The short answer
A new driveway is a construction project, not just a price for the top layer. For an initial UK comparison, Checkatrade’s April 2026 benchmarks are approximately £60–£120 per m² for materials and labour. A 50 m² driveway therefore illustrates a £3,000–£6,000 starting range, before checking the exact site scope. These are third-party budgeting figures, not an A Jones quotation or a guaranteed Surrey price.
Driveway cost per square metre
The table uses one consistent source so that different materials can be compared. It does not combine a supply-only price for one finish with an installed price for another.
| Surface | Benchmark per m² | 50 m² illustration |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel | £60 | £3,000 |
| Tarmac | £90 | £4,500 |
| Concrete | £95 | £4,750 |
| Block paving | £100 | £5,000 |
| Resin-bound | £120 | £6,000 |
Source: Checkatrade’s driveway cost guide, checked 10 September 2026. The 50 m² column is simply area multiplied by the benchmark. Confirm VAT, excavation, disposal, drainage and any exclusions with the quoting contractor; do not add a separate preparation allowance twice if it is already included.
What changes your quotation?
Two drives with the same measured area can need very different work. One may have a stable base and an accessible frontage; another may have a thick concrete slab to remove, a low garage threshold and no viable surface-water outlet. A survey should resolve those differences before a finish is selected.
- Existing construction: identify what can safely remain and what needs removal. A surface photograph does not establish the condition below it.
- Access and spoil: measure the narrowest approach and allow for lawful waste handling, loading space and delivery restrictions.
- Levels: record the house, garage, pavement and adjoining land. Changes may require steps, retaining work or revised falls.
- Drainage: price the complete route from the surface to an appropriate destination, including investigation where necessary.
- Detailing: curves, cut patterns, borders, utility covers and interfaces with an existing drive affect the work.
Replacement or resurfacing?
Resurfacing retains suitable existing construction and renews the finish. Full replacement removes unsuitable layers and rebuilds them. They are different scopes and should not be compared only on a rate per m². Settlement, recurring puddles and moving edges can point to problems beneath the surface; an overlay may leave those problems unresolved.
Our asphalt and resin surfacing service starts with the existing condition, loading and drainage. For localised movement, read the sunken driveway repair guide before deciding whether the whole area needs replacement.
Drainage and permission checks
In England, front-garden paving rules distinguish permeable construction or runoff directed to a suitable lawn or border from impermeable surfacing without that provision. More than 5 m² of the latter generally requires planning permission. Restrictions and other consents can still apply. See the Planning Portal’s front-garden guidance and our Surrey driveway drainage guide.
A dropped kerb or vehicle crossover is a separate highway matter. Confirm the route with the highway authority before altering the pavement. Resin-bound surfacing is not automatically a complete permeable system: the base, ground and discharge arrangement must be suitable too.
Compare like-for-like quotes
Ask each contractor to price the same measured area and written brief. Record the surface product, excavation, base construction, drainage, edging, waste, reinstatement, VAT and any provisional allowances. Ask what happens if unsuitable ground is found and how a change is agreed before additional work starts.
Use our printable driveway quote checklist to record the answers. The site-survey brief builder helps organise measurements and photographs without treating an online estimate as a site assessment.
What we check before turning a benchmark into a quote
On an A Jones driveway survey, the surface choice comes after the construction questions. We measure the actual area and thresholds, inspect signs of movement, trace the direction of surface water, record the edge restraints and utility covers, and check how excavation, deliveries and spoil removal can reach the frontage.
| Site observation | Why it changes the scope |
|---|---|
| Cracking, rutting or sunken edges | May indicate that rebuilding below the finish is more appropriate than resurfacing |
| Low garage or house threshold | Affects finished levels, falls and channel-drain details |
| No visible water outlet | Requires a drainage route to be established before the surface is specified |
| Restricted loading or shared access | Changes vehicle movements, programme and spoil handling |
For a measured starting point, use the patio and driveway materials calculator, then carry its dimensions and assumptions into the written quote checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What does a double driveway cost?
For a measured 50 m² area, the benchmark examples above span £3,000–£6,000. A “double driveway” is not a standard area or specification, so measure it and confirm the preparation, drainage and tax treatment before relying on that range.
Which surface is cheapest?
Gravel has the lowest benchmark in this comparison. Its suitability depends on the slope, movement of loose aggregate, accessibility and the way you use the drive. The cheapest surface is not necessarily the lowest whole-project cost.
Can I reuse the existing base?
Possibly, after checking its stability, depth, levels and compatibility with the proposed finish. Reusing unsuitable construction to reduce the headline price can leave the cause of future movement in place.
How do I get a Surrey quote?
Send A Jones the postcode, approximate dimensions, frontage photos and any drainage concerns. We cover Woking, Guildford and surrounding Surrey areas. Review our driveway service, then request a site survey for a written scope.
Continue with the actual site
Related guides & services
Use the guide to frame the first questions, then compare them with the property’s ground, levels, access and drainage.
Check the site-specific details
General guidance cannot verify your ground, structure, drainage, permissions or site access. For statutory requirements, use the official Planning Portal, your local authority, Building Control and the relevant water company or designer.
