The short answer
A new tarmac driveway typically costs around £45–£80 per square metre installed in the UK, with a fully-finished, all-in figure on a straightforward job often landing nearer £90–£100 per square metre once excavation, a proper sub-base, edging and waste removal are counted. An overlay on a sound existing base is lower-priced, commonly £40–£55 per square metre. Small single-car drives usually sit at the higher end per metre because the fixed costs — getting machinery in, a minimum tarmac delivery, set-up — are spread over fewer metres, while a large drive comes in lower per metre. Use the rate as a sense-check, then get a measured, fixed quote.
A per-square-metre rate is useful for a rough sense-check, but the real number depends on what the rate includes and how big the drive is. Here's how to read it.
Typical per-m² rates
- New tarmac (labour+materials)£45–£80 / m²
- All-in finished job~£90–£100 / m²
- Overlay on sound base£40–£55 / m²
- Small drivehigher end per m²
- Large drivelower end per m²
Why the per-m² rate isn't fixed
- Job size: fixed costs (plant hire, minimum tarmac load, set-up) are spread over the area, so small drives cost more per metre and large drives less.
- What's included: a bare labour-and-materials rate is lower than an all-in figure that counts excavation, sub-base, edging and waste.
- Ground & access: soft, sloping or hard-to-reach ground needs more sub-base and time per metre.
- New vs overlay: an overlay skips most of the excavation and base, so its per-metre rate is lower.
| Scope | Typical per m² | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| New tarmac (basic) | £45–£80 / m² | labour & tarmac, standard base |
| New tarmac (all-in) | ~£90–£100 / m² | excavation, sub-base, edging, waste |
| Overlay | £40–£55 / m² | fresh tarmac on a sound base |
Indicative UK rates for guidance. Sources: trade cost guides and calculators.
How to use the rate without being caught out
The per-metre rate is best used to sense-check a fixed quote, not to price the job yourself. Multiply the rate by your area for a ballpark, then ask each contractor to quote a single fixed figure on a written specification — area, sub-base depth, edging and drainage. If one quote's implied per-metre rate is far below the rest, that's usually a sign the sub-base or edging has been trimmed, not that the contractor is simply lower-priced. The metre rate tells you whether a quote is in the right ballpark; the written scope tells you whether it's like for like.
Want a measured per-m² quote?
We'll match you with a vetted driveway contractor who measures your area and gives a fixed quote on a clear specification — so you can check it against the typical rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a tarmac driveway per square metre in the UK?
Typically around £45–£80 per square metre for labour and materials, or nearer £90–£100 per square metre all-in once excavation, sub-base, edging and waste removal are counted. An overlay on a sound base is lower, commonly £40–£55 per square metre.
Why do small driveways cost more per square metre?
Because the fixed costs — getting plant on site, a minimum tarmac delivery and set-up — are spread over fewer metres. A large drive spreads those costs over more area, so its per-metre rate comes out lower.
Can I just multiply the rate by my driveway area?
It gives a useful ballpark, but the real figure depends on ground conditions, edging and drainage. Use the rate to sense-check quotes, then get a measured, fixed quote on a written specification.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific driveway. They are guidance, not a quotation.