How much does a concrete driveway cost per m² in Australia?

Plain concrete generally starts from around $65–$90 per m², with coloured concrete and exposed aggregate sitting higher due to added materials and labour. Site access and sub-base conditions can push any of these figures up.

Is exposed aggregate more expensive than plain concrete?

Yes. Exposed aggregate requires an additional washing and finishing step after the pour, which adds labour cost on top of the concrete supply itself, typically making it the most expensive of the common finish options.

What size driveway do I need to budget for?

A single-car driveway is usually 20–30m², while a double driveway for a modern home often falls between 50–70m². Measuring your specific driveway, including any curves or splays, gives a far more accurate figure than a generic size assumption.

Does the strength of the concrete affect the price?

Yes, though usually less than finish or site access. Standard residential driveways are typically poured at 20MPa or 25MPa, with higher strength grades reserved for driveways expecting heavier vehicle loads.

Why do driveway quotes vary so much between properties?

Site access, ground conditions and sub-base preparation needs can differ significantly even between similar-sized driveways in the same suburb, which is why an accurate quote requires a site assessment rather than a flat per-m² rate.

How Much Does A Concrete Driveway Cost In Australia?

A standard concrete driveway typically costs between $65 and $150 per m² supplied and installed, with exposed aggregate and coloured finishes pushing that range higher. The final number depends on the size of the driveway, the strength of the mix, the finish you choose, site access and how much sub-base preparation the ground needs before a truck ever arrives.

If you're an owner-builder or homeowner planning a new driveway, national averages only tell you so much. Concrete prices Australia-wide shift with region, transport distance and site conditions, so the figure that matters is the one calculated for your actual block. Here's what goes into that number.

Every driveway quote comes down to five main variables. Understanding them helps you read a quote properly and spot where the cost is actually coming from.

Size of the Driveway

Larger driveways cost more in total but often work out cheaper per m², since fixed costs like truck mobilisation and site setup get spread across a bigger pour. A single-car driveway might run to 20–30m², while a double-width driveway for a modern home can easily reach 50–70m². Curved layouts, splayed entries or multiple access points add formwork and labour time, which shows up in the per-m² rate even before the concrete itself is considered.

Mix Strength

Residential driveways are usually poured at 20MPa or 25MPa, which is more than adequate for cars and light vehicles. Higher-strength mixes such as 32MPa are sometimes specified where a driveway will also take truck or caravan traffic, or where council conditions call for it. Stepping up in strength grade increases the cost of the concrete itself, though it's rarely the biggest line item in a driveway budget.

Finish is one of the biggest cost swings in a driveway quote.

Plain concrete is the most budget-friendly option, with a smooth, broom or trowel finish and no decorative treatment.
Exposed aggregate driveway cost sits noticeably higher than plain, generally adding a premium of $20–$40+ per m², because the surface needs to be washed back after pouring to reveal the stone below, which adds a labour-intensive extra step to the process.
Coloured concrete driveway cost also sits above plain concrete, with integrated oxide colouring typically adding a smaller premium than exposed aggregate, since it's mixed in rather than requiring a separate finishing process.

If you're still deciding between finishes, our guide to exposed aggregate vs plain concrete breaks down the differences in durability, appearance and cost in more detail.

As a general guide for a standard suburban driveway:

Plain concrete: typically the lower end of the per-m² range, suited to budget-focused projects or larger areas.
Coloured concrete: a moderate step up, popular where homeowners want a specific look without the full exposed aggregate premium.
Exposed aggregate: the higher end of the range, chosen for kerb appeal and slip resistance.

These figures assume reasonably straightforward site access and standard sub-base conditions. A driveway with awkward access, extra excavation or a non-standard shape will sit above these ranges regardless of finish. This is exactly why quotes vary so much between properties that look similar on paper – two 50m² driveways in the same suburb can land at very different prices once access and ground conditions are factored in.

Example: A Wyong homeowner replacing a cracked 45m² driveway with easy street access and stable soil might get a straightforward plain concrete quote. A near-identical job in Gosford, on a sloped block with a long pump run from the street, will cost more for the same finish, purely because of what it takes to get the concrete into place.

Concrete prices Australia-wide are shaped by local batching plant availability, transport distance and regional labour rates, so a quote in one town won't necessarily match a quote in another. On the Central Coast specifically, pricing for a concrete driveway on the Central Coast can vary between suburbs depending on how far the batching plant is from site and how established the access is. Homeowners looking for a reliable quote on a concrete driveway Central Coast-wide can contact our team for a free measure and estimate rather than relying on a national average that won't reflect their actual block.

It's worth remembering that the concrete supply is only one part of the total project cost. How much does concrete cost when you break it down? The raw supply cost covers the mix, strength grade and aggregate size, but a full driveway quote also needs to account for:

Formwork & site preparation
Reinforcement (mesh or bar, depending on the mix & application)
Labour for placing, screeding & finishing
Sub-base materials & compaction
Finish-specific work, such as washing exposed aggregate or applying colour

Decorative finishes such as exposed aggregate concrete typically sit at the higher end of the price range due to the additional labour and finishing involved, and this is factored into a proper quote rather than being an unexpected extra.

National price guides are useful for setting expectations, but they can't account for your soil type, access, slope or council requirements. The most reliable way to budget for a new driveway is to get a site-specific quote based on measurements, not a rough per-m² multiplication.

As experienced concrete suppliers on the Central Coast, Easy Mix Concrete can talk you through realistic pricing for your specific driveway before you commit, including which mix strength and finish makes sense for your project and site conditions. Use our concrete calculator to estimate the volume you'll need before requesting a quote, so you go into the conversation with a clearer idea of scale.

How much does a concrete driveway cost per m² in Australia?
Plain concrete generally starts from around $65–$90 per m², with coloured concrete and exposed aggregate sitting higher due to added materials and labour. Site access and sub-base conditions can push any of these figures up.
Is exposed aggregate more expensive than plain concrete?
Yes. Exposed aggregate requires an additional washing and finishing step after the pour, which adds labour cost on top of the concrete supply itself, typically making it the most expensive of the common finish options.
What size driveway do I need to budget for?
A single-car driveway is usually 20–30m², while a double driveway for a modern home often falls between 50–70m². Measuring your specific driveway, including any curves or splays, gives a far more accurate figure than a generic size assumption.
Does the strength of the concrete affect the price?
Yes, though usually less than finish or site access. Standard residential driveways are typically poured at 20MPa or 25MPa, with higher strength grades reserved for driveways expecting heavier vehicle loads.
Why do driveway quotes vary so much between properties?
Site access, ground conditions and sub-base preparation needs can differ significantly even between similar-sized driveways in the same suburb, which is why an accurate quote requires a site assessment rather than a flat per-m² rate.