A concrete driveway is one of the more predictable trade jobs to price, but the quotes you get back can still vary a lot. Here is what actually drives the number.
Area and shape
Price is usually quoted per square metre, so the size of the driveway is the biggest single factor. A simple rectangle is cheaper to form and pour than a driveway with curves, multiple sections, or a turning circle — more formwork and more edges both add labour.
Site access and preparation
If a concrete truck can reverse straight up to the site, that keeps costs down. Difficult access — a steep block, a narrow side gate, overhead power lines — can mean wheelbarrowing concrete in by hand or pumping it, both of which add cost. The condition of what is already there matters too: removing an old driveway, dealing with tree roots, or excavating soft or unstable ground all add time before a single truck arrives.
Finish
Plain grey concrete is the cheapest finish. Exposed aggregate, coloured concrete, stencilled patterns and stamped finishes all cost more, both in materials and in the extra labour to achieve the finish properly.
Thickness and reinforcement
A standard residential driveway is usually reinforced with steel mesh over a compacted base, at a thickness suited to normal vehicles. Heavier vehicles, or ground that needs a thicker slab to remain stable, will change the specification and the price.
Getting a fair price
Because so much of the cost is site-specific, the only reliable way to know what your driveway will cost is to have contractors look at the actual job. A quote based on a phone description alone is a rough guess at best. Requesting quotes from a few local contractors and comparing what is actually included — thickness, reinforcement, finish, any site works — is the only way to compare like with like.
