Tarmac is a great option as a driveway material, due to its relatively low cost and easy installation process.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting solution to the puddles and potholes on your path, having a tarmac driveway could be an excellent decision. It looks great and can last at least 15 years without maintenance.
This article will cover what you can expect to pay for a tarmac driveway, factors that affect the cost and other common questions people have before getting a tarmac driveway done.
Average Cost
We contacted 27 different contractors for quotes on a tarmac driveway.
An average price you can expect to pay to tarmac a driveway is between £40 to £70 per m². This correlates to the following prices for different sized driveways:
| Driveway Size | Average Cost | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| 10m² | £600 | £500 - £800 |
| 20m² | £1200 | £900 - £1500 |
| 30m² | £1750 | £1300 - £2200 |
| 40m² | £2350 | £1750 - £3100 |
| 50m² | £2900 | £2200 - £3700 |
| 60m² | £3500 | £2600 - £4400 |
| 70m² | £4050 | £3300 - £5200 |
Depending on how big the driveway is and the complexity of the job, it can take anywhere between 1-2 days to 2 weeks.
Tarmac Prices vs Other Materials
Let’s take a quick look at the alternatives to tarmac and how they compare price-wise.
Gravel is cheap at around £25 per square metre or £50 if excavating is required, but it involves a lot of maintenance since it is constantly being moved around.
Block paving costs around £50 per square metre and is probably the most attractive option as it can be customised. Repairs are simple to carry out on block paving but you will need to find a skilled paver to make sure the job is done well.
Resin is like gravel but more compact, meaning it moves around a lot less and is more durable. Resin driveways cost between £40 and £70 per square metre.
Concrete is the most expensive driveway material, costing around £85 per square metre, but it has the longest lifespan – around 40 years if well maintained. It is prone to cracks and can deteriorate quickly in poor weather.
Factors that Affect the Cost
Like with any job, there is a range of factors that will affect the cost of your new tarmac driveway.These are among the most important factors in determining the cost.
Size of the Driveway
Since tarmac driveways are usually priced according to square metre, naturally, a larger surface area will cost more than a smaller one.
Equally, larger driveways take more time and so the cost of labour will increase with the amount of days required to complete the job.
That being said, while larger driveways mean higher labour costs, the price per square metre will decrease slightly as it is more cost-effective in terms of materials.
For a smaller driveway, the price per square metre of tarmac will be higher, but labour and time costs are lower.
Ease of Access
If your new tarmac driveway touches a public area, such as a footpath, or crosses over a grass verge, access to the job will become more complicated.
Particularly in the case of crossing over a public walkway, you may need to get permission from the Highways Agency or the local council, which can slow down the job and incur further costs.
Shape of Driveway
Tarmac is laid in liquid form so an oddly shaped driveway won’t affect the cost.
However, it is important that the driveway be slightly sloping, for draining purposes, which can complicate planning.
The driveway will also need edging to make sure it does not move or crack. Edging is normally done using timber or concrete, which can cost between £20 and £100 per square metre.
A more unusual shape means more edging, which can raise the price.
Drainage Costs
When having a tarmac driveway installed, one important factor is making sure that water is running off the driveway away from the house.
If there is not an adequate draining system for this, you may have to divert the water onto a public space, which will require planning permission.
Alternatively, you can connect to an existing soakaway or create a draining channel, both of which will increase the total price.
If you need to create a new soakaway or channel, that means an extra day of work and an additional £500-£1,000 on top of the driveway cost.
Slopes
The driveway must be constructed in such a way that water flows away from the house.
A draining system of channels or soakaways can be created but if the water does not flow naturally, it will pool in areas of the driveway and gradually degrade the tarmac surface over time.
Also, the land where the driveway will be installed often comprises infrequent slops and needs to be levelled to allow for proper drainage.
Slopes can be created by adding a stone sub-base during the excavation phase before laying the tarmac and this costs around £35 per tonne.
Location
Labour costs in London and the south of England are generally more expensive than elsewhere.
If the contractor needs to travel beyond a certain radius, then they may add an extra fee on top. Unless you live in a very rural location or want to use an electrician further afield, you shouldn’t need to pay extra.
Repair Cost
Tarmac is known for its durability, yet it is still subject to wear and tear.
A tarmac driveway should be maintained once per year and will probably need to be resurfaced every 5-10 years.
A professional will charge around £175 per day to resurface your driveway.
It’s easy to carry out small DIY repairs on a tarmac driveway using cold lay tarmac, which is ideal for fixing small holes and blemishes.
A 25kg bag will cost between £7 and £15 and can be used to cover up to 0.2 metres squared of tarmac. Alternatively, for small cracks, you can use a tarmac-friendly crack filler, the price of which is about £30.
For larger cracks and potholes, cold lay tarmac is not advisable as it will not provide a long-term solution.
For bigger repairs, professionals recommend the application of hot mix tarmac, which will bind more strongly to the existing surface.
For such a job, you’re better enlisting a tarmac driveway contractor.
Get Pricing on Tarmac Driveways Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a tarmac driveway.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best tarmac driveway installers ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
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About the Author
Alex Johnson is a qualified quantity surveyor and writer with a passion for conducting original research and uncovering the true cost of jobs. His cost data has been referenced by EDF Energy and the Scottish Government.