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Cost guide

How much does block paving cost?

£4,500 to £6,000 covers a 60 square metre concrete block driveway in 2026, with £50 to £120 per square metre spanning the material choices. London and the South East reach £5,500 to £7,500 at that size, against £4,500 to £6,200 across the North and Scotland.

Block paving laid in courses with the last few blocks still to go on the sand

Typical prices

Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.

WorkTypical UK price
Concrete blocks, per square metre supplied£19 to £48
Permeable blocks, per square metre supplied£60 to £90
30 square metre driveway, concrete blocks£2,500 to £3,500
60 square metre driveway, concrete blocks£4,500 to £6,000
90 square metre driveway, brick pavers£7,500 to £9,500
Pressure wash and re-sand existing paving£150 to £300

Edging and the second sand pass are the first items dropped to win a price. Paving without haunched kerbs spreads at the perimeter, and joints left half full let blocks rock within two years.

What moves the price

  • Block type, £19 per square metre for concrete against £110 for composite.
  • Excavation, £8 to £12 per square metre before the spoil is carted off.
  • Sub-base tonnage, with Type 1 stone at £50 to £80 per tonne.
  • Edging runs, £5 to £10 per linear metre around every perimeter and island.
  • Laying pattern, because 45 degree herringbone generates far more cut blocks than stretcher bond.

Who quotes for it

2 of the 18 gardeners listed on this site take on block paving.

Most of them in one place: Shrewsbury (1), Telford (1).

Questions about block paving

Does block paving need sealing?

No, though sealing slows weed growth and helps against oil staining. Sealer kits cost £15 to £45 and get reapplied every three to five years. Pressure washing at £150 to £300 strips jointing sand out, so the joints need refilling afterwards either way.

Do I need permission for a block paved front driveway?

In England, permeable blocks of any size need none. Standard impermeable blocks over five square metres between house and road do need permission, unless run-off reaches a lawn, border or soakaway. Scotland has no five square metre threshold: any hard surface between house and road must be porous or drain to a porous area.

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