How much does a concrete driveway cost?

A driveway is often a functional addition to a property, but it can also have some aesthetic appeal if executed well. There are also potential security benefits of having your car parked off the street, with a possible knock-on effect on your car insurance premiums (many insurance providers ask where your car will be parked at night before providing a quote on the cost of a policy). It could also simply be that being able to park on your own driveway is more convenient and offers greater accessibility than parking on the street when you’re coming into and leaving your home.

But are these potential benefits likely to make concreting your driveway worth the cost?

How much does a concrete driveway cost?

Like the cars that are parked on them, driveways can come in all shapes and sizes. With the cost of living rising, both the price of concrete and the labour needed to install your new driveway is increasing, which means any online estimates may be under the actual quotes you receive from tradespeople. But as a general estimate, you could consider costs from Australian tradie job listing services.

According to trade website hipages, you might expect to pay around $2,600 for a flat surface plain concrete driveway of approximately 18 m2. HIREtrades also estimates that you might expect to pay around $1,530 a plain concrete driveway of the same size, with labour costs of up to $1,080, based on national averages.

If these estimates seem to show a particularly wide price range, it’s because, as we’ll see, there are a number of factors that can affect the total cost to concrete a driveway. In fact, HIREtrades advises that on some jobs, the cost can climb to more than $10,000. Take a look at what a renovation loan is and compare construction loans with Canstar.

What factors affect the cost of a driveway?

The cost of materials and labour, the size of the driveway, whether it’s sloped, the materials and surfaces and preparation work that’s required, are all factors to take into consideration when looking to update your driveway. You also may want to include decorations or extras into your budget.

• Cost of materials and labour. The general cost of materials could have a marked impact on the driveway concrete cost. Recent economic conditions have led to a sharp spike in construction costs, and the Housing Industry Association (HIA) reports that an “improvement in trades availability stalled for much of (2023) and the prices of these trades are continuing to rise much faster than usual. Trade prices increased by 6.2 percent in the 12 months to March 2024 compared to an annual average rate of just 2.0 per cent before the pandemic.”

• The size of the driveway? Concreters often quote jobs on a per square metre basis, so the bigger the driveway, the higher the cost may be.

• Slope. A sloping driveway will generally make the cost bigger. For example, both hipages and OneFlare estimate that you would need to budget at least an additional $10 per square metre or so if the driveway is being built on sloping land.

• Prep work required. If prep work like clearing existing concrete or excavating a lawn is required, you may need to prepare yourself for a larger bill at the end. This is due to the additional labour and machinery that would likely be involved. Simply resurfacing existing concrete may typically be a good deal cheaper.

• Material/surface. The type of concrete (or concrete alternatives) you use can have a big impact on the cost, and there are several options to choose from, such as:

• • Coloured concrete
  • Exposed concrete
  • Plain concrete
  • Stamped concrete
  • Asphalt
  • Bitumen
  • Pavers

• Decorations and extras. Decorative additions like stencilling on the concrete could add a touch of style to the finish of your driveway, but they are also likely to raise the cost of the final bill. The same could be true of incorporating landscaping features, such as plants or trees to line the drive. Consider too whether you would be adding a carport or gate to your driveway, as these could bump up the cost significantly.

Tips for keeping the cost of concreting your driveway down

As with many big jobs around the house, there may be ways to manage the cost to concrete your driveway:

• Ask multiple concreters for a quote. Some may provide better value than others for the same job and quality of finish.
• Consider whether the job could be carried out at a time of year that’s quieter for builders. Autumn and spring are typically busy times for tradies, so avoiding those seasons could be a savvy choice if you are flexible. Don’t forget to factor the weather into your plans too, as poor conditions could slow the job down.

Regulations for installing a driveway on your property

Before beginning your project, consider what permits you might need to get from your local council and what rules might be in place, such as a minimum driveway width. If construction of your driveway impacts on a public footpath in any way or leads onto a main road, you may need additional permits. Your builder may be able to assist you with navigating these considerations. Alternatively, contact your local council for guidance.

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