Work out the volume, weight and cost of tarmac for your driveway in seconds — no guesswork, just accurate budgeting.
Planning a new driveway and wondering how much tarmac you need? Use our free Tarmac Surface Calculator to instantly estimate the volume, weight, and cost of tarmac for your project. Whether you’re a homeowner resurfacing a drive or a contractor pricing up a job, this tool helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises.
Tarmac (also known as asphalt) is priced by the tonne, but most people think in metres when measuring their drive. Our calculator does the hard work for you by converting your dimensions into:
No more guesswork – just fast, accurate driveway planning.
The guide price works from an installed rate of around £90–£105 per m², which includes excavating the existing surface and laying a new base — not just the tarmac. It moves with access, how much old surface has to come up, and any drainage or edging. Depth is prefilled at 5cm, the figure this page uses throughout, and only changes the material quantities — the price is per square metre either way. Volume and weight are the material only, at a density of 2.3 tonnes per cubic metre. Every driveway is quoted properly before any work starts.
Measure the length and width of your driveway in metres.
Estimate the depth of tarmac you want (usually 50–100mm).
Enter your local cost per tonne (you can ask your installer or check online).
Click Calculate – and get instant results!
For driveways, a typical tarmac depth is:
Our calculator supports any depth you enter, so feel free to experiment with different values to see how it affects cost.
This is the cost of the tarmac material only — it is not the price of an installed driveway. Supply is measured by the tonne, which is how large areas and resurfacing work get quoted. As a guide, tarmac tends to run somewhere around £50 to £80 per tonne, depending on the type of tarmac used (e.g. standard vs. SMA — stone mastic asphalt), delivery fees, and your location within Oldham.
For a standard residential driveway, you might require 2 to 5 tonnes of tarmac depending on the area’s size and depth. It’s also important to factor in the sub-base materials, labour, and finishing costs when budgeting for the full installation.
If you’re unsure how many tonnes your project will need, our team can provide a breakdown as part of your free site survey or guide you using our tarmac calculator.
This calculator is great for estimates, but prices can vary based on location, groundwork, edging, and finish. If you’d like a professional tarmac driveway quote, feel free to get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
Our own tarmac driveways typically work out at around £90–£105 per m², and that price includes excavating the existing surface and laying a new base — not just the tarmac itself. What moves the figure is the size of the area, access for machinery, how much old surface has to come up, and any drainage or edging work. Lower figures you see quoted online are usually an overlay onto an existing base, or a materials-only price. Worth knowing: once the same excavation is included, resin bound comes out only a little higher per m² than tarmac — which is why a lot of our customers compare the two before deciding. See our resin bound driveways.
Yes – tarmac is usually more affordable and quicker to install than block paving. It’s ideal for large or long driveways.
At 50mm depth, 1 tonne covers about 8–10 m².
With proper installation and maintenance, tarmac driveways can last 15–20 years or more.
Looking to plan your next project with confidence? Visit our Calculators Page to explore a full range of handy tools that estimate the cost of tarmac driveways, resin surfaces, patio installations, and more. Each calculator gives you instant estimates based on your project size and chosen materials — helping you budget smarter and get accurate figures before you commit.
👉 Head to the Calculators Page and get started today.
