability – A dropped kerb can improve your home’s kerb appeal and saleability

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

When figuring out how much kerb access installation costs, there are two types of kerb-drop projects to consider:

• Dropping a kerb for a new vehicle crossing point
• Dropping a kerb to widen an access point

Let’s break down the costs for both:

Costs for new vehicle access points

• The average cost of a dropped kerb for a new vehicle access point is £1,800
• This price covers the costs of materials needed and the tradesperson’s time
• However, it does not cover the additional cost of planning permission, which varies in price depending on your location and local authority

Costs for widening an existing kerb

• The average dropped kerb cost for widening an access point is £1,100
• Again, this price covers materials and labour but does not cover planning permission
• Our planning permission cost guide has more information about the costs involved with planning. Or keep reading for the average planning permission costs for a dropped kerb below

Hourly rates to drop a kerb

You’ll rarely be quoted an hourly rate for this sort of job. Due to the nature of work involved in dropping a kerb, you’ll usually be charged a day rate for the work. This is somewhere in the region of £300 per day.

If gardeners are needed for any clearance work, they charge around £35 per hour.

Factors affecting dropped kerb costs

A dropped kerb is the first step to a smooth, safe, stylish driveway. But it’s not as simple as just removing a piece of concrete.

Since the council owns the pavement, several other factors will affect the total cost of dropping the kerb. They include:

Location and council fees

When applying for planning permission for a dropped kerb, each local council has its own unique pricing structure. In most cases, they also have a preferred list of specialist contractors to use. However, to give you a general steer:

• The average local council planning fees for a dropped kerb will range between £50 - £400 depending on where you are in the UK
• There may also be a street work license to pay to the council, with the typical fee for this around £430
• Always check with your local council to get an accurate quote for planning fees so you can put aside the right budget for the work

Number of kerbs required

Naturally, the number of kerbs you need to drop to form a driveway will affect the total cost:

• The average drop kerb prices for two kerbs will typically start at £900 for labour and materials
• Meanwhile, the price you can expect for three kerbs is £1,000
• It’s around £1,200 for four kerbs

Landscape and utility adjustments

Does your dropped kerb project require services or utilities (e.g., phone box providers) to move or alter their connections? Or are you taking on a large-scale driveway conversion, and extra landscaping is needed? Then you’ll need to account for these extra charges:

• Often, other service and utility providers will require their own workforce or agencies to make required alterations, and you have to cover their costs
• When dropping the kerb is part of a larger project, such as installing a cobblestone or brick driveway, you may find the planning application fees are higher

Our comprehensive dropped kerb planning guide has plenty more information about the approval process and additional costs to consider.

Tradesperson day rates

Needless to say, the scale of the project will have an impact on the kerb drop cost:

• A smaller kerb drop might only take an hour or two to complete and, therefore, might be priced cheaper
• However, most dropped kerb installers charge a day rate for their time at around £300 per day 
• As timescales increase to reflect the scope of the work involved and the materials needed, so will the drop kerb cost quoted by a professional

Additional dropped kerb costs

To help you plan ahead, it’s also worth taking into account the following additional costs that can boost the drop kerb price:

Waste removal

If landscaping elements are to be removed, you can factor in another £200 for the waste removal service to the final drop kerb cost.

Utility relocations

When inspecting the area, the council might recommend removing certain utility features to make space. Some average utility relocation costs include:

• Moving a lamppost: £1,200
• Removing a tree: £600
• Moving an unlighted road sign: £350
• Moving a lighted road sign: £1,000
• Moving a stop valve/meter box: £38
• Moving a fire hydrant: £61
• Moving manhole cover: £113
• BT/CATV box work: £2,122

As you can see from the above, the price of utility relocations can vary anywhere between £38 to £2,122. Therefore, it’s worth planning in advance if you suspect you’ll need utilies moving.

Council inspections

Before dropping a kerb, the council will want to inspect the area to determine whether further work is needed to make the dropped kerb safe and compliant with regulations. The total cost for an inspection will depend on your local council’s pricing structure, but will typically come in at around £200.

Calculating the average cost of a dropped kerb in the UK

Although we always recommend requesting a quote from a reliable contractor directly (more on that next), we know it’s handy to get a rough estimate before contacting professionals.

Follow the steps below in our dropped kerb cost calculator to get a general steer:

Dropped kerb cost calculator

To calculate the approximate costs of dropping a kerb, try the following:

Total Cost = (Average cost per kerb X number of kerbs) + services/utilities cost + council inspection fee + landscape removal cost + waste removal cost

Or use this simple checklist below:

• Size of the job
• The number of kerbs involved
• Any services or utilities that might be affected by the work
• The cost of a council inspection
• Any additional costs of removing any parts of the landscape (trees, shrubbery, etc)
• The cost of removing any waste

Get a quote for dropping a kerb

We always recommend obtaining at least three quotes from dropped kerb installers. That way, you know you’re getting the right price for the job.

Our request a quote feature is perfect for contacting professionals near to you. Simply post the details about the job you want doing, and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Try it out!

Find an approved contractor near you

Have you run through the above dropped kerb prices and are keen to get your driveway transformation off the ground? Good news!

First things first, you’ll need to find an approved contractor. This is vital to ensure the work is carried out professionally and meets your local authorities’ planning permission criteria. It’s also worth remembering:

• Councils may have a list of pre-approved contractors that they require you to work with
• However, depending on their individual policies, they may allow you to choose your own contractor once planning permission has been granted

If you have the option to choose a contractor, use our free search directory below to find tradespeople near you.

We’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that we guarantee their work (up to £1,000 for 12 months – Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply)

Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*

* Eligibility and T&Cs apply

FAQs

What is the average cost of a dropped kerb in the UK?

The average cost of a dropped kerb will be around £1,800 to create a new vehicle access point or £1,100 to widen an existing access point. These prices cover the labour and material for the dropped kerb only.

How much does the council charge to drop a kerb?

Each local council has its own unique pricing structure, and in most cases, they also have a preferred list of specialist contractors to use. You’re best to contact your local authorities directly for an exact quote.

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?

In most cases, dropping a kerb drop will require planning permission to be granted before the project can get underway. To find out whether you require planning permission, contact your local council. Their details can be found on the government website.

On average, the cost for planning permission for a dropped kerb will be between £50 - £400.

Why would a council refuse permission for a dropped kerb?

Planning permission for a dropped kerb can be refused if your local council deems it a road safety risk. This could be for one of the following reasons:

• If there is not enough visibility of oncoming traffic
• If your property is close to traffic lights
• If there’s not enough space for your vehicle
• If a street lamp, postbox, road sign and/or bench is blocking access
• If your property is on a bend, a road junction, or there’s a steep slope between your property and the road

What happens if I drop a kerb without permission?

If you drop a kerb without applying for permission from the local authority, you could pay two-fold. The council will most likely charge you the cost to reinstate the kerb and any repair work to the public pavement.

How many kerbs do I need to drop for a driveway?

The average driveway conversion requires between three to seven kerbs to be removed. The cost of dropped kerbs will increase the more kerbs need removing.

Can I drop a kerb myself?

Even if you have experience in this type of work and feel confident undertaking the project, it’s still essential to check with the council whether you need planning permission and arrange an inspection. In most cases, their approval of the project will require you to use a contractor from their preferred list.

How long does it take to drop a kerb?

That all depends on the size of kerb being dropped. A smaller kerb drop might only take an hour or two to complete and, therefore, might be priced cheaper. However, it’s always best to ask an approved contractor for an accurate estimate.

Does a dropped kerb add value?

Absolutely. Not only will a dropped kerb improve your home’s kerb appeal, but it could also add value. Private parking is hugely valuable to homeowners with multiple cars or areas where street parking is tricky.

Do I need a licence for a dropped kerb?

In most cases, you’ll need a license for a dropped kerb. Always check with your local council whether you need planning permission and have them come round to inspect the area.

Can neighbours object to a dropped kerb?

If the dropped kerb requires planning permission, your neighbours will be notified and given the opportunity to object. Planning objections sometimes happen if neighbours feel the dropped kerb plans compromise street safety or access.

Are there any alternatives to dropping a kerb?

If you want to drop a kerb for mobility reasons and are looking for a more cost-effective option, councils will often approve using a ramp instead of a dropped kerb to access the pavement without altering its level. However, you’ll need to go through the planning permission steps outlined above for anything else.