Blog→How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in Australia? (2026 Prices)
How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in Australia? (2026 Prices)
A concrete driveway in Australia costs $80–$120/m² for plain concrete and $100–$150 for exposed aggregate. Typical driveway price and cost drivers.
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A concrete driveway in Australia typically costs $80–$120 per m² for plain concrete and $100–$150 per m² for exposed aggregate. A standard double driveway of around 40 m² usually runs about $3,500–$6,000. Excavation, finish type and site access are the biggest cost drivers.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
- Plain concrete, supply and lay: $80–$120/m²
- Exposed aggregate: $100–$150/m²
- Coloured or stencilled: $100–$160/m²
- Typical 40 m² double driveway: $3,500–$6,000
- Excavation and prep: $50–$90/m² (more in rock or fill)
Concrete driveway cost per m² by finish
Finish is the biggest single price lever after area. Here's what each finish typically costs installed, and what you get for the extra spend:
| Finish | Cost per m² | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain / broom finish | $80–$120 | Cheapest, standard non-slip texture |
| Exposed aggregate | $100–$150 | Stone finish, extra labour to wash back and seal |
| Coloured concrete | $100–$150 | Integral colour or oxide, minimal extra labour |
| Stencilled / stamped | $120–$160 | Pattern stamped into surface, most labour-intensive |
An exposed aggregate driveway costs more than plain concrete because it needs a retarder applied to the surface, then washing and exposing the stone by hand the next day, plus a sealer afterwards to protect it. That extra step typically adds $20–$30/m² over plain concrete, which is why the exposed aggregate driveway price range sits at $100–$150/m² rather than $80–$120/m².
Aggregate size and colour also move the price within that range. A fine, off-the-shelf aggregate mix sits at the bottom ($100–$115/m²), while a large or feature aggregate (river pebble, black granite) that has to be specially ordered pushes toward $130–$150/m². Resealing an exposed aggregate driveway every 3–5 years costs roughly $8–$15/m² and keeps the stone looking fresh and easier to clean.
Asphalt vs concrete driveway cost
Asphalt is the other common driveway surface in Australia, and it's usually cheaper upfront than concrete but costs more over the life of the driveway.
| Surface | Installed cost per m² | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt | $50–$90 | 15–20 years, needs resealing every 3–5 years |
| Plain concrete | $80–$120 | 25–40 years, minimal maintenance |
| Exposed aggregate concrete | $100–$150 | 25–40 years, occasional resealing |
Is asphalt cheaper than concrete? Yes, on install day — asphalt runs roughly 30–40% less than plain concrete per m². But asphalt softens in extreme heat, can rut under a heavy vehicle parked in one spot, and needs periodic resealing and eventually resurfacing, so the total cost over 20–30 years often ends up close to concrete once maintenance is factored in. Concrete is the better long-term choice if you're not moving; asphalt can make sense for a lower upfront budget or a driveway you expect to redo anyway when you extend or renovate.
Maintenance cost is the other part of the comparison. Asphalt needs a sealcoat every 3–5 years at roughly $8–$15/m² to stop it drying out and cracking. Concrete needs little more than an occasional clean and, for exposed aggregate or coloured finishes, a reseal every 3–5 years at a similar cost — plain broom concrete often needs no resealing at all.
What affects the price
- Finish: plain is cheapest; exposed aggregate, coloured and stencilled cost more, as shown above.
- Excavation and ground: rock, fill or a sloping site adds prep cost — expect the top of the $50–$90/m² excavation range if the site needs significant cut and fill.
- Access: if the truck or pump can't reach the pour, labour (or hiring a concrete pump) adds up, often $500–$1,200 for a pump on a tight block.
- Thickness and reinforcement: a driveway needs more depth and steel than a path — 100–125 mm thick with SL72 or SL82 mesh is standard for a domestic driveway; heavier vehicles need more.
- Removal: breaking out and disposing of an old driveway adds $25–$45/m², more if it's a thick industrial slab.
- Drainage and falls: correcting falls so water runs away from the house or garage adds to excavation and formwork time.
- Council crossover permit: a new or widened driveway crossing the footpath usually needs council approval, typically $200–$600 in permit fees plus any required layback works, on top of the driveway itself.
- Control joints: saw-cut or formed joints control cracking and are standard on any driveway over a few metres wide; they're included in most quotes but check they're specified.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
A standard domestic concrete driveway is poured 100 mm thick for cars, with 125–150 mm recommended if you park a caravan, boat trailer or larger vehicle on it regularly. Reinforcement mesh (typically SL72 for a standard car driveway, SL82 for heavier loads) sits inside the slab to control cracking. Going thinner than 100 mm to save money is a false economy — it's the most common cause of premature cracking and won't be covered under most concreters' workmanship warranty.
Concrete strength also matters alongside thickness. Most residential driveways are poured at 20–25 MPa; if the driveway will regularly carry a truck, boat or caravan, ask for 32 MPa. The strength grade has only a small effect on price (a few dollars per m²) but a big effect on how well the slab holds up under load.
Worked example: single vs double driveway
Two common driveway sizes, both plain broom finish at $100/m² (mid-range of the $80–$120 band), with typical prep:
- Single-car driveway, ~18 m²: concrete $1,800 + excavation/prep at $60/m² ($1,080) = $2,880 ex. GST ($3,168 inc. GST)
- Double-car driveway, ~36 m²: concrete $3,600 + excavation/prep at $60/m² ($2,160) = $5,760 ex. GST ($6,336 inc. GST)
The double driveway example lands just above the $3,500–$6,000 "typical 40 m²" range because it includes full excavation costs; a driveway on flat, easy-access ground with minimal prep would sit toward the bottom of that range instead.
A larger triple-car or wraparound driveway of around 55–60 m² at the same rate would land at roughly $8,800–$9,900 ex. GST including prep — still working out to a similar per-m² rate, just over more area. This is why quotes should always show the m² figure and the rate per m², not just a lump sum — it's the only way to compare two quotes of different sizes fairly.
Curing time before you can use the driveway
Concrete reaches walking strength within 24–48 hours but shouldn't take vehicle weight for at least 7 days, and full strength takes around 28 days. Ask your concreter for the exact timeline in your quote, especially if you need the driveway usable for a specific date — rushing a vehicle onto a driveway before it's cured is one of the most common causes of early cracking and is generally not covered by warranty.
How to get an accurate driveway quote
Ask for the quote to state the area (m²), thickness, concrete strength (MPa), finish and whether excavation, removal and any pump hire are included. A concreter using Insta Quotes can price the prep, concrete and labour to current Australian rates and send an itemised quote on-site.
Get at least two or three quotes and compare them line by line rather than just the bottom-line total — a cheaper quote that's missing excavation, removal or reinforcement mesh isn't actually cheaper once those line items get added back in as a variation later.
Related guides
- How to Quote a Concreting Job: Australian Concreter's Pricing Guide
- Concrete Driveway Cost in New Zealand
- How to Price a Job as a Tradie
- What to Include in a Trade Quote: Australian Checklist
Are you a concreter? See how Insta Quotes prices driveways and concreting jobs in 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an exposed aggregate driveway cost?
Exposed aggregate concrete typically costs $100–$150 per m² installed, compared with $80–$120/m² for plain concrete. A fine, standard aggregate sits at the lower end; a large or feature aggregate that has to be specially ordered pushes toward $130–$150/m².
Is asphalt cheaper than concrete for a driveway?
Yes upfront — asphalt costs roughly $50–$90/m² installed, around 30–40% less than plain concrete's $80–$120/m². But asphalt needs resealing every 3–5 years and typically lasts 15–20 years versus concrete's 25–40 years, so the lifetime cost gap narrows once maintenance is factored in.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
A standard domestic concrete driveway is 100 mm thick for cars, with 125–150 mm recommended for a caravan, boat trailer or other heavy vehicle parked regularly. Reinforcement mesh (SL72 standard, SL82 for heavier loads) sits inside the slab, and going thinner than 100 mm is the most common cause of premature cracking.
How much does a concrete driveway cost per square metre in Australia?
Plain concrete runs $80–$120/m², exposed aggregate $100–$150/m², and coloured or stencilled finishes $100–$160/m². A typical 40 m² double driveway costs $3,500–$6,000 including standard site prep.
How long does it take for a concrete driveway to cure?
Concrete reaches walking strength in 24–48 hours but shouldn't take vehicle weight for at least 7 days, with full strength around 28 days. Putting a car on it too early is a common cause of early cracking and typically isn't covered under warranty.
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