How much does an imprinted concrete driveway cost in the UK?
An imprinted concrete driveway costs £80 to £130 in the UK, typically around £100 per m². What moves the price most is the total area, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
An imprinted concrete driveway, also called stamped concrete, is priced by the area, with the pattern, colour and the amount of ground preparation moving the figure. It sits above plain concrete and tarmac because the surface is coloured, stamped and sealed.
Imprinted concrete driveway cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your imprinted concrete driveway in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Imprinted concrete driveway cost breakdown
Typical imprinted concrete driveway costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £80 to £130 per m² |
| + Dig out and remove the old surface | add £15 to £40 per m² |
| 25 m² | £2,000 to £3,250 |
| 50 m² (typical) | £4,000 to £6,500 |
| 100 m² | £8,000 to £13,000 |
What's included in the price?
Typical imprinted concrete driveway prices include:
- Excavation and a compacted sub-base
- Coloured concrete poured and stamped with the chosen pattern
- A sealing coat to protect the surface
- Edging and clearing away the old surface
What changes the price?
The things that move imprinted concrete driveway prices most:
The total area, larger drives cost less per m²
Pattern and number of colours
Whether the old surface needs digging out
Drainage, kerbs and any awkward shapes
How the price is built up
The price starts from the rate per square metre, which runs from £80 to £130 and sits around £100 for a typical job. A plain single colour in a common pattern over a sound base is near the £80 floor. The rate climbs towards £130 as the pattern gets more detailed and you add a second or third colour, since each extra colour means more release agent and more careful work on the day. The bigger cost step is groundwork. If the old surface has to be dug out and carted away, that is charged as a separate item of £15 to £40 per unit on top of the laying rate. Drainage, new kerbs and awkward shapes add labour on top. Labour is the larger share on most imprinted concrete drives, usually around 55 to 65 percent of the total, with the concrete, colour hardener, release agent and sealer making up the rest. The split tilts further towards labour when the old surface has to be dug out and removed.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Keep to one colour and a common pattern. A single colour sits nearer the £80 per m2 floor, while extra colours and a busier pattern push the rate towards £130.
- Leave a sound base in place. If the existing surface is solid and level, you avoid the dig-out and removal charge of £15 to £40 per unit, which is often the single biggest add-on.
- Go bigger in one visit rather than in phases. Larger drives cost less per square metre, so laying the whole area at once spreads the setup and fixed costs further than returning for a second stage.
- Get two or three quotes for the same spec. On a job priced between £80 and £130 per m2, the same drive can land at very different totals, so comparing like for like on colour, pattern and groundwork is where the saving is.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, an imprinted concrete driveway typically costs around £130 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £100. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £90.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £80 | £100 | £130 |
| London | £100 | £130 | £170 |
| South East / South West | £90 | £110 | £150 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £75 | £90 | £120 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Imprinted concrete driveway cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £70 | £85 | £110 |
| Birmingham | £80 | £100 | £130 |
| Bristol | £90 | £110 | £140 |
| Cardiff | £75 | £95 | £120 |
| Edinburgh | £80 | £100 | £130 |
| Glasgow | £70 | £90 | £120 |
| Leeds | £75 | £95 | £120 |
| Liverpool | £75 | £90 | £120 |
| London | £100 | £130 | £170 |
| Manchester | £75 | £95 | £120 |
| Newcastle | £70 | £90 | £120 |
| Sheffield | £75 | £90 | £120 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for imprinted concrete driveway, not quotes.
Wages are what move.
Common questions
How much is an imprinted concrete driveway for a typical two-car drive?
A 60m² two-car drive usually costs £5,000 to £7,800 supplied and fitted, depending on the pattern and ground work.
Is imprinted concrete cheaper than block paving?
Usually yes. Imprinted concrete runs about £80 to £130 per m², a little below most block paving, though it needs resealing every 3 to 5 years.
What are the problems with imprinted concrete driveways?
Three recurring ones: cracking if the slab or its control joints are poorly done, the need to re-seal every 2 to 5 years to keep the colour and surface, and repairs that are hard to colour-match invisibly. A cheap sealant can also leave the surface slippery when wet. All are manageable with a good installer, which is exactly why the cheapest quote is the riskiest on this surface.
How long does an imprinted concrete driveway last?
20 to 25 years or more structurally, which matches plain concrete. The pattern and colour are what age: expect to re-seal every few years at a modest cost to keep it looking as laid, and treat a drive that has never been re-sealed as due some attention rather than replacement.
Is imprinted concrete cheaper than tarmac for a driveway?
Usually no. Imprinted concrete runs about £80 to £130 per square metre, and tarmac is generally cheaper per square metre to lay. You are paying the difference for the pattern and colour finish, which tarmac does not offer. Tarmac is the lower upfront choice, but imprinted concrete gives a decorative surface for a price that sits closer to block paving than to plain tarmac.
How much does it cost to reseal an imprinted concrete driveway?
Expect roughly £5 to £12 per m² for a professional reseal, so about £250 to £600 on a typical 50 m² drive, against £80 to £130 per m² to lay it in the first place. There is no dig-out and no new concrete, so you are paying for cleaning, any crack or colour repairs and a fresh coat of sealer. Sealer for a DIY job is £50 to £100 in materials for a drive that size, and the preparation is the part that decides whether it holds. Most imprinted drives want resealing every 3 to 5 years to keep the colour and protect the surface, and skipping it is one of the main reasons a drive starts to look tired.
Does an imprinted concrete driveway cost less per square metre if it is larger?
Yes. The rate sits between £80 and £130 per square metre, and larger drives fall towards the lower end. Setting up the site, mixing and preparing take a similar effort whether the area is small or large, so those fixed costs are spread thinner across a bigger drive. A small, awkward area tends to sit nearer £130 per square metre for the same reason.
Can I lay an imprinted concrete driveway myself?
This is not a realistic DIY job. Imprinting means pouring the concrete, then stamping the pattern and applying colour hardener, release agent, and sealer in a short window before it sets, which takes a trained crew and the right tools. Labour is around 55 to 65 percent of the £80 to £130 per m2, so it is the biggest cost, but getting the print and colour right is exactly the part you cannot easily do yourself.
Does an imprinted concrete driveway add value to a house?
A smart patterned drive lifts the look of the frontage and helps a sale, but at £80 to £130 per m2 it rarely returns the full cost when you sell. Buyers value having off-street parking more than the specific finish. It is worth doing for the appearance you enjoy day to day, and remember the sealer needs redoing every few years to keep it looking its best.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.