For UK driveway installers

Driveway quote template (UK)

A clear layout for a driveway quote that sets out area, surface, sub-base, drainage, terms and VAT properly, so the customer knows what is included before you break ground.

Last updated 15 July 2026 · 6 min read

What a driveway quote should include

Driveway quotes go wrong in one predictable place: what is under the surface. The ground, the sub-base and the drainage decide whether the job holds up for years or sinks in a wet winter. A good driveway quote prices the visible area firmly, sets out the build-up honestly, and handles the unknowns below ground so the customer is not surprised and you are not out of pocket.

Your business. Trading name, address, contact, and your VAT number if registered.
The customer and the site. Their name and the property address, plus the measured area in square metres.
The surface type. Block paving, resin bound, pattern imprinted concrete, tarmac or asphalt, or gravel. Each carries its own supply and lay rate.
Excavation and muck away. The dig depth and the cost of carting spoil off site, which is a real and often forgotten line.
Sub-base build-up. The Type 1 MOT depth, compaction, membrane and jointing where the surface needs it.
Edgings and drainage. Edging or kerbs to hold the surface, plus how surface water is dealt with, whether by a permeable surface, a channel drain or a soakaway.
VAT. If registered, subtotal, 20% VAT and total. If not, say so.
Timeline. Days on site and whether the drive will be out of use while it cures or settles.
Payment terms and exclusions. Any deposit against ordered materials, and what is not included such as gates, walls or lighting.
Validity period. "Valid for 30 days" so a surface price does not follow you around after supplier costs move.

A driveway quote example

The figures below are illustrative and shown only to demonstrate the layout. They are not market rates. Price every job from your own supplier prices, your dig depth and your day rate.

Section	Detail	Amount (example only)
Excavation and muck away	Dig out to required depth and cart spoil off site	£X
Sub-base (Type 1) and preparation	Lay and compact Type 1 MOT, membrane over subgrade	£X
Edgings and drainage	Edge restraints or kerbs, channel drain or soakaway connection	£X
Surface supply and lay (per m2)	Chosen surface supplied and laid, jointed and finished	£X
Subtotal		£X
VAT (20%, if registered)		£X
Total		£X

Scope note: "Excavate existing surface, supply and lay Type 1 MOT sub-base to agreed depth, install edgings and drainage, supply and lay chosen surface per square metre, joint and finish. Excludes gates, walls, lighting and any works outside the marked area." Terms note: "Price assumes ground conditions are sound to the dig depth stated and that surface water can be discharged as described. Any unknown ground condition or drainage issue found on excavation will be quoted and agreed in writing before proceeding. Valid for 30 days."

The mistakes that cost driveway installers money on a quote

Ignoring drainage and the SUDS rules. If the surface is not permeable and water runs to the road, the job can need planning permission. Price a permeable surface, a soakaway or a channel drain, and note the drainage method on the quote.
Under-pricing the sub-base depth. Too shallow a Type 1 layer on soft ground is how a drive cracks or sinks. Price the depth the ground actually needs, not the depth that looks cheapest.
Forgetting spoil removal. Excavated muck away is a real cost. Leaving it off the quote can wipe out the margin on the whole job.
Pricing unknown ground firmly. Committing a fixed price to ground you have not dug is how a good week turns into a loss. Add a clear variations line for hidden conditions.
Leaving out edgings. Without edge restraints the surface spreads and fails. If edgings or kerbs are included, list them; if not, exclude them plainly.

Should a driveway be a quote or an estimate?

For a defined driveway on known ground, a set area and surface to an agreed depth, quote it firmly. Where the ground conditions or the drainage route are unknown until you dig, soft subgrade, an old surface of unknown make-up, or no obvious place for the water to go, an estimate with a firm quote to follow once excavated is the honest approach. Put the scope and variations in writing either way. Our guide to quote vs estimate for UK trades explains when each is fairer.

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This page is practical quoting guidance, not legal advice. Surface water drainage and planning rules for driveways are set by the applicable regulations, so check the current requirements for the property. For a serious dispute or a large sum, take proper advice.

Driveway quote FAQ

What should a driveway quote include?

Your business details, the customer and site, the area in square metres, the surface type, excavation depth and muck away, the sub-base build-up, edgings and drainage, a per square metre supply and lay rate, VAT, a timeline, payment terms, exclusions and a validity period.

How do I price a driveway per square metre?

Measure the area, then build the rate from excavation and muck away, the Type 1 MOT sub-base, edgings, drainage, membrane and the chosen surface supply and lay. Block paving, resin bound, pattern imprinted concrete, tarmac and gravel all differ, so price the surface separately per square metre.

Does a new driveway need planning permission?

A permeable surface, or one that drains to a soakaway or lawn on your own land, usually avoids needing planning permission under the surface water drainage rules. An impermeable surface over five square metres that drains to the road can need permission, so note it on the quote.

Should a driveway be a quote or an estimate?

For a defined driveway on known ground, quote it firmly. Where ground conditions or drainage are unknown until you dig, an estimate with a firm quote to follow once you have excavated is often fairer.