How to Quote a Concrete Driveway in Australia
A driveway is more than a slab of grey — it's the dig, the base, the drainage, the joints and the finish. Here's how to quote a concrete driveway so the prep and the finish choice both land in your price.
A driveway looks like a rectangle of concrete, but the money is in everything around the pour — the excavation, the compacted base, the drainage and the finish. Get the site assessment wrong and you've lost the margin before the first truck arrives. Here's how to quote a concrete driveway so the prep, the finish and the short-load fees are all in the number.
What a good driveway quote covers
Break the driveway into every stage before you price it — the pour is only one of them:
- Excavation and spoil — removing any old surface, carting the dig away, and the tip fees.
- Machinery — mini-excavator or bobcat hire, plus mobilisation to get it on site.
- Sub-base — a minimum 100mm of compacted road base, priced per tonne.
- Drainage — assessing the fall and diverting stormwater with pipe and grates.
- Formwork and reinforcement — timber forms and SL82 mesh on chairs.
- Concrete and finish — the mix, the pour, and whether it's plain, coloured or exposed aggregate.
- Joints, edging and sealing — control joints, borders and a protective sealer.
Compaction isn't optional. A properly compacted sub-base to AS 3727:2018 is what stops the driveway cracking — budget the plate compactor hours in, because skimping here is what brings you back for a callback.
Concrete driveway costs in 2026
The concrete itself is priced per square metre and the finish drives the rate. These figures are for the material and pour, before prep and finishing labour, at a standard 100–125mm thickness:
| Finish | Cost / m² | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain grey | $60–$80 | The standard, hard-wearing option |
| Coloured | $75–$110 | Add $15–$30/m² over plain for pigment |
| Exposed aggregate | $100–$150 | Specialised aggregates and finishing |
On top of the concrete, budget SL82 mesh at $15–$25/m² installed, timber formwork around $8–$12/lin m, and a sealer at $5–$10/m² to protect the finish. If the truck can't reach the pour, add concrete pump hire — typically $400–$700.
Working out concrete volume: Volume = Length × Width × Depth. A standard driveway is 100mm (0.1m) deep, so a 50m² driveway is 50 × 0.1 = 5m³. Add 5–10% for waste, then order per cubic metre — concrete is delivered in 5–6m³ loads, and a part load attracts a short-load fee.
Working out labour
Labour is the biggest variable on a driveway. For a typical 50m² driveway, allow roughly 2–3 days for a crew of three across prep, pour and finish. Price the crew at $80–$120/hour per person and adjust for the finish and the site.
- Excavation and sub-base compaction is about a full day; formwork and steel fixing another half to one day; the pour and finish a full day.
- A decorative finish takes longer to lay and finish than plain grey — don't price it at the same rate.
- Factor travel, breaks and supervision; they're paid hours whether or not the quote shows them.
- Hitting rock or unexpected drainage can add a full day — flag it as a variation up front.
Edging, drainage and joints
The details beyond the main pour are where driveways get underquoted and where callbacks come from. Itemise them so nothing's a surprise:
- Control and expansion joints are essential to manage movement and stop cracking — price them per lineal metre.
- Edging like brick borders, timber sleepers or clean saw cuts adds both labour and materials.
- Drainage — spoon drains, strip grates or a stormwater connection — keeps water off the slab and must be itemised.
- Custom finishes such as decorative saw cuts, stencils or patterns need special tools and extra time.
- Carry a 5–10% contingency for minor overruns, small fixes and weather.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Underestimating access. No truck access means a pump or wheelbarrowing concrete a long way. Confirm access and price the pump before you commit.
- Forgetting waste disposal. Skip bins and tip runs add up fast, especially removing a thick old slab. Detail the waste cost rather than eating it.
- Not checking for services. Hitting a pipe or cable causes delays and damage. Call Dial Before You Dig (1100) well before you break ground.
- Ignoring the weather. Rain and extreme heat stall a pour and slow curing. Build rain days into the program so a wet week isn't your loss.
- Vague inclusions. Spell out what's in and what's out — landscaping reinstatement after the pour is the classic dispute. Put it in writing.
Pro tips for a driveway quote that holds
- Always visit the site — never quote a driveway blind off plans.
- Carry a minimum 10% contingency for ground and weather surprises.
- Confirm concrete and aggregate prices with your supplier the day you quote.
- Specify the exact finish — plain, coloured or exposed aggregate — to head off disputes.
- Allow for a short-load fee whenever the order is under 4m³.
- Use plastic chairs to hold the mesh at the right height — cents to buy, thousands saved in cracking.
ServiceYak keeps your prep, concrete, finish and drainage rates in a reusable kit, so you can itemise a driveway quote on site — base, pour and finish — and send a clean PDF the same day you measure up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Australia?
Plain grey concrete runs about $60–$80/m² for the material and pour, before prep and finishing labour. Coloured adds $15–$30/m² and exposed aggregate pushes it to $100–$150/m² — and site prep, drainage and edging sit on top.
How much concrete does a driveway need?
Multiply length × width × depth. A standard driveway is 100mm (0.1m) deep, so a 50m² driveway needs about 5m³ (50 × 0.1), plus 5–10% for waste. Concrete is ordered per m³ and delivered in 5–6m³ loads, with part loads attracting a short-load fee.
Do I need to worry about drainage on a driveway?
Yes — getting the fall right and diverting stormwater is what stops water pooling and undermining the slab. Assess the fall on site and itemise any spoon drains, grates or stormwater connections; AS 3727:2018 covers residential pavements.