Gravel Driveway Cost UK

The price includes everything needed for a new gravel driveway and that includes excavation, an MOT Type 1 sub-base, a weed membrane, edging and the gravel itself. Standard 20mm gravel is the cheapest option whereas a decorative stone choice such as Cotswold buff or Polar Ice costs more and will increase the overall price.

You will have to pay more if you live in London or the South East. Gravel prices also depend on how far it has to be delivered, as it is bought and transported by the tonne.

Gravel type. Standard 20mm angular gravel is the cheapest option and can cost you between the range of £35 to £70 per tonne. The premium decorative aggregates costs more and can range between £50 to £90 per tonne. Premium aggregates cost most because they are sourced from specific quarries and chosen more for looks than performance.

Sub-base depth. A gravel driveway is only as good as the base underneath it. It should be laid on a properly compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base and should be atleast 150mm deep. If the base isn't deep enough or not properly compacted, the driveway is far more likely to sink, rut or develop low spots after a year or two.

Weed membrane. A heavy-duty geotextile membrane between the sub-base and the surface gravel helps prevents weeds coming through and stops the top gravel layer from moving down into the sub-base beneath it. It's a small cost on its own, but leaving it out to save money can cause bigger problems later.

Edging. Gravel needs a solid edge restraint on all sides to stop it spreading onto the lawn, path or road. Without it, you'll have to keep sweeping gravel back onto the driveway on regular basis.

Delivery distance. Gravel is bought and delivered by the tonne, so where you live can make a pretty big difference to the price. Homes closer to major quarry areas, such as Derbyshire, Somerset and Leicestershire will benefit from lower delivery costs than those further away.

Existing surface removal. If there is an existing driveway that needs lifting first then you will need to pay for it's removal and disposal before any new groundwork can begin on your driveway.

Access. Easy access to the job site can keep the overall costs down for you. If the required machinery can't reach the driveway and everything has to be moved by hand, the job takes longer and labour costs increase.

If you are comparing gravel with other driveway materials, our main driveway cost guide explains the price factors that apply to every type of driveway.

A gravel driveway can be installed in 1 to 2 days and unlike concrete or resin, there is no waiting around for it to cure, so once it's been laid and compacted, it's ready to use.

Out of all the main driveway materials, gravel is the easiest to install yourself. Spreading the gravel across your driveway is very simple and doesn't need specialist tools or experience. The hard part is getting the groundwork right. First you need to dig out to ground to the correct depth, then the sub-base must be properly compacted and the weed membrane has to be laid correctly. If you skip any of these mentioned steps or try to rush the job, the driveway is likely to sink, rut or develop low spots in the future.

Pros

• The cheapest driveway surface available, by a clear margin over every other material
• Naturally permeable, so it generally avoids the SuDS drainage rules that apply to non-permeable surfaces over 5m²
• Fast to install, finished within a day or two with no curing time needed
• One of the more realistic DIY options, since laying the surface layer doesn't require specialist skill
• Easy to adjust or extend later, since you can simply add more gravel rather than needing specialist tools or materials

Cons

• Needs topping up every 2 to 3 years as gravel compacts, migrates and gets kicked or driven off the edges
• Not as smooth or stable underfoot as tarmac, resin or block paving, which matters for wheelie bins, prams and pushchairs
• Can migrate onto paths, lawns or the road without a well-maintained edge restraint
• Weeds can establish if the membrane underneath wasn't installed properly or has degraded over time
• Less premium look than resin or block paving, which matters if kerb appeal is a priority

A gravel driveway can last for up to 10 years or more if it is built properly. The good thing about gravel is that it doesn't crack or break up like other materials. The only issue with this is that the gravel stones can slowly get pushed aside by tyres, foot traffic and the weather, so you will need to top it up every 2 to 3 years to keep it looking its best.

Adding fresh gravel to the driveway is one of the cheapest maintenance jobs as you just need to buy matching gravel and spread it over the surface, which you can easily do by yourself.

The biggest problems occur due to things happening underneath the gravel. If the weed membrane is not installed or wasn't fitted properly, weeds can start growing through the surface and become much harder to deal with. That's why you should check the quotes and see if the membrane is included.

Gravel driveways don't need repairs in the same way as concrete or tarmac because there is no solid surface that can be cracked or broken. Instead, the usual jobs are topping up gravel that's been lost over time, smoothing out ruts and dealing with weeds if they have started growing through the surface.

Adding fresh gravel is the most common job. In most cases, one or two tonnes is enough to improve the look of a standard driveway and the gravel will cost you around £35 to £90 per tonne, depending on the type you choose.

If the surface has developed ruts or low spots, the existing gravel can be raked back, levelled and topped up where needed. While you are at it, make sure to check if the weed membrane underneath is damaged or not.

If the membrane needs replacing, this is going to be a major job. The membrane replacement process involves lifting the gravel, removing the old membrane, laying a new membrane and finally spreading the gravel back over the top. This is only needed if weeds have become a problem across a big portion of your driveway rather than in a few small areas.

Gravel is one of the most affordable driveway options on the market. It is naturally permeable so the rainwater drains straight through it without needing a specialist permeable system. The trade-off for getting a gravel driveway installed is that the surface isn't as solid as compared to resin, tarmac, concrete or block paving. Stones move over time and the driveway will need topping up every so often.

If you are after the lowest possible cost or prefer the look of a traditional gravel driveway, it's a good choice. On the other hand, if you want a solid surface that can last for many years ahead, you should choose one of the solid driveway materials.

What depth is the sub-base, and is it MOT Type 1? Ask the installers if they are going to use MOT Type 1 and how deep it will be. A properly built foundation is what stops a gravel driveway from sinking or developing ruts in the future.

Is a weed membrane included? Not every installer includes a weed membrane in the quote so make sure to ask the contractor what type of membrane they're using. A heavy-duty geotextile membrane lasts much longer than a basic landscaping fabric.

What edging is included? Ask them what the edge restraint is made from and whether it's included in the quoted price, since gravel spreads without one.

Which gravel type and grade are you quoting for? When getting quotes, ask them for the exact gravel type and size they will use because the prices can vary quite a bit between standard gravel and decorative stone, even if they look similar in photos.

Do you offer a guarantee on the sub-base and membrane? Most gravel driveway problems start underneath the surface. Make sure the guarantee covers the sub-base and membrane as well as the finished driveway.