A new concrete driveway is one of the best-value hard landscaping upgrades you can make — but prices quoted around the UK vary wildly. Here is what you should actually expect to pay in 2026, whether you hire a contractor or lay it yourself with concrete delivered to your door.
Concrete driveway cost breakdown (2026)
- Concrete only (you do the groundwork): £125 per m³ for our premium C35 mix — one simple price, strong enough for every driveway
- Typical single driveway (30m² at 150mm): ~4.5m³ of concrete ≈ £563 in materials
- Fully installed by a contractor: £70–£110 per m² — so £2,100–£3,300 for the same 30m² driveway
- Pattern-imprinted finish: add £20–£40 per m²
Because we mix on-site with volumetric trucks, you pay only for the concrete you actually use — no over-ordering “just in case”, and no part-load fees that plague small driveway pours from traditional ready-mix plants.
What affects the price?
- Depth: 100mm for cars, 150mm for vans — a 50% depth increase means 50% more concrete
- Grade: we pour premium C35 as standard on every job — with optional air entrainment to survive Yorkshire winters and road salt at no extra cost
- Access: if the truck can discharge straight into the formwork you avoid barrowing costs; a concrete pump solves tricky access
- Existing surface removal: breaking out an old drive adds £15–£25 per m²
How much concrete will you need?
Length × width × depth. A 6m × 5m driveway at 150mm needs 6 × 5 × 0.15 = 4.5m³. Use our free concrete calculator to get an exact figure for your dimensions — and remember, with volumetric delivery a slight over-estimate costs you nothing because we only charge for what comes off the truck.
DIY vs contractor
Laying a driveway is achievable for a competent DIYer with two or three helpers: excavate, compact 150mm of MOT Type 1, set formwork, and pour. The concrete itself is the easy bit — we arrive, mix your exact volume on-site, and you have unlimited time to place it (no 90-minute ready-mix panic).
Get a fixed price in seconds on our instant quote page, or call 01924 910 129 to talk the job through with us first.
FAQs
How much does a concrete driveway cost per m²?+
Fully installed by a contractor, expect £70–£110 per m² including excavation, sub-base, concrete and finishing. If you do the groundwork yourself and just buy the concrete, materials cost £125 per m³ — roughly £19 per m² at a typical 150mm depth.
What grade of concrete is best for a driveway?+
We supply premium C35 as standard on every order — stronger than the usual C30/PAV1 spec, so it handles cars, vans and motorhomes with ease. Air entrainment for freeze-thaw resistance can be added — just mention it in your booking comments.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?+
100mm minimum for cars on a well-compacted sub-base, 150mm for vans or where the ground is soft. Add A142 mesh reinforcement for anything thicker than 100mm.
Is a concrete driveway cheaper than block paving?+
Yes — typically 30–40% cheaper installed, and it lasts 30+ years with virtually no maintenance. Block paving averages £100–£140 per m² and needs re-sanding and weed control.