How to price driveway and patio jobs
How driveway and paving contractors can price block paving, resin, tarmac and patios, covering area, groundwork, drainage and access.
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Knowing how to price driveway and patio jobs accurately matters, because these are big-ticket jobs where small mistakes in measuring or groundwork can wipe out your profit. Whether you lay new driveways, build patios or clean and re-sand them, a consistent method helps.
This guide gives a method, not market prices. Your prices depend on your suppliers, team and area.
New driveways and patios
Measure everything
- Area in square metres, including awkward shapes and curves.
- Excavation depth for sub-base, which depends on use: a driveway for cars needs more than a patio for people.
- Edges and kerbs in metres.
- Levels and falls, so water runs away properly.
- Drainage points and existing manholes.
Price the parts
- excavation, machine hire and spoil removal;
- sub-base materials and compaction;
- surface material: block paving, resin, tarmac, gravel, slabs;
- edging, kerbs and any steps or walls;
- drainage, such as channel drains or soakaways;
- labour, overheads and profit.
Our guide on how to price a job and free pricing calculator cover the general method.
Drainage and rules
Front gardens and driveways can be subject to rules about surface water and permeable surfaces, and some work needs permission. Check the current rules for the property and explain in your quote how surface water will be handled.
Unknowns underground
Old foundations, roots, services and soft ground are common. State your assumptions and include a contingency or a rate for extra work.
Driveway and patio cleaning
Cleaning jobs are smaller but frequent, and pricing them clearly wins repeat work:
- price by area, with a minimum charge;
- add for heavy staining, moss or weed treatment;
- add for re-sanding block paving and sealing;
- note access to water and where wastewater goes.
Give a ballpark price up front
Most homeowners have no idea whether a new driveway is $3,900 or $26,000. Ask for approximate size, material and current surface, then show a range. An instant estimator for driveways and paving does this on your website and collects photos. Read how to give a ballpark price.
Offer material options
Show a couple of surface options at different prices. Customers can choose what suits their budget instead of rejecting a single price. See what to say when a customer says “that’s too expensive”.
Questions
How do I price block paving?
Work out area, excavation and sub-base depth, blocks, edging, sand, drainage, waste and labour, then add overheads and profit.
Should I price driveway cleaning per square metre?
Per square metre with a minimum charge works well, with extra prices for sealing, re-sanding and heavy staining.
How long should a driveway quote be valid?
Material prices change, so 30 days or less is sensible for large jobs.
For more ways to win work, see marketing ideas for tradesmen.
