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A standard domestic tarmac driveway in Kent costs between £2,500 and £6,500 for a full installation. That range exists because no two driveways are the same — the size, what’s already there, and what you want it to look like all affect the final number.
We’ve been laying tarmac across Kent for over 40 years — Ashford, Tenterden, Canterbury, Folkestone, Hythe and everywhere in between. The prices in this guide are what we’re actually quoting in 2026, not figures taken from a national comparison website.
Size is the starting point. A tight single-car drive at 15m² and a large double at 60m² are very different jobs in terms of materials and time on site. That said, larger areas often work out cheaper per square metre because the setup costs — bringing the gang, the roller, the hot box — are the same regardless of size.
What’s already there has a big effect. Tarmacing over a sound existing surface costs considerably less than starting from scratch on a grass or gravel garden, which needs full excavation and a new sub-base before any tarmac goes down.
The sub-base is the layer you never see — 150mm (roughly) of compacted Type 1 MOT hardcore under the tarmac. It’s what makes a driveway last 20 years rather than five. If the existing base under your current surface is compromised, it has to come out and be replaced.
Edging and drainage add to the cost but they’re not optional extras in any meaningful sense. Concrete pin kerbs stop the tarmac spreading over time. Drainage is a planning requirement on most domestic drives. Getting these right the first time is cheaper than rectifying them later. We offer a design service too where we can advise you on options to choose from, for example this tarmac driveway in Folkestone looked amazing, the client opted for a yellow spec in the tarmac, we advised that they chose a grey granite edging which looked lovely and didnt deter away from the tarmac feature.
The tarmac specification itself varies. Standard wearing course works well for the vast majority of domestic driveways. Open-graded permeable tarmac, coloured asphalt, and road-grade SMA are available for specific situations, each at different price points. In addition, Ideally 2 layers of tarmac is usually layed.
Installed prices including sub-base, edging, and standard wearing course finish.
| Driveway size | Approx. area | Cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Single car (tight) | 15–20m² | £1,800 – £2,800 |
| Single car (standard) | 20–30m² | £2,500 – £3,800 |
| Double car | 35–50m² | £3,500 – £5,500 |
| Large double / triple | 50–80m² | £5,000 – £7,500 |
| Extended or shared access | 80m²+ | Price on survey |
Guide prices for 2026. Varies by site conditions, access and specification. All quotations are free following a site visit.
| Surface | Installed cost per m² | Lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarmac | £60 – £110 | 20–25 years | Low |
| Resin bound | £80 – £130 | 15–20 years | Low–Medium |
| Block paving | £90 – £150 | 20+ years | Medium–High |
| Concrete | £75 – £125 | 20–30 years | Low (prone to cracking) |
| Gravel | £20 – £40 | 3–5 years before topping up | High |
Gravel looks cheap on paper. In practice you’re buying top-up bags every few years, raking stones back from the road (and your hallway) and clearing it in winter is miserable. Most people who switch to tarmac say the same thing — should have done it years ago!
If the base underneath is solid and the surface is the problem — crumbling edges, tired finish, surface cracking — an overlay is considerably cheaper than a full dig-out.
| Job type | Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay (new wearing course on existing base) | £35 – £65 per m² | Base is sound and level |
| Full resurfacing (strip, relay, new base) | £70 – £110 per m² | Base is failing or uneven |
| Patch repair / pothole fill | £200 – £600 | Isolated damage only |
| Edge repair | £150 – £400 | Edges failing, main surface sound |
There are two mistakes we see regularly. The first is homeowners assuming they need a full replacement when an overlay would do the job perfectly well. The second — less common but more costly — is contractors selling an overlay when the base actually needs replacing. The difference matters because an overlay on a failing base just delays the problem.
Turning a front garden into a driveway is our most common job across Kent. It costs more than resurfacing because the excavation and sub-base work is all from scratch.
For a standard front garden conversion (20–35m²) budget £2,800 – £4,800, covering:
If you need a dropped kerb as part of this, that’s a separate application to Kent County Council — we can walk you through the process when we visit.
When comparing quotes from different contractors, check whether these are included or priced separately:
We provide a fully itemised written quote so there’s nothing hidden.
How much does it cost to tarmac a driveway in Kent? For a typical domestic installation in Kent, £2,500 to £6,500 covers most jobs. The main variables are the size of the area, whether excavation is needed, and what edging and drainage are required. We provide free written quotations after a site visit.
Is tarmac cheaper than block paving? For most driveways, yes. Tarmac runs at £60–£110 per m² installed, block paving at £90–£150 per m². Tarmac is also quicker to lay and needs less upkeep. Where they work particularly well together is a tarmac field with block paving or granite sett borders — it gives you the look of a premium finish at a sensible overall cost.
How long does a tarmac driveway last? Twenty to twenty-five years with a proper sub-base and reasonable care. The main causes of early failure are an inadequate base, poor drainage management, and patch repairs done with cold-lay DIY products rather than hot asphalt.
Can you lay tarmac over an existing concrete driveway? Usually yes, as long as the concrete is structurally sound and there’s no threshold issue at the entrance. We apply a tack coat bonding agent between the surfaces. Where concrete has cracked significantly, those cracks can eventually mirror through into the new surface, so it’s something we assess on each job individually.
Do you need planning permission to tarmac a driveway in Kent? Not usually. Using a permeable surface or directing drainage to a lawn or border means permitted development applies. Standard (non-permeable) tarmac over 5m² does technically require permission unless drainage is managed on-site. We cover this as part of every site visit and quotation.
How long does installation take? One to two days for most domestic driveways. Larger jobs or those needing significant excavation run to two or three days. You can drive on new tarmac within 24 to 48 hours in normal conditions.
Why is one quote much lower than the others? Usually comes down to sub-base depth, material grade, or exclusions. A significantly lower quote often means the sub-base preparation is being cut back, or recycled road planings are being used rather than fresh tarmac. Both save money on the day and cause problems within a few years. Ask for an itemised breakdown so you’re comparing like for like.
Hundreds of quotes go out each year using the form below or we can even arrange a site visit across Ashford, Tenterden, Canterbury, Folkestone, Margate, Medway etc and the surrounding areas of Kent.
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