How much does a resin driveway cost?

In short: published national cost guides put resin driveways at roughly £60 to £120 per m² overall, with one guide quoting £6,000 to £10,000 for a 100 m² drive (MyBuilder, checked October 2026). Prices in Surrey tend to sit towards the upper end. An overlay on sound tarmac or concrete costs far less than a new permeable build-up. Only a site visit gives a reliable figure, so treat any range as a guide, not a quote.

The five things that decide the price

1. The base

This is the big one. Excavating an old drive, removing waste, and laying a geotextile, an open-graded sub-base and a binder course is most of the work on a rebuild. MyBuilder's published guide gives excavation at £10 to £20 per m² and a Type 1 sub-base at £15 to £30 per m², before any resin. An overlay on sound tarmac or concrete skips most of that, but needs preparation such as crack treatment, patch repairs and priming.

2. Area and shape

Larger areas usually cost less per square metre, because set-up, mixing and edging are spread across more surface. Small paths and awkward shapes cost more per m². Curves add little with resin compared with cutting blocks or slabs.

3. Drainage

A drive that drains to ground needs a permeable build-up. One that sits on solid concrete or tarmac needs falls and somewhere for water to go, sometimes a channel drain and soakaway. MyBuilder lists drainage work at £300 to £1,000.

4. Materials

UV-stable (aliphatic) resin costs more than non-UV-stable resin but holds its colour outdoors. Premium and bespoke aggregate blends cost more than standard ranges. Borders in granite setts or blocks add cost per linear metre.

5. Access and logistics

Narrow access, no parking for the installer's van, long barrowing distances, steps and slopes all add labour. So do manhole covers, thresholds and steps that need detailing.

Published price ranges

Our statistics page lists published figures with their sources. Treat them carefully:

They are national, and prices in Surrey and the South East tend to sit higher.
Sources do not always state VAT or when they were last updated.
They cannot account for your base, drainage or access.

How to compare quotes fairly

Same scope: confirm every quote is either an overlay or a rebuild, and why.
Layer by layer: depth and material of the sub-base, binder course and resin layer.
Named products: resin system, UV-stable or not, and aggregate blend.
Drainage: how surface water is managed, in writing.
Inclusions: edging, borders, manhole covers, waste disposal, protection of neighbouring surfaces.
Guarantee: what it covers, how long, who provides it, and any conditions.
Money: VAT, deposit, stage payments and what happens if weather delays work.

Our installer checklist turns these into questions you can send.

Warning signs in a cheap quote

No mention of what goes under the resin
"Resin" without saying bound or bonded
No resin product name, or a non-UV resin for an exposed drive
Overlaying block paving or gravel
Large cash deposits or pressure to sign the same day

Frequently asked questions

Why are two resin driveway quotes so different?

Usually because they describe different jobs. One may overlay the existing base while another digs out and rebuilds; one may use UV-stable resin and the other not; one may include drainage and edging while the other excludes them. Ask each installer for a layer-by-layer specification.

Is resin cheaper than block paving?

It depends on the base. Over a sound existing surface, resin is often competitive. On a new build-up the groundwork is similar for both, so the difference comes down to the surface material and labour.

Do quotes include VAT?

Check. Some installers quote ex VAT, others include it, and published cost guides do not always say. Ask for VAT to be shown as a separate line.

Can I reduce the cost?

Keep the existing base if it is genuinely sound, choose a standard blend rather than a bespoke mix, simplify borders, and avoid peak-season timing where possible. Do not cut the sub-base or choose non-UV resin to save money; those are the common causes of early failure.