Driveway area and sub-base estimator
Work out your driveway area and sub-base before you order
A driveway calculator that shows measured area, an explicit order allowance and sub-base volume. Enter supplier density for tonnes; the planning prompt covers England only.
Driveway area and sub-base estimate
Add non-overlapping areas at one depth. Tonnage needs supplier density; the planning prompt applies only in England.
- Combined measured area
- m²
- Area with entered allowance
- m²
- Sub-base volume with entered allowance
- m³
- Sub-base tonnage
- England area prompt (principal elevation to highway)
Method and limitations
Model version: 2026-09-25-v6
- Separate rectangles are added at one shared depth. Areas must not overlap; this calculator cannot detect overlap or confirm a site drawing.
- Material volume uses the combined measured area and the explicit order allowance entered above.
- No universal order allowance or separate compaction factor is assumed.
- Tonnage is omitted unless you supply the selected aggregate's density.
- The planning prompt compares measured area, before the allowance, with England's guidance for hard surfacing between the wall forming the dwellinghouse's principal elevation and a highway. It is not a planning decision.
What brought you here?
I know the size but not the tonnage
Split the measured outline into separate, non-overlapping rectangles and enter their shared sub-base depth. Add supplier density if you also need tonnes.
Do I need planning permission?
For front gardens in England, the planning guidance depends on the actual surface and where water drains. This site does not assess the rules elsewhere in the UK.
Which surface should I choose?
Installed costs differ across materials; compare drainage and aftercare alongside the published price ranges.
What happens next
- Measure the area in metres
- Confirm the surface and use the specified sub-base depth
- Enter an order allowance from your supplier or job specification, or use 0 for base quantity
- For front gardens in England, check area, surface and drainage against the planning guidance
Three useful starting points
- Driveway calculator: area and sub-base quantityCalculate driveway area and sub-base volume from separate measured rectangles. Add supplier density for tonnes; England planning uses measured area.
- Driveway planning permission in EnglandThe England guidance for front-garden paving, the 5 square metre threshold, drainage options and limits of the rule.
- Driveway cost guide: observed UK 2026 figuresObserved UK driveway costs by material and size, what else lands on the bill, and why this site publishes no price of its own.
Decision guides
This site calculates quantities and explains the rules. It does not quote prices, install driveways, or recommend a contractor.
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