Gravel vs block paving, resin and tarmac: which driveway is best?

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Gravel Driveways team

Short answer: Gravel is usually the cheapest driveway surface per square metre in the UK and is permeable, so a front drive in England does not normally need planning permission. Block paving, resin bound and tarmac cost more but give a firmer, cleaner, more even surface. The right choice depends on budget, slope, looks, maintenance and how the drive is used.

Gravel vs block paving, resin and tarmac: which driveway is best?

Side-by-side comparison

Surface	Typical UK price per m²	Permeable?	Typical lifespan if well built
Gravel	£40 to £100	Yes	Many years, with top-ups every few years
Block paving	£70 to £150	Only if permeable blocks are specified	20 years or more
Resin bound	£60 to £120	Yes, when laid on a permeable base	15 to 25 years
Tarmac	£50 to £100	Not normally, porous asphalt is the exception	15 to 20 years
Concrete or imprinted concrete	£50 to £110	No	20 years or more

These are typical guide prices for complete installations and vary with size, access, ground conditions and region. Lifespans depend heavily on the quality of the base.

Gravel: strengths and drawbacks

Usually the lowest cost, especially for large or long drives
Permeable, so normally no planning permission needed for a front drive in England
Quick to lay and can be driven on straight away
Audible crunch underfoot that some owners value for security
Easy to repair and top up

Stones migrate onto pavements, lawns and into the house
Harder going for wheelchairs, buggies and heels unless gridded
Needs raking and occasional top-ups
Snow clearing and leaf blowing are trickier

Block paving

Block paving gives a firm, even surface and a wide choice of colours and patterns, and individual blocks can be lifted for repairs. It costs more because each block is laid by hand on a screeded bed. Standard blocks are impermeable, so an area over 5 square metres in a front garden in England needs to drain to a lawn or border, or be designed as permeable paving, to avoid needing planning permission. Weeds in the joints and sinking where the base is weak are the common complaints.

Resin bound

Resin bound surfaces mix small aggregate with a clear resin and trowel it smooth. The result looks like gravel but is fixed in place, smooth to walk on and permeable when laid on a suitable open base. It is popular for accessibility and modern frontages. The base must be right, usually open-graded tarmac or concrete with drainage, and the resin is sensitive to weather during laying. Cheap resin can discolour in sunlight, so UV-stable resin should be specified.

Tarmac and concrete

Tarmac and concrete are hard-wearing and practical for heavy use and steep drives. Both are impermeable unless porous products are used, which brings the same planning considerations as standard block paving. Plain finishes are functional rather than decorative. Cracks in concrete and loose stone on the surface of tarmac can appear over time, and patch repairs rarely match the original.

Which to choose

Your priority	Best fit
Lowest cost for a large area	Gravel
Permeable and simple on planning	Gravel or resin bound
Smooth surface for wheelchairs and buggies	Resin bound or block paving, or gravel in grids
Steep slope	Tarmac, concrete or block paving, or gravel in grids on gentler slopes
Period or rural character	Gravel or clay pavers
Easy to repair in patches	Gravel or block paving

Combinations work well too. A common design is a block-paved apron along the pavement edge to keep stones off the footway, with gravel for the rest of the drive.

Practical points owners often overlook

Living with a driveway is different from looking at one in a brochure. Gravel is noisy underfoot and under tyres, which some owners like as a deterrent and others find annoying, especially with late-night arrivals. Small stones get carried into cars and hallways, so a doormat or a hard path at the front door helps. Leaf fall from nearby trees is easier to clear from block paving or resin than from loose stone.

Bound surfaces are generally easier for snow clearing and for anyone pushing a wheelchair, buggy or wheelie bin. On the other hand, a gravel drive can be patched in minutes with a bag of matching stone, while a crack in concrete or a stain on resin is far harder to hide.

Think about who uses the drive: wheels, heels and bikes favour bound surfaces or grids
Check the slope: loose gravel is not suited to steeper drives
Consider the look of the street and the age of the house
Weigh the upfront saving against top-ups and raking over the years
Ask whether any planning restrictions or conditions apply to your property
Remember that the base matters more than the surface for every option

On whole-life cost, gravel usually wins on upfront cost, but it does need occasional top-ups, typically every few years on a busy drive, and some raking. Block paving needs occasional re-sanding of the joints and weed control. Resin may need cleaning and eventual resurfacing. Tarmac and concrete need little routine care but are expensive to repair invisibly. Over 15 to 20 years, a well-built gravel drive with sensible top-ups still usually costs less overall than most bound surfaces, particularly on large areas.