Red Tarmac Driveways

Red tarmac is ordinary asphalt with a red pigment, and often red aggregate, in the surface course, laid on the same sub-base and binder course as a black tarmac drive.

What is included in a red tarmac driveway?

Full dig-out and MOT Type 1 sub-base, about 150 mm
Black AC 20 binder course, about 50–60 mm
Red pigmented surface course, about 20–30 mm
Contrasting block or kerb border as edge restraint
Colour sample discussed before ordering
Falls and drainage set as for any new drive

How is it built?

How much does a red tarmac driveway cost?

As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £75–£115 per m² inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Red tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£75–£115 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,500–£3,800
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,750–£5,750
Example: 80 m² drive	£6,000–£9,200

Rates vary by region:

Region	Guide (inc VAT)
London	£90–£138 per m²
South East	£82–£127 per m²
East of England	£79–£121 per m²
South West	£77–£118 per m²
West Midlands	£75–£115 per m²
East Midlands	£74–£113 per m²
North West	£73–£112 per m²
Yorkshire and the Humber	£72–£110 per m²
North East	£70–£107 per m²
Wales	£71–£109 per m²
Scotland	£74–£113 per m²
Northern Ireland	£66–£101 per m²

Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool

When it suits

Period brick houses and Victorian or Edwardian terraces
Drives where a border detail adds kerb appeal
Owners who want colour without block paving joints

Watch out for

Red varies batch to batch, so large drives are best laid in one go
Tyre marks and oil show more on red than black
Patching later is hard to colour-match exactly

How long does it take and how long does it last?

On site: Usually 2–4 working days
Lifespan: Similar to black tarmac; the colour lightens and mellows with sun and traffic

Do I need planning permission?

It depends where you live and where the water goes.

England: A new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
Wales: New front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first.
Scotland: A hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size.
Northern Ireland: More than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs.

Dropped kerbs always need the highway authority's approval: the council in England, Wales and Scotland, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Read the full planning guide.

What happens next?

Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.

Red tarmac driveways: questions

How much more does red tarmac cost than black?

Typically about £10–£20 more per m². As a 2026 guide, a full-build red tarmac drive is around £75–£115 per m² including VAT, before edging and drainage.

Does red tarmac fade?

It mellows from a bright to a softer red over the first year or two as the bitumen film wears off the stones. That is normal and evens out.

Is red tarmac as strong as black?

Yes. The structure underneath is the same, and the surface course uses the same type of mix with pigment added.

Can red tarmac be laid over my old drive?

If the existing base is sound, a red surface course can go on as an overlay. Most red drives we price are full builds because the colour shows up an uneven base.

What border goes best with red tarmac?

Charcoal or black blocks give the sharpest contrast; buff or brindle blocks give a softer, traditional look. The border is also the edge restraint, so it is set on a concrete haunch.

Where do we offer red tarmac driveway work?

Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

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