Cost Guides
How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in QLD? (2026)
By Fraser Coast Concreting · 18 June 2026
Quick answer
As a guide, a concrete driveway in Queensland typically costs $80–$120/m² for plain concrete, $100–$150/m² for coloured, $120–$170/m² for exposed aggregate and $130–$180/m² for stamped or decorative finishes. A standard 50m² driveway usually lands between $4,000 and $8,500. A written quote is the only accurate price.
A new driveway is one of the bigger concreting jobs most homeowners take on, so it pays to understand what drives the price before you start ringing around. Below is a plain-English guide to concrete driveway costs across Queensland in 2026, with a worked example for a typical Fraser Coast home.
These are indicative ranges, not guarantees. Every site is different, and the only accurate price is a written quote based on your actual driveway.
Concrete driveway cost per m² in QLD
The finish you choose has the biggest single effect on price. Here are the typical 2026 ranges for supplied and laid concrete.
| Finish | Typical cost (per m²) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain / standard concrete | $80 – $120 | Grey, broom or trowel finish. Most affordable. |
| Coloured concrete | $100 – $150 | Colour through the mix or oxide. |
| Exposed aggregate | $120 – $170 | Decorative stone finish, good grip. |
| Stamped / decorative | $130 – $180 | Patterned to mimic pavers, stone or timber. |
As a guide only. Prices move with concrete supply costs, site conditions and the size of the job.
Worked example: a typical Fraser Coast driveway
Most single-car to double-car driveways around Hervey Bay and Maryborough fall between 40m² and 60m². Let’s use 50m² as a middle figure.
- Plain concrete at $80–$120/m²: roughly $4,000 – $6,000
- Coloured at $100–$150/m²: roughly $5,000 – $7,500
- Exposed aggregate at $120–$170/m²: roughly $6,000 – $8,500
- Stamped at $130–$180/m²: roughly $6,500 – $9,000
Smaller jobs sometimes cost a little more per m² because the fixed costs (pump hire, labour mobilisation, finishing crew) are spread over fewer metres.
What changes the price of a driveway
Two driveways of the same size can be priced quite differently. The main factors are:
- Site access. A tight block, steep slope or no truck access can mean a concrete pump or wheelbarrowing, which adds labour.
- Excavation and prep. Removing turf, levelling, importing road base and compacting all add up. Soft or sloping ground costs more to prepare.
- Thickness and reinforcement. A standard domestic driveway is usually 100mm thick with steel mesh. Thicker slabs or heavier reinforcement for caravans, boats or trucks cost more.
- The finish. As shown above, decorative finishes carry a premium for materials, labour and sealing.
- Drainage and falls. Getting water away from the house properly may need extra grading or a drain.
- Removing an old driveway. See below.
Cost to replace an old driveway
If you’re replacing an existing concrete or bitumen driveway, budget for demolition and removal on top of the new pour. As a guide, removing and disposing of an old driveway commonly adds $30–$60/m², depending on thickness, reinforcement and tip fees. So replacing a 50m² driveway might add roughly $1,500–$3,000 to the figures above.
It’s worth getting this assessed in person. Sometimes an old slab in good condition can be resurfaced rather than ripped out, which can be a more affordable way to freshen up the look.
The coastal climate factor
On the Fraser Coast, driveways cope with intense summer sun, heavy wet-season downpours and salty coastal air. A properly mixed, well-cured and correctly jointed slab handles this far better over the long run. Cutting corners on base prep or curing to save a few dollars usually costs more later in cracks and repairs.
How to compare driveway quotes fairly
When you get quotes, make sure each one spells out:
- Slab thickness and the type of reinforcement
- Excavation and base preparation included
- The exact finish and any sealing
- Whether old driveway removal is included
- Site clean-up and rubbish removal
A cheap quote that leaves out prep or reinforcement isn’t really cheaper, it’s just less driveway.
Driveway cost by size and finish
To make budgeting easier, here’s how the per-m² rates translate into total figures across common driveway sizes. Use it as a quick reference before you call for a quote.
| Size | Plain ($80–$120) | Coloured ($100–$150) | Exposed aggregate ($120–$170) | Stamped ($130–$180) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 m² (single) | $2,400 – $3,600 | $3,000 – $4,500 | $3,600 – $5,100 | $3,900 – $5,400 |
| 40 m² | $3,200 – $4,800 | $4,000 – $6,000 | $4,800 – $6,800 | $5,200 – $7,200 |
| 50 m² (double) | $4,000 – $6,000 | $5,000 – $7,500 | $6,000 – $8,500 | $6,500 – $9,000 |
| 60 m² | $4,800 – $7,200 | $6,000 – $9,000 | $7,200 – $10,200 | $7,800 – $10,800 |
As a guide only. Final price depends on access, prep, drainage and whether an old driveway needs removing.
Why two quotes for the same driveway can differ
It surprises a lot of homeowners that quotes for the same job can vary by thousands. The difference is almost never the finishing. It’s usually in:
- Slab thickness (100 mm vs a thicker engineered pour)
- Reinforcement (lighter vs heavier mesh, and whether bar is added)
- Concrete strength (the MPa of the mix)
- Base preparation (how much road base is imported and compacted)
- What’s excluded (old driveway removal, drainage, sealing)
The cheapest number on paper can end up the dearest once the missing items are added back, or it can mean a thinner, lighter slab that won’t last as well on our reactive soils. Comparing like with like is the only fair way to judge a quote.
Do I need council approval for a driveway?
For a like-for-like replacement on your own property, you usually won’t need approval, but a new vehicle crossover onto the road (the bit between your boundary and the kerb) typically needs Fraser Coast Regional Council sign-off and must meet their standards. If your project touches the crossover or changes drainage, it’s worth checking before you start. A local concreter who works across Hervey Bay and Maryborough will know the requirements and can guide you.
Can I save money by resurfacing instead?
If your existing slab is structurally sound but tired-looking, resurfacing can give it a fresh, modern finish for less than a full rip-out and re-pour. It’s not the right fix for a slab that’s cracked from movement or failing underneath, but for surface wear and dated looks it’s a genuinely cost-effective option worth asking about.
What to ask your concreter
A few good questions sort the careful operators from the corner-cutters:
- What slab thickness, reinforcement and concrete strength are you using?
- How will you prepare and compact the base?
- Where will the control joints go, and how soon after the pour?
- How will you handle drainage and falls away from the house?
- Is old driveway removal, sealing and clean-up included?
- Is the design suited to my soil type?
What’s included in a typical driveway quote?
When you read a per-m² figure, it bundles together every stage of the job. Understanding what’s in there helps you see where a cheap quote may be cutting back:
- Set-out and excavation to the right level, removing turf and soft topsoil.
- Base preparation with imported, compacted road base for a stable, free-draining foundation.
- Formwork to hold the slab to shape, level and the correct falls.
- Reinforcement (steel mesh, plus bar where needed) positioned on bar chairs.
- Concrete supply at the right strength, plus pump hire where access is tight.
- Placing, screeding and finishing to your chosen finish.
- Control joints, curing and clean-up to control cracking and leave the site tidy.
If a quote doesn’t mention base prep, reinforcement or concrete strength, it’s worth asking before you compare it against a more detailed one.
How thickness and reinforcement change the price
A standard domestic driveway is usually around 100 mm thick with steel mesh, which suits cars and light vehicles. If you’ll be parking a caravan, boat trailer, or running a work truck over it, a thicker slab (125 mm or more) with heavier reinforcement is the right call, and that uses more concrete and steel, lifting the cost. It’s money well spent though: a slab built for the load it actually carries won’t crack and crumble the way an under-built one will. Always tell your concreter what the driveway needs to carry so it’s engineered correctly from the start.
How long does a new driveway take?
For a typical domestic driveway, the pour itself is often a single day, but the full job runs longer once you factor in prep. Excavation, base work, forming and steel-fixing usually take a few days beforehand, depending on the size and the ground. After the pour, you can generally walk on it within a day or so, but you’ll want to keep vehicles off for several days while it cures and gains strength. Decorative finishes that need sealing add a little more time. Your concreter will give you firm timeframes based on your driveway and the weather, which matters in our wet season.
Get an accurate driveway quote
The ranges above will help you budget, but the only way to know your real price is to have someone look at your site. Fraser Coast Concreting provides free, no-obligation written quotes for concrete driveways across Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay. Request your free quote here and we’ll give you a clear, itemised price.