By the ConConnect team · Updated August 2026 · Figures verified against current Australian pricing guides and council fee schedules
A concrete driveway costs $60–$150 per square metre installed in Australia, depending on the finish. That puts a single-car driveway (about 18 m²) at $1,100–$2,700 and a typical 50 m² double at $3,000–$7,500 — before extras like removing the old driveway, site prep and the council crossover, which can add thousands. Here's every number you need to budget a driveway or sanity-check a quote.
Single driveways in Australia are typically 3 m wide; doubles run 5.5–6 m. Totals below assume a prepared site — plain at $60–$85 per m², exposed aggregate at $100–$150. For coloured, stamped or odd sizes, run your numbers in the cost calculator.
| Driveway | Plain finish | Exposed aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| Single car (3 m × 6 m, 18 m²) | $1,100–$1,550 | $1,800–$2,700 |
| Long single (3 m × 10 m, 30 m²) | $1,800–$2,550 | $3,000–$4,500 |
| Double (typical 50 m²) | $3,000–$4,250 | $5,000–$7,500 |
| Long or rural run (100 m²) | $6,000–$8,500 | $10,000–$15,000 |
Installed, standard residential work on a prepared site, ex extras below. NSW and ACT price at the top of these ranges; QLD and SA at the bottom.
Most driveway blowouts aren't the concrete — they're the extras. A standard driveway slab is 100 mm thick with SL72 mesh; if caravans, boats or anything over two tonnes will park on it, it should step up to 125 mm with SL82.
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Site prep (excavation, fill, formwork) | $20–$50 per m² |
| Removing an old driveway | $30–$80 per m² |
| Reinforcing mesh upgrade (SL72 → SL82 for >2 t vehicles) | roughly $10 per m² |
| Sealing (recommended for exposed aggregate) | $10–$30 per m² |
| Council crossover permit | $150–$600 depending on council |
That's 96 m². At $100–$150 per m² laid, the slab alone is $9,600–$14,400. If an old driveway has to come out first, removal at $30–$80 per m² adds $2,900–$7,700. So $16,000 sits mid-range for exposed aggregate with removal — fair, but only an itemised quote showing thickness, mesh, MPa and prep tells you what you're actually buying.
The section of driveway between your boundary and the road — the crossover — sits on council land, and building or replacing it needs council approval everywhere in Australia. Skip it and you risk fines or being ordered to rip it out.
Permit fees vary widely by council: City of Casey in Victoria charges $364, City of Canning in WA charges $594 including inspection, and some councils like Melville charge nothing for the application. Allow 10–20 business days for approval before your concreter is booked in. One genuine bright spot: many WA councils subsidise roughly half the cost of your first crossover — Melville pays a fixed $495 and Canning up to $600 — so check your council's policy before you pay full freight.
Your concreter usually handles the crossover build within the job, but the permit is typically the owner's to arrange — ask who's doing the paperwork when you get quotes.
Asphalt wins on upfront price, pavers win on repairability, and concrete wins on cost per year of life. The full picture:
| Material | Installed | Lifespan | Ongoing upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | $60–$150 / m² | 30–40 years | Optional sealing; reseal exposed aggregate every 2–3 years |
| Asphalt | $25–$100 / m² | 15–20 years | Sealcoat every 3–5 years (~$15–$25/m²), resurfacing later |
| Pavers | $70–$160 / m² | 30+ years | Re-sand joints, re-compact base every 5–10 years |
Planning the pour itself? A 50 m² driveway at 100 mm is about 5.5 m³ of concrete including wastage — check your volume, and if the truck can't reach, budget for pump hire on top.
A concrete driveway costs $60–$150 per square metre installed in Australia (2026), depending on the finish — plain grey at $60–$85/m², coloured $75–$110, exposed aggregate $100–$150 and stamped $120–$180. A single-car driveway of about 18 m² starts around $1,100–$1,550 in plain concrete; a typical 50 m² double lands between $3,000 and $7,500 depending on finish.
A 10-metre-long single driveway at the standard 3 m width is 30 m², which costs roughly $1,800–$2,550 in plain concrete or $3,000–$4,500 in exposed aggregate on a prepared site. Add $20–$50 per m² if the site needs excavation and fill, and $30–$80 per m² to remove an old driveway first.
A 5 m × 5 m driveway is 25 m², which costs about $1,500–$2,150 in plain concrete or $2,500–$3,750 in exposed aggregate, laid on a prepared site. It's a common size for a short double-width entry in front of a garage.
No — asphalt is cheaper upfront at $25–$100 per m² (typically around $60) versus $60–$150 for concrete. But concrete lasts 30–40 years against asphalt's 15–20, and asphalt needs sealcoating every 3–5 years, so concrete usually costs less per year of service life.
For the section that crosses the verge or nature strip — the crossover — yes, everywhere in Australia, because that strip is council land. Permits typically cost $150–$600 (for example, City of Casey charges $364 and City of Canning $594), and approval usually takes 10–20 business days. A bonus in much of WA: many councils subsidise roughly half the cost of your first crossover.
Keep cars off a new concrete driveway for 7 days — that's when it reaches roughly two-thirds of its strength. You can walk on it after 24–48 hours, but heavy vehicles like trucks, caravans and boats should stay off for 28 days while it reaches full design strength.
Exposed aggregate driveways should be sealed at installation and resealed every 2–3 years to keep the stone locked in and the finish protected. Sealing plain concrete is optional but extends its life. Professional sealing runs $10–$30 per m², and most operators have a minimum call-out of $400–$600.
When you can walk, drive and build on new concrete — set times, strength milestones and curing done right.
What line and boom pumps cost to hire in Australia, and what drives the price.
Volume in m³, 20kg bags and cost for slabs, footings and post holes.
ConConnect helps concreters find local work, book pumps and crews, and track every dollar on the job. Join the waitlist and get three months of Plus free at launch.