Tarmac paths and footpaths
Paths cost more per square metre than drives because the work is narrow, hand-laid and edged on both sides. They also tend to fail at the edges first, so the edging is the part worth paying attention to.
A tarmac path is a lighter version of a drive build: a compacted stone base of around 100 mm, a binder course and a fine surface course, laid by hand and held in by timber edging, kerbs or blocks.
What is included in a tarmac path?
- Path set out to the line and width you want
- Excavation to about 150–180 mm with spoil removed
- MOT Type 1 base, about 100 mm, compacted
- Timber, kerb or block edging on both sides
- Binder and surface course laid hot by hand and rolled
- Gentle cross-fall so water runs off to the border
How is it built?
How much does a tarmac path cost?
As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £55–£90 per m² inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid | £55–£90 per m² |
| Example: 10 m² path | £660–£1,100 |
| Example: 20 m² path | £1,200–£2,000 |
| Example: 40 m² path | £2,200–£3,600 |
Rates vary by region:
| Region | Guide (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| London | £66–£108 per m² |
| South East | £61–£99 per m² |
| East of England | £58–£94 per m² |
| South West | £57–£93 per m² |
| West Midlands | £55–£90 per m² |
| East Midlands | £54–£88 per m² |
| North West | £53–£87 per m² |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £53–£86 per m² |
| North East | £51–£84 per m² |
| Wales | £52–£86 per m² |
| Scotland | £54–£88 per m² |
| Northern Ireland | £48–£79 per m² |
Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool
When it suits
- Side passages and bin stores
- Garden paths to sheds and offices
- Footpaths on shared grounds and allotments
Watch out for
- Very narrow runs may need a pedestrian roller and more labour
- Tree roots lift thin paths
- Timber edging needs replacing before the tarmac does
How long does it take and how long does it last?
- On site
- Often 1–2 days
- Lifespan
- Commonly 15 years or more with sound edges
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.
Tarmac paths and footpaths: questions
How much does a tarmac path cost?
As a 2026 guide, about £55–£90 per m² including VAT for a hand-laid path with a new base and edging. Short, narrow paths sit at the top of the range because of set-up time.
How thick should a tarmac footpath be?
For walking traffic, about 100 mm of compacted Type 1 with a 40–50 mm binder and a 20 mm surface course is a common build. If a mower or quad will use it, go thicker.
Can you lay a path and a drive at the same time?
Yes, and it saves money because the crew and hot material are already on site.
What edging is best for a tarmac path?
Treated timber is cheapest and suits gardens; concrete kerbs or blocks last longer and give a cleaner line.
Can a tarmac path be laid on a slope?
Yes, within reason. Steep paths may need steps or a textured finish; we set out the falls on site.
Where do we offer tarmac path work?
Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Clwyd
- Dyfed
- Gwent
- Gwynedd
- Mid Glamorgan
- Powys
- South Glamorgan
- West Glamorgan
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Angus and Dundee
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunbartonshire
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow
- Highland and Moray
- Lanarkshire
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Scottish Borders
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Related services
New tarmac driveways
Full dig-out, compacted stone sub-base, binder course and a fine surface course, edged and drained.
FROM £60–£95 PER M² INC VATLearn more →
Edging and kerbs for tarmac
Kerbs, blocks or setts set on a concrete haunch so the tarmac edge cannot spread or crumble.
FROM £25–£55 PER METRE INC VATLearn more →
Red tarmac driveways
Pigmented red asphalt on the same full build, often framed with a charcoal block border.
FROM £75–£115 PER M² INC VATLearn more →
Tarmac driveway repairs
Potholes, sunken patches, cracks and crumbling edges cut out square and re-laid hot.
FROM £150–£400 EACH INC VATLearn more →Get a written quote for tarmac paths and footpaths
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED