How Much Does an Exposed Aggregate Driveway Cost?
In the UK, exposed aggregate concrete typically costs somewhere between about £70 and £180 per square metre installed. MyJobQuote's September 2026 guide puts it at £70 to £100 per m2, while BuildEstimatory's 2026 guide gives £100 to £180 per m2 including preparation, pouring and the surface retarder. On a 50 square metre two-car drive that works out at roughly £3,500 to £9,000. Where yours lands in that range depends mostly on the dig-out, the base, the access and the stone you choose, and the only figure worth planning around is a written quote after a site visit.
Exposed aggregate cost per m2 compared
To see where exposed aggregate sits, here are typical UK installed prices from the 2026 guides we checked:
Exposed aggregate concrete: around £70 to £100 per m2 (MyJobQuote) or £100 to £180 per m2 (BuildEstimatory).
Plain concrete driveway: around £95 per m2 on average (Checkatrade), with MyJobQuote giving roughly £60 to £90 per m2 for plain concrete.
Pattern imprinted (printed) concrete: typically £80 to £110 per m2 (Checkatrade), or £100 to £130 per m2 (MyJobQuote).
Resin bound: around £120 per m2 on average (Checkatrade), or £60 to £95 per m2 where little preparation is needed (MyJobQuote), rising to commonly £180 to £250 per m2 with a new base.
Tarmac: around £45 to £100 per m2, with most quotes at £50 to £90 (MyJobQuote, BestBuilders).
So exposed aggregate costs more than plain concrete, and overlaps with both imprinted concrete and resin bound. The guides don't agree on which of the three is dearest, which tells you the site matters more than the finish. On exposed aggregate driveways, the extra over plain concrete is the decorative stone and the finishing work, not the slab underneath.
What a drive costs by size
Multiplying out the full £70 to £180 per m2 spread gives a rough guide:
30m2 (single car): roughly £2,100 to £5,400
50m2 (two cars): roughly £3,500 to £9,000
80m2 (larger drive): roughly £5,600 to £14,400
Small jobs tend to cost more per square metre, because getting the team, the concrete lorry and the pressure washing kit to site is a fixed cost whatever the size. Large, open, level drives with good access come in towards the bottom of the range.
What moves the price?
Dig-out and muck-away. Breaking out an old drive and removing the spoil is often the biggest single cost after the concrete itself. One UK guide (HomeHow, 2025) puts removing an old imprinted concrete driveway at around £60 to £70 per m2. A lawn is cheaper to dig out than an old concrete slab.
Base. LABC Warranty guidance gives 100mm as the minimum sub-base for a light-duty drive and 100mm as the minimum slab for cars, rising to 150mm on clay or poor ground. Clay soils, soft spots and old trenches need more depth, more stone and more time.
Choice of stone. Plain local gravels cost less than imported granites, basalts or premium flint blends.
Method. A fully washed slab with the decorative stone through the top of the mix uses more decorative stone than a seeded surface, but holds it far better on a driveway.
Access. If the lorry can discharge straight onto the drive, it's quicker. Barrowing or pumping through a side gate adds labour.
Drainage. Exposed aggregate is concrete, so it isn't permeable. The government's front garden guidance treats concrete as impermeable, so a front drive over 5 square metres in England needs its water directed to a lawn, border or soakaway on your land, or planning permission. Channel drains or a soakaway add to the bill. BestBuilders puts SuDS-compliant drainage at typically £600 to £1,500 extra.
Dropped kerb. If you need a new vehicle crossing over the pavement, it's a separate council approval and cost. Checkatrade puts a new dropped kerb at around £1,800 on average, with extras taking some to around £2,500.
Edges, steps and borders. Kerbs, step risers and a contrasting border in imprinted or plain concrete all add time.
What's included and what usually isn't
A full quote for an exposed aggregate drive should cover:
Excavation and removal of waste.
A compacted crushed stone sub-base to a stated depth.
Formwork, edging and isolation joints.
Concrete at a stated thickness, with the decorative stone.
Retarder, wash-off and clean-up.
Sawn control joints.
Sealer.
Often not included: dropped kerb and council fees, moving drain covers or inspection chambers, new gullies or soakaways, walls, gates and fencing, and making good lawns or borders.
Exposed aggregate vs imprinted concrete vs resin on cost
Against imprinted concrete: the price ranges overlap. The groundwork and slab are the same; the difference is the decorative stone and the wash-off versus the colour hardener and stamping. Imprinted gives you a pattern and colour range; exposed aggregate gives you natural stone and more grip. If you're torn, price both: our pattern imprinted concrete page shows what the patterned option looks like.
Against resin bound: the two are close on price. The bigger differences are elsewhere: resin bound on a permeable base drains through and can avoid a soakaway on a front drive, while exposed aggregate is a rigid concrete slab that suits heavy point loads and slopes. Our resin bound vs exposed aggregate comparison goes through the trade-offs.
Running costs: sweeping, an occasional wash and resealing every few years. No weeding of joints, no loose stones to rake back.
How to compare quotes properly
Same area, same build-up. Check every quote states the sub-base depth, slab thickness and whether mesh or fibres are included.
Method. Ask whether the stone is mixed through and washed, or scattered on top. Seeded stones can be flicked out by traffic.
Drainage. Ask exactly where the water goes, especially on a front drive.
Joints and sealing. Ask where the joints will be and what sealer is used.
Guarantee. Ask what it covers and for how long. Drive Tech's covers materials, workmanship and structure for 10 years.
Exposed aggregate cost questions, answered
Is exposed aggregate worth the extra over plain concrete?
On a front drive or a sloping site, usually yes: it looks like stone, grips well and hides dirt better than plain concrete. For a utility area behind the house, plain brushed concrete does the job for less.
Is it cheaper than block paving?
Not reliably. Checkatrade puts block paving at around £100 per m2 on average, which sits in the middle of the exposed aggregate figures above, so the two often come out close.
Does a sloping drive cost more?
Often, yes. A slope can mean more digging to set the falls, steps or retaining edges at the sides, and drainage across the bottom so water doesn't run to the garage or the road. Grip is where exposed aggregate earns its keep on a slope, so it's a common choice there despite the extra groundwork.
What does resealing cost?
Less than you might think if you do it yourself, as it's a clean and a roll-on coat. A professional reseal is priced on the area and the state of the surface.
If you want to understand the finish before pricing it, start with what exposed aggregate concrete is. When you're ready for a figure, Drive Tech prices exposed aggregate drives after a free site visit anywhere around Wolverhampton, Cannock, Lichfield and Walsall, and you can contact us to book one.
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