The short answer
A gravel driveway typically costs around £50–£110 per square metre installed in the UK, with DIY closer to £30–£70 per m² if you do the groundwork yourself. That rate covers far more than the stones: it pays for excavation, a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base of about 150mm, a geotextile membrane, edging and the gravel on top. The sub-base alone is often 20–30% of the cost. The per-m² rate usually works out lower on larger driveways, because fixed costs like machinery hire and site set-up are spread over more area, while small or awkward driveways sit at the higher end. The honest figure for your driveway depends on its size, ground and access.
The per-square-metre price is a useful guide, but it hides a lot — most of it is groundwork, not gravel. Here is what the rate actually covers and why it varies.
Per square metre
- Professional install£50–£110 / m²
- DIY (groundwork yourself)£30–£70 / m²
- Sub-base share~20–30% of cost
- Decorative aggregate+£5–£20 / m²
- Rate on large drivewaysworks out lower
What the per-m² rate includes
- Excavation: digging out the existing surface and soil to the right depth and removing the spoil.
- Sub-base: laying and compacting around 150mm of MOT Type 1 — the structural layer that carries the cars.
- Membrane: a geotextile layer that stops weeds and keeps the gravel from mixing into the sub-base.
- Edging & gravel: edge restraints to contain the stone, then 40–60mm of angular gravel on top.
| Element | Typical share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation & spoil removal | significant | more on heavy or sloping ground |
| MOT Type 1 sub-base | ~20–30% | the structural layer |
| Membrane & edging | moderate | stops weeds & spreading |
| Gravel surface | lower share | cheap material, quick to lay |
Indicative split for guidance — varies by site. Sources: MyBuilder and MyJobQuote cost guides.
Why the rate works out lower on larger driveways
A lot of a driveway's cost is fixed regardless of size — getting a digger and grab lorry to site, setting up, and compacting plant. Spread those over a small driveway and the per-m² rate is high; spread them over a larger one and the same fixed costs are diluted, so the rate works out lower per square metre. That is why a quote for a big driveway can show a lower £/m² than a small one, even though the total is higher. When comparing quotes, look at the build specification behind the rate, not just the headline figure.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a gravel driveway per square metre in the UK?
Typically around £50–£110 per square metre installed, or roughly £30–£70 per m² as a DIY job. The rate covers excavation, the MOT Type 1 sub-base, a membrane, edging and the gravel — most of which is groundwork rather than the stones.
Why does the per-m² rate fall on bigger driveways?
Because fixed costs like machinery hire and site set-up are spread over more area. A larger driveway dilutes those costs, so the rate often works out lower per square metre even though the total bill is higher.
What makes one per-m² quote higher than another?
Mostly the build behind it — a deeper dig-out, a thicker sub-base, proper edging and a better gravel grade cost more but last longer. Compare the specification, not just the headline rate.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific driveway. They are guidance, not a quotation.