Driveway Cost Guide: Block Paving, Resin, Tarmac Compared

Tarmac is generally the cheapest driveway surface at roughly £40-£70 per square metre installed, block paving typically costs £60-£100 per square metre, and resin-bound surfacing usually runs £70-£120 per square metre — but the right choice depends as much on appearance, durability and maintenance preferences as on price alone.

Tarmac

Tarmac is the most budget-friendly option and quick to install, typically ready to use within a day or two of laying. It's durable and low-maintenance, though it can develop cracks over time (especially with tree roots nearby or poor sub-base preparation), and it offers the least choice in terms of colour and finish — it's practical rather than decorative. Tarmac driveways typically need resurfacing or resealing roughly every 15-20 years depending on wear and weather.

Block paving

Block paving offers by far the widest range of colours, patterns and styles, and individual blocks can be lifted and replaced if damaged (useful if utility work ever needs to access underneath). It needs more maintenance than tarmac — periodic resealing and weed control between joints, covered in our guide to how often to reseal block paving — and is more labour-intensive to install, which is reflected in the price. A well-installed and maintained block paving driveway can last several decades.

Resin-bound surfacing

Resin-bound driveways (aggregate mixed with a clear resin binder, laid as a smooth, permeable surface) have become popular for their clean, modern look and because they're permeable — allowing rainwater through rather than causing runoff, which can be relevant to drainage regulations for new or replacement driveways over a certain size. They're low-maintenance day-to-day (no loose stones like gravel, no joints to weed) but are the most expensive option and installation quality matters enormously — a poorly mixed or laid resin surface can develop patchy areas or come away from the base within a few years, so choosing an experienced installer matters more here than with the other options.

Comparing durability and maintenance

• Tarmac: good durability, low maintenance, but limited repair options if damaged (usually needs patching, which can be visible).
• Block paving: excellent durability, moderate maintenance (resealing, weed control), individual blocks are repairable.
• Resin-bound: good durability if properly installed, low day-to-day maintenance, but harder and more expensive to repair if it does fail.

What else affects the price

Beyond material, the condition of the existing surface (removal and disposal of an old driveway adds cost), the sub-base required (a driveway needs a properly compacted sub-base regardless of surface material — skipping this is the most common cause of driveway failure), drainage provisions, and access for machinery all move the final price. Always get a detailed, itemised quote rather than a single headline figure, so you can see what's included in groundwork versus the surface finish.

Common mistakes

• Choosing purely on price per square metre without considering lifetime cost — a cheaper surface that needs replacing sooner can cost more over 20 years than a pricier, more durable one.
• Skipping proper drainage. UK planning rules require permeable surfacing or proper drainage for new/replaced driveways over 5 square metres in most cases — check with your installer that this is accounted for.
• Underestimating sub-base importance. A driveway is only as good as what's underneath it; corners cut here show up as cracking, sinking or potholing within a few years.

For a wider look at how driveway costs sit alongside other garden work, see our overview of garden landscaping costs.

Gravel as a lower-cost alternative

Loose gravel is worth mentioning as a genuinely budget option not covered above — typically £25-£50 per square metre installed with a proper sub-base and edging, making it the cheapest of all common driveway surfaces. It drains well (helpful for sustainable drainage requirements) and is easy to top up, but has downsides: it can be displaced by vehicle tyres over time, isn't ideal for wheelchair or pushchair access, and needs occasional raking and topping up to stay looking tidy. It suits informal, rural or period-property settings particularly well.

Getting the sub-base right regardless of surface

Whichever surface you choose, the sub-base needs to be matched to the ground conditions and expected loading — a driveway taking regular car use needs a deeper, better-compacted sub-base than a patio taking only foot traffic, and heavier vehicles (a motorhome, for example) need more still. A common, reasonable specification for a typical car driveway is around 150-200mm of compacted sub-base material, but this varies with existing ground conditions (clay soil typically needs more than well-drained sandy soil), so ask your installer to explain their specification for your specific site rather than accepting a generic figure.

It's worth asking any installer for references or photographs of previous driveways they've completed at least two to three years earlier, not just recent work, since this gives a much better indication of how a surface actually wears and ages rather than how it looks fresh on the day of completion.