The Short Answer
On our estimates, a plain (brushed) concrete driveway costs about £75 to £120 per m² with a sub-base and joints: £3,750 to £6,000 for 50m². Laying takes three to five days, then about 7 to 10 days of curing before you park on it.
It isn't permeable, so a front drive needs to drain onto your land. For a patterned finish, see imprinted concrete; to refresh an old concrete drive, an overlay is £30 to £60 per m².
Driveway cost calculator
Priced per square metre for a full new drive, plus the drainage and dropped kerb that quotes often leave out.
Estimated total
£4,900 to £8,000
| Plain concrete, 50m², dug out with a new sub-base and edging | £3,750 to £6,000 |
| Skips or grab lorry for the dig-out | £450 to £700 |
| Drainage to keep rainwater on your land (soakaway or channel) | £700 to £1,300 |
Concrete driveway prices
| Size | Plain concrete | Imprinted, for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| 20m² | £1,500 to £2,400 | £1,900 to £2,600 |
| 50m² | £3,750 to £6,000 | £4,750 to £6,500 |
| 90m² | £6,800 to £10,800 | £8,600 to £11,700 |
How it's laid
- Dug out, with a geotextile membrane and about 150mm of compacted sub-base (the government's front garden guidance).
- Concrete poured and levelled, then brushed with a broom in one direction for grip.
- Crack control joints cut in, which reduce the risk of cracking over the years.
- Kept damp to cure, under sheeting, wet blankets or regular sprinkling, for about 7 to 10 days before a car goes on it.
Planning and drainage
In a front garden, a concrete drive over 5m² must be porous or drain onto your own land, or it needs planning permission. See driveway planning.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
On our estimates, about £75 to £120 per m², so £3,750 to £6,000 for a 50m² drive, including sub-base and joints.
How much does it cost to pour a 20x20 driveway?
A 20ft by 20ft drive is about 37m², so roughly £2,800 to £4,450 in plain concrete, on our estimates.
How much does a 40m2 driveway cost?
About £3,000 to £4,800 in plain concrete, on our estimates.
What is the cheapest option for a new driveway?
Gravel, at about £45 to £75 per m². Concrete is mid-range at £75 to £120.
How long before I can drive on new concrete?
About 7 to 10 days; ask your installer, as it depends on the mix and the weather.
Do I need planning permission for a concrete driveway?
In a front garden over 5m², only if the water runs off to the road. Drain it onto your own land and it doesn't.
How we priced thisView sources (2, 2 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialGuidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens (September 2008), Department for Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK). Checked 15 Oct 2026.
