Driveway and patio calculator

Driveways and patios are priced by the square metre, so the size is the biggest thing in the price. Measure the area, choose what's there now, and the calculator prices every surface using the same price list as our estimate form. Press "Get a price" on any surface and the form opens with your measurements already filled in.

How to measure

Measure the length and the width in metres. For an L-shape or an odd shape, split it into rectangles and add each one as a section. Round up rather than down: edges and cuts always use a little more. Our guide on how to measure your driveway has diagrams for awkward shapes.

What the prices include

Each range is supply and fit, with the waste taken away, for a typical West Midlands job: digging out what's there now, a compacted sub-base, edging and the new surface. For a front garden over 5m², surfaces that don't let water through include an allowance for a soakaway at the top of the range. Steep sites, very large areas and difficult access are priced after a free site visit instead.

The materials list

The quantities are rules of thumb, to help you picture the job and check a quote: how much comes out of the ground, how many tonnes of sub-base go back in, and how many blocks or slabs to allow for. A driveway needs a deeper sub-base than a patio because it carries cars, and cutting that corner is the most common reason cheap driveways fail.