For a typical two-car drive in the West Midlands, tarmac costs about £2,350–£3,930, resin-bound about £3,100–£4,980 and block paving about £3,550–£5,730, laid on what was a lawn. Tarmac is the budget option and hard-wearing. Resin gives a smooth, modern finish and can be permeable. Block paving costs most but is the easiest to repair and suits most houses.
All three will last well if the ground underneath is dug out and built up properly, and all three will fail early if it is not. Choose the surface for looks, drainage and budget, then choose the installer for the base.
At a glance
| Block paving | Resin-bound | Tarmac | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per m², new | £90–£140 | £75–£115 | £50–£80 |
| Two-car drive on grass (about 30m²) | £3,550–£5,730 | £3,100–£4,980 | £2,350–£3,930 |
| Typical lifespan if laid well | 20 years or more | 15–25 years | 15–20 years |
| Permeable? | Only with permeable blocks and base | Yes, on a porous base | No, unless porous asphalt is specified |
| Repairs | Lift and relay individual blocks | Patches can show | Patches show |
| Weeds | In the joints, unless kept sanded | Few if laid on a sound base | Few, until it cracks |
| Looks | Many colours and patterns | Smooth, stone colours | Plain black or red |
Prices are supply and fit, waste included, indicative for the West Midlands, and include digging out, a new sub-base and edgings on a site that was grass.
Block paving
Concrete blocks laid in a pattern, usually herringbone for driveways because it resists turning wheels, on a bed of sharp sand over a compacted stone sub-base, held in by concrete-haunched edge kerbs and finished with kiln-dried sand brushed into the joints.
Good at: repairs, since a sunken area or a block stained by oil can be lifted and relaid; variety of colour and style; coping with heavy vehicles when laid on a good base.
Watch for: weeds and moss in the joints if they are not re-sanded; sinking where the sub-base was skimped; staining. Standard block paving is not permeable, so a front drive over 5m² will need run-off to a lawn, border or soakaway, or permeable blocks. See the 5m² rule.
More on our block paving page.
Resin-bound
Natural aggregate mixed with clear resin and trowelled smooth on a prepared base, normally about 15–20mm thick for driveways. Resin-bound is different from resin-bonded, where loose stones are scattered onto a resin coat. Bonded is cheaper and not permeable, and it sheds stones.
Good at: a smooth, even surface for pushchairs and wheelchairs; permeability when laid on a porous base; low maintenance. It can also go over an existing tarmac or concrete drive if that base is sound, at about £55–£80 per m², or £2,200–£3,390 for a two-car drive.
Watch for: it is only as good as what is under it, so cracks in an old base will come through. UV-stable resin matters for lighter stone colours. Mixing and laying need dry weather and experience. Laying over an old impermeable drive means the water still runs off.
More on our resin driveways page.
Tarmac
Hot bituminous macadam, laid in layers on a compacted stone sub-base and rolled. Usually black, sometimes red chippings or a coloured finish.
Good at: lowest cost of the three sealed surfaces; quick to lay; hard-wearing; suits larger areas and long drives.
Watch for: it softens in hot weather, so parked tyres and jacks can mark it; patch repairs never quite match; it is not permeable, so a front drive over 5m² must drain to your own land. It is also the surface most used by doorstep "leftover tarmac" operators. See why cheap driveways fail.
More on our tarmac driveways page.
What about gravel?
Gravel is the cheapest option at about £35–£60 per m², or £1,900–£3,330 for two cars, and it is permeable. It needs edging to keep it in, a stabilising grid on slopes and topping up now and then. It is noisy underfoot, which some people value for security. See gravel driveways.
How to choose
- Tight budget, large area: tarmac or gravel.
- Front drive and you want no drainage works: resin-bound on a new porous base, or gravel.
- Want easy repairs and a traditional look: block paving.
- Existing drive with a sound base: resin overlay may be the cheapest upgrade.
- Steep drive: block paving or tarmac grip well; resin needs the right aggregate grade; gravel migrates downhill.
- Conservation area or period house: check local rules first and consider how the surface looks with the house.
What pushes the price up
- Digging out an existing surface. Grass costs about £10–£18 per m² to remove, concrete £20–£35.
- Drainage. A channel drain costs £60–£100 per metre, a soakaway £600–£1,200.
- Access. Where a digger cannot get in, labour takes longer.
- Edgings. £25–£45 per metre.
- Dropped kerb. £1,200–£2,500 plus council fees.
The block paving vs resin cost guide and the driveway cost per m² guide break these down. We pass your enquiry to one local specialist, who confirms a fixed price after seeing the site.
Questions
Which driveway surface lasts longest?
Block paving on a good sub-base generally lasts longest and is easiest to keep going, because damaged blocks can be lifted and relaid. Resin and tarmac can also last decades on a properly built base. The sub-base matters more than the surface.
Is resin cheaper than block paving?
Usually, yes. Resin-bound runs about £75–£115 per m² against £90–£140 for block paving on a new base. Resin over an existing sound drive is cheaper still, at about £55–£80 per m².
Which surface is best for the 5m² permeable rule?
Resin-bound on a porous base and gravel are permeable. Block paving needs permeable blocks and an open-graded base. Tarmac needs the water directing to a lawn, border or soakaway.
Can I park on a new driveway straight away?
Block paving can usually be driven on once the joints are sanded and compacted. Tarmac needs a day or two, longer in hot weather. Resin usually needs 24–48 hours before cars, depending on temperature. Ask the installer.
Does a new driveway add value to a house?
A tidy, well-drained drive and off-road parking are attractive to buyers, particularly on roads with little parking. Whether it adds more than it costs depends on the street and the house.