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A standard residential concrete driveway in Perth in 2026 runs $95 to $145 per square metre for plain brushed concrete, $150 to $220 per m² for exposed aggregate, and $170 to $260 per m² for stamped or coloured finishes. The big cost drivers are sub-base depth, reo spec, finish complexity, and crossover work. A typical 60 m² driveway lands around $8,500 to $13,000 all-in.
Key Highlights
- ›Plain brushed concrete: $95 to $145 per m² in Perth (2026 prices)
- ›Exposed aggregate: $150 to $220 per m² depending on stone selection
- ›A 60 m² driveway typically lands $8,500 to $13,000 all-in
- ›Crossover work is usually $1,800 to $3,500 on top of the driveway price
- ›Sub-base prep is the line item where cheap quotes cut corners, ask for it explicitly
- ›Concrete pour day takes 6 to 8 hours; full cure for full traffic is 7 days minimum
Concrete pricing has moved every year since 2020. Cement supply, fuel, reo bar, and skilled labour all push the per-square-metre rate up. So the answer to "how much does a Perth driveway cost" is different in 2026 than it was in 2022.
We get asked for ballpark numbers daily. Here's what an honest 2026 quote actually looks like, broken down by finish and by what affects the price.
If you want a number on your specific job, the only honest way is a site visit. But this gives you the right ballpark to plan around.
What a Perth driveway actually costs in 2026
Three big finish categories cover 95% of Perth residential driveways: plain brushed, exposed aggregate, and decorative (stamped or coloured). Liquid limestone is its own category and is more common around pools than at the front of the house.
| Finish | $ per m² (2026) | 60m² driveway range | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain brushed | $95 to $145 | $6,500 to $9,800 | 20 to 25 years |
| Exposed aggregate | $150 to $220 | $9,800 to $14,500 | 25 to 30 years |
| Coloured concrete | $120 to $180 | $8,200 to $12,500 | 20 to 25 years |
| Stamped concrete | $170 to $260 | $11,500 to $17,000 | 20 to 25 years (resealed every 3 yrs) |
| Liquid limestone | $135 to $200 | $9,000 to $13,500 | 25 to 30 years |
Indicative Perth metro pricing as of April 2026. Excludes crossover and any major site prep.
Watch out for stripped quotes
If a quote comes in 30% under these numbers, ask what's been left out. Common cuts are sub-base depth (150mm vs the 200mm needed on sandy soil), reo spec (lighter mesh or fewer chairs), or thinner concrete (90mm vs 100mm minimum).
What actually moves the price
Concrete isn't priced like a taxi where you multiply distance by a per-kilometre rate. Five things move the per-square-metre number up or down on every job, and any decent operator will work them out before quoting.
- 1
Sub-base prep
How much road base you need under the slab. Sandy Joondalup needs 200mm. A clay-heavy block in the hills needs less. Bedrock at the surface needs none.
- 2
Reinforcement spec
Mesh size and bar chairs. SL82 mesh on 50mm bar chairs is a common spec, anything less is an insurance risk.
- 3
Slab thickness
100mm is the residential minimum. 125mm if you have a heavy 4WD or trailer. 150mm for caravans or boats.
- 4
Finish complexity
Brushed is a single trowel pass. Exposed agg requires a chemical retarder and water blast next day. Stamped requires patterned mats and colour hardener, adds 20-30% to labour.
- 5
Site access
Can the truck back in? Or do we need a pump or a wheelbarrow gang? Pump hire alone is $800 to $1,400 a day.
“Get the sub-base wrong and your driveway will crack at year 3, no matter how good the finish looks at handover.”
What's included in a proper quote
A quote that doesn't itemise these things is asking you to trust them on faith. Ask for them in writing.
- Excavation and removal of existing concrete or paving
- Sub-base material (road base, blue metal) and depth in mm
- Reinforcement spec (mesh size, bar chair height, edge bars)
- Concrete grade (typically 25 MPa for residential) and slab thickness in mm
- Finish detail (brushed, exposed, stamped, and which aggregate or pattern)
- Sealer + reseal schedule (exposed agg and stamped need a fresh seal every 3 years)
- Edge details (rolled edge, bull-nose, square edge, kerb interaction)
- Crossover work, quoted separately and to council spec
- Concrete pump or boom truck if access requires it
- Concrete cleanup and waste removal at the end of the job
Crossover work is usually a separate line
If your driveway joins a council-controlled verge, you need a crossover that meets the local council's spec. Crossover specs vary by council, Stirling, Cottesloe, Joondalup all have different plate details.
Standard residential crossover work runs $1,800 to $3,500 in 2026. This is on top of the driveway price. The crossover usually requires council notification and sometimes a permit.
Ask about the crossover
If your quote doesn't mention the crossover, the operator probably hasn't checked council spec. Get a separate written line item for the crossover, including any permit fee.
How long the job actually takes
Concrete pour day is the fast bit. The slow bits are prep and cure.
- 1
Day 1, Demo + dig out
Old paving / concrete / lawn comes out. Excavate to depth.
- 2
Day 2, Sub-base + form-up
Road base spread + compacted. Edge form-boards set with proper falls. Reo laid out on chairs.
- 3
Day 3, Pour day
Concrete trucks arrive. Pour, screed, bull-float, finish trowel. Saw cuts marked. Most pours wrap by 3pm.
- 4
Day 4-5, Cure (don't drive on it)
Cement is 70% strong at day 3 and 90% strong at day 7. We cover with hessian + water during summer to prevent surface cracking.
- 5
Day 7, Open to traffic
Cars only at first. Heavy trailers and caravans wait until day 14 minimum.
