The Short Answer
On our estimates, a gravel driveway costs about £45 to £75 per m² dug out, with a compacted sub-base, membrane, edging and gravel: £2,250 to £3,750 for a 50m² drive. It's the cheapest drive, and usually laid in one to two days.
Gravel is permeable, so a front drive needs no planning permission for drainage. The government's guidance on paving front gardens lists the downsides: it scatters or forms waves, and it isn't suitable for steep drives or wheelchairs. Plastic stabilising grids (£20 to £50 per m² extra) hold it in place.
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
£2,700 to £4,450
| Gravel, 50m², dug out with a new sub-base and edging | £2,250 to £3,750 |
| Skips or grab lorry for the dig-out | £450 to £700 |
Gravel driveway prices
| Size | Gravel drive | With stabilising grids |
|---|---|---|
| 20m² | £900 to £1,500 | £1,300 to £2,500 |
| 50m² | £2,250 to £3,750 | £3,250 to £6,300 |
| 90m² | £4,050 to £6,800 | £5,900 to £11,300 |
Getting a gravel drive right
- Stone size: Jewson suggests 14mm to 20mm for drives you drive on; smaller stones get caught in tyres. Round pea gravel moves when you drive over it.
- Depth: Stone Warehouse recommends 50mm of gravel, with an 800kg bulk bag covering about 10m².
- Underneath: a weed membrane and a compacted sub-base, and edging to hold the stones in.
- At the road: the government's guidance suggests a strip of block paving or asphalt at the entrance to stop gravel spreading.
- Drainage: gravel drains naturally, but on heavy clay or where water pools a soakaway may be needed.
Planning
Loose gravel lets water through, so it meets the front garden rule for hard surfaces over 5m² without extra drainage. A new access onto a classified road still needs planning permission, and any dropped kerb needs the council's approval. See driveway planning and dropped kerbs.
Get gravel driveway quotes
Gravel is priced by area, depth and edging.
Free, no obligation. We're paid by MyJobQuote when a tradesperson buys your job, never by you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
On our estimates, about £45 to £75 per m² including sub-base and edging, so £2,250 to £3,750 for 50m².
How much gravel do I need for a 2 car driveway?
At the 50mm depth Stone Warehouse recommends, an 800kg bulk bag covers about 10m², so a 50m² two-car drive needs about 5 bulk bags.
Are gravel driveways cheaper than concrete driveways?
Yes: about £45 to £75 per m² against £75 to £120 for plain concrete, on our estimates.
Is gravel cheaper than paving?
Yes: about £45 to £75 per m² against £80 to £130 for block paving, on our estimates.
Is a gravel driveway a good idea?
For a cheap, permeable, quick drive on level ground, yes. Not on a steep slope or where someone uses a wheelchair, and expect it to scatter and need raking level.
Are gravel grids worth it?
On slopes and busy drives, they stop ruts and shifting stones. They add about £20 to £50 per m².
How we priced thisView sources (5, 3 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.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 2 (gates, fences, walls; means of access), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialGuidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens (September 2008), Department for Communities and Local Government (GOV.UK). Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryHow to choose aggregate for a driveway, Jewson. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryGravel calculator: recommended depths and coverage, Stone Warehouse. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
