Gravel or Block Paving Driveway? What Each Needs, 6 x 5 m
Both surfaces sit on a compacted sub-base, and it is the sub-base that decides how long the drive lasts. For a 6 × 5 m (30 m²) drive, the gravel driveway calculator and the block paving driveway calculator give:
| Gravel drive | Block paved drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | 2.5 tonnes of 20 mm gravel | 1,507 blocks |
| Sub-base (MOT Type 1) | 10.9 tonnes | 10.4 tonnes |
| Laying course | None | 2.0 tonnes of grit or sharp sand |
| Edging | 22 m | 22 m of edge restraint |
Depths are set in the calculators (50 mm of gravel on 150 mm of sub-base here), and you can change them to suit your ground and the loads.
How they compare
- Drainage and rules: gravel is permeable, which usually makes it the easy option under the front-garden drainage rules in England. Block paving can be permeable if laid with the right sub-base and jointing, or else it must drain to a soakaway or border. Check with your council.
- Effort: gravel is mostly shovelling and spreading. Block paving needs a plate compactor, a screed and careful cutting.
- Look and use: block paving is firm and tidy for cars, bins and buggies. Gravel makes noise as you drive over it, which some like as a deterrent, but it can spread onto the road and shift without a grid.
- Upkeep: gravel needs raking and topping up, and weeds come through if the membrane is poor. Block paving needs weeding of the joints, occasional re-sanding and cleaning.
Choosing
Choose gravel for a lower-effort, permeable drive, ideally with a grid. Choose block paving for a firm, neat surface and if you can take on the groundwork or hire a professional. See the gravel driveway list, the block paved driveway list and the driveway planner.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?
In England, a new or replaced driveway over 5 square metres at the front of a house generally needs to use a permeable surface or drain to a lawn or border, otherwise planning permission is required. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for listed buildings or conservation areas. Check with your council.
Which driveway lasts longer?
Both can last for decades if the sub-base is built properly. Most driveway failures come from a thin or poorly compacted sub-base, not from the surface.
Which is easier to do yourself?
Gravel is the easier DIY job, but still needs a proper sub-base and edging. Block paving takes more skill and a plate compactor, because every block must be laid and compacted level.
Does gravel need a grid?
A grid is optional but helps keep the stones from rutting and moving, and makes it easier to wheel bins and push a pushchair across.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.