The honest answer: what a Perth driveway costs in 2026
The number most Perth homeowners want to hear sits between $5,500 and $12,000 for a typical double-car driveway. That's the range for the supplied-and-laid concrete, including the slab itself, reo, formwork, the pour, the finish work, and the first sealer coat. It excludes excavation, drainage and crossover work — which sit between $2,000 and $5,000 on most jobs.
The reason the range is wide: finish choice swings the bottom line by 40%+. Site conditions (sandy vs clay, sloped vs flat, single vs double access) swing it another 20%. And Perth metro distance from the plant adds cartage on every truck.
Below is the breakdown that should let you sanity-check any quote you've been given — and spot the ones that are leaving things out.
Cost per m² by finish — plain, exposed, honed, liquid limestone, stamped
The per-m² rate covers concrete + reo + finish work + first sealer. It does NOT cover excavation, drainage, retaining, crossover, or unusual site access requirements.
| Finish | Low | Mid | High | Lifespan | Sealing cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain broom-finish | $55 | $70 | $85 | 20–30 yrs | $8/m² every 5–7 yrs |
| Liquid limestone | $80 | $105 | $130 | 25–35 yrs | $12/m² every 4–6 yrs |
| Stamped | $90 | $115 | $140 | 20–30 yrs | $15/m² every 3–5 yrs |
| Exposed aggregate | $95 | $120 | $145 | 25–35 yrs | $15/m² every 3–5 yrs |
| Honed | $110 | $140 | $170 | 30+ yrs | $12/m² every 5–7 yrs |
Where you sit in each range depends on access, size, stone or pigment choices, and Perth metro distance. Coastal jobs sometimes carry a $5/m² premium for additional sub-base treatment to handle salt-laden sand bases.
What's included in the cost (and what isn't)
The biggest source of quote confusion in Perth is the inclusion list. Two quotes at $90/m² aren't the same job if one includes drainage and the other doesn't.
DOWhat our quotes always include
- ✓Engineered slab thickness100mm residential standard, 125–150mm for vehicle-loaded driveways with trailers or commercial use. Specified before pour.
- ✓Steel reinforcement to specEither single or double SL82 mesh depending on load. Listed in the quote with the bar gauge.
- ✓Saw-cut control jointsJoint spacing and depth specified to prevent random cracking. Cut within 24–48 hours of pour.
- ✓First sealer coatPenetrating siloxane at minimum. Acrylic topical for decorative finishes.
- ✓Site cleanup and edge backfillRemoval of formwork, edge sand/soil backfill, broom-clean of the surface.
DON'TWhat's usually NOT included
- ✗Sub-base excavationIf the existing surface needs digging out, that's an extra line item — usually $30–$60/m² depending on depth.
- ✗Drainage solutionsSlot drains, point drains, surface falls beyond standard 1:80 — all extras.
- ✗Crossover (kerb cut to street)Council permit + crossover work runs $1,200–$3,500 separately.
- ✗Retaining wallsSloped sites needing retaining = separate scope, separate quote.
- ✗Existing driveway demolitionDemo + removal of an old slab adds $25–$50/m². Hidden plumbing or reo can push higher.
“The quote you accept should read like a build spec sheet — slab thickness, reo gauge, joint spacing, sealer brand, finish technique. If it just says "concrete driveway, $X" with no spec, you're not buying a driveway, you're buying a lottery ticket.
Size: typical Perth driveway dimensions
Perth driveways trend larger than the eastern states equivalent — bigger blocks, more car ownership per household, more boat/caravan storage. Common sizes:
- Single car (4m × 12m) — 48 m². Common for older inner-suburb blocks (Subiaco, Mt Lawley).
- Standard double (6m × 12m) — 72 m². The most common Perth residential driveway.
- Double + boat side (8m × 14m) — 112 m². Common in northern suburbs (Joondalup, Kinross, Yanchep).
- Triple-bay with turnaround — 140–180 m². Larger Mandurah corridor or hills properties.
- Crossover only (4m × 2.5m) — 10 m². The bit between your driveway and the kerb.
Per-m² rates usually drop slightly for jobs over 80 m² because mobilisation cost is fixed and gets spread across more area. Under 30 m² jobs often sit at the top of the per-m² range.
Site prep — the biggest cost variable nobody warns you about
Site prep is where surprise costs live. The per-m² rate everyone quotes is the concrete cost — but if your site needs serious prep, that can add $2,000–$8,000 to the job. Worth understanding before you sign anything.
Perth sandy soils are usually relatively cheap to prep — a road-base layer compacted to 95%+ density, falls graded, formwork up. Clay soils, sloped sites, or sites with unstable subgrade need a lot more work.
- Standard prep (sandy, flat) — included in the per-m² rate.
- Excavation 100–300mm — $30–$60/m² extra.
- Clay subgrade replacement — $50–$100/m² extra for crushed road-base import + compaction.
- Slope grading and falls — $200–$1,000 lump sum depending on degree.
- Drainage works (slot drains, sumps) — $300–$1,500 per drain depending on type.
- Retaining (concrete sleeper or block) — $400–$900/lineal metre.
A proper site quote walks through these explicitly. If the contractor hasn't measured falls or asked about retaining, the quote is incomplete. See our concrete process for what a full scope walkthrough looks like.
Quotes you should walk away from
We get called to fix Perth concrete jobs every month that were the cheapest quote on day 1. The same patterns show up — and most homeowners couldn't have known to spot them.
DON'TRed-flag quote indicators
- ✗Plain concrete under $45/m²Below this price the only way to make money is to cut slab thickness, skip reo, or use sand instead of road-base. All three lead to slab failure within 5 years.
- ✗No written spec sheetA real quote lists slab thickness, reo type, joint spacing, sealer brand. A casual price scribbled on the back of a quote slip means none of that is locked in.
- ✗Deposit demand over 30%Deposits cover materials and mobilisation. More than 30% upfront and you're carrying the contractor's cash-flow problem.
- ✗No insurance certificate availableReputable contractors carry public liability + workers comp. Ask for the certificate before signing.
- ✗Pressure to pour immediatelyConcrete jobs need 4–6 week lead time minimum for proper planning. 'We can start tomorrow' means cutting corners.
- ✗No site visit before quotingPhone-or-photo-only quotes always miss the prep issues. Real quote = real site visit.
What our recent Perth driveway jobs cost (real examples)
Five recent CoastCrete driveway jobs from late 2025 / early 2026, with the actual job specs and final price. Names and exact addresses removed.
- Joondalup, 75 m² exposed aggregate — granite mix, standard double driveway, flat sandy site, no demolition. $8,400 including drainage falls and first seal.
- Cottesloe, 95 m² liquid limestone — driveway + adjacent path, retrofit over existing pavers (demolished), coastal site. $10,800 including demolition.
- Mandurah, 110 m² exposed aggregate — double + boat side, brick crossover, slight slope. $13,500 including crossover and retaining edge.
- Fremantle, 48 m² stamped concrete — heritage cottage entry zone, Italian slate pattern, narrow access. $6,200 including custom pigment.
- Yanchep, 72 m² plain broom-finish — new build, standard double, builder coordination. $5,800 including crossover.
These are real numbers. Site-specific factors changed every quote. Get in touch for a quote on your driveway — we visit every site before quoting.
About Richard Marsh
Founder · CoastCrete · 20+ years on the tools
Richard founded CoastCrete in Perth after a decade of pouring driveways, alfrescos and pool surrounds across the metro. He writes the articles, answers the calls, and runs the crew personally on every job — so what you read here is the same advice he gives clients on-site every week.
Read more articles by Richard →Common questions
Do I need a permit for a driveway in Perth?
Yes — crossovers (the bit from the kerb to your property) need council approval. The driveway itself within your boundary doesn't need a permit but does need to comply with stormwater rules. We handle the council paperwork on every job.
How long does a Perth driveway install take?
Standard double driveway: 5–7 working days from start to drive-on. Site prep day 1, formwork + reo day 2, pour day 3, finish work day 4, cure days 5–6, light traffic from day 7. Heavy vehicle traffic from day 14 minimum.
Can I pour a driveway over an existing one?
Generally no — unless the existing slab is structurally sound and the overlay technology is correct (thin polished overlay or concrete topping system). Most cases demolition is the right answer because the old slab's problems telegraph into the new finish.
What's the cheapest finish that still looks decent?
Plain broom-finish with a quality penetrating sealer and well-cut control joints. Done properly it lasts 25+ years and reads as honest functional concrete. Cheap and good often go together when the contractor cares about the spec.
Is there a difference between residential and commercial driveway concrete?
Yes — commercial slabs use 125–150mm thickness, doubled reo, deeper saw-cut joints, and a different mix design with higher MPa rating. Costs 30–50% more per m². Residential driveways don't need commercial spec unless you're parking heavy commercial vehicles.
Will my driveway crack?
All concrete cracks somewhere. Properly cut saw joints concentrate cracks into the joint lines so they're invisible. Random cracking outside joints means the joints were placed badly or the sub-base failed. The fix is on the contractor, not the slab.