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myConcrete Driveway Removal Cost
At a Glance
- The average cost to remove a concrete driveway is around £1,800.
- Most jobs take 1 to 4 days to complete.
- Concrete driveway removal costs in 2026 by driveway size and removal method.
- What affects the price, from slab thickness to site access and waste disposal.
- How to find a local driveway contractor using MyJobQuote.
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The average cost to remove a concrete driveway is around £1,800, though smaller jobs start closer to £660 and removing a large or reinforced driveway can reach £5,000.
The process of removing a concrete driveway often involves breaking up the existing surface, lifting and loading the waste, clearing the area, and disposing of the rubble properly.
£1,800
Table of Contents
- Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
- Labour Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
- Supply Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
- Additional Concrete Driveway Removal Costs
- What Impacts the Cost of Removing a Concrete Driveway
- Building Regulations for Concrete Driveway Removal
- Types of Concrete Driveway Removal
- Checklist: Hiring Contractors for Concrete Driveway Removal in the UK
- FAQs
Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
With a removal cost of around £30 per square metre, the price range will vary depending on the size of your driveway.
How are you planning to have your concrete driveway removed?
Manual breakup and removal
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It's also worth noting that the average cost of removing a concrete driveway will depend on the amount of concrete being removed and how labour-intensive the job is.
Concrete Driveway Removal Prices
Here are some of the key costs of concrete driveway removal:
| Type of Job or Project | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Small Concrete Driveway Removal | £660–£1,600 |
| Medium Concrete Driveway Removal | £1,550–£2,500 |
| Large Concrete Driveway Removal | £2,450–£3,400 |
| Reinforced Concrete Removal | £3,100–£5,000 |
| Labour-only Removal | £150–£250 per day |
| Skip Hire or Waste Disposal | £60–£400 |
| Site Clearance | £60–£400 |
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To ensure you are prepared for a concrete driveway removal, it is essential to budget properly with a clear sense of the likely overall cost. Engaging with a professional in advance before hiring them can give you a clear picture of the estimated total cost.
Having a cushion in your budget for potential extra costs is wise, and you should discuss this with the professional, too, before hiring them. Be sure to check what is included in their quote, also. With good awareness and planning in advance, you can limit the risk of unexpected additional costs catching you off guard.
Labour Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
Labour fees are a major part of the total cost, especially if the driveway has to be broken up by hand or there is poor access to the work site.
Here are some of the estimated labour costs for this type of driveway removal:
- Driveway Specialists — £150 to £250 per day.
- Groundworkers — £150 to £300 per day.
- Builders — £100 to £400 per day.
- Demolition Contractors — £100 to £200 per day.
A small concrete driveway removal may take a day or less, whereas a mid-size concrete driveway removal could take 1 to 2 days. Larger driveway or reinforced driveway removal can take longer, somewhere in the range of 2 to 4 days.
The timeline will depend on the size of the area, the thickness of the slab, whether machinery can be brought in, and how quickly waste can be loaded and removed.
Supply Cost to Remove Concrete Driveway
The total cost of a concrete driveway removal will include both labour and supply costs. While supply costs for driveway removal are generally lower than in the case of installation work, there may still be materials and equipment-related charges to cover.
Here, we'll take a look at specific supply costs that may apply, such as protective sheeting and grab lorry hire.
Here are some of the main supply costs for a concrete driveway removal:
| Item | Supply Cost |
|---|---|
| Consumables | £15–£250 |
| Protective Sheeting | £200–£400 |
| Fuel for Machinery | £50–£100 |
| Replacement Skips | £60–£400 per week |
| Grab Lorry Hire | £150–£300 |
| Ground Preparation Materials | £20–£160 |
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Some contractors may also charge for temporary boarding, barriers, or materials needed to protect nearby walls, paving, or drainage during the removal process. These costs can vary depending on the site and the method being used.
Additional Concrete Driveway Removal Costs
It's important to be aware that the headline price is not always the full amount the homeowner needs to budget for.
Added costs that may apply include:
- Skip hire — £60 to £400 per week, depending on size and how long you keep it. See our guide to skip hire costs.
- Grab hire — £150 to £300 where a lorry collects the rubble instead of a skip.
- Skip permit — £20 to £100 if the skip has to sit on a public road.
- Excavation of the sub-base — digging out the material under the slab where the ground needs to go deeper.
- Levelling and site clearance — getting the ground flat and clean once the concrete is gone.
- Removing edging, gates, or drainage channels — anything tied into the driveway that has to come out with it.
- Preparation for a new surface — if you intend to have your driveway replaced after removal, prep work adds to the total.
What Impacts the Cost of Removing a Concrete Driveway
As discussed, there are many cost factors involved in a concrete driveway removal and in this section, we'll lay out some examples concisely.
The following cost factors may apply to the price of a concrete driveway removal:
- Whether the driveway sits over a substantial sub-base.
- If there are drainage features to work around.
- Should nearby structures need protecting during removal.
- How thick the slab is and whether it is reinforced.
- Whether the concrete is damaged in a way that complicates removal.
- If access to the site is limited.
- Whether extra excavation is needed below the slab.
- If disposal costs in your area are higher than average.
Manual removal of a concrete driveway is often more expensive in labour terms. Machine removal may be quicker, but it still depends on access and equipment hire.
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Building Regulations for Concrete Driveway Removal
Work for removing a concrete driveway must adhere to the UK building regulations that apply. In most cases, the removal itself may not require formal approval. However, related works may be affected by drainage rules. This is particularly the case if you are having your concrete driveway replaced with a new impermeable surface.
For example, driveway drainage regulations require that impermeable driveway material on a surface which exceeds 5 square metres must come with a drainage system installed. This is to limit dangers such as pooling or flooding. Building regulations are likely to cost somewhere in the region of £200 to £500.
When having a concrete driveway replaced with a new driveway, surface water run-off rules may need to be considered, too. What's more, having a skip on a public road may come with the requirement of a permit from your local authority. The latter is likely to cost between £30 and £60.
Types of Concrete Driveway Removal
There exists a range of ways for professionals to remove a concrete driveway. In this section, we'll look at different examples, including manual breakup and removal, mechanical breakup removal, mini digger removal, and grab lorry collection.
Manual Breakup and Removal
This type of concrete driveway removal is likely to cost more due to it being more labour-intensive than mechanical breakup removal with machinery. It is also likely to take longer, potentially an extra day or two, than if the professionals use machinery.
Where ease of access is difficult for using machinery, a manual breakup and removal may be necessary, and it may make more sense where the concrete driveway is relatively small. Manual demolition also offers more precision and allows greater material recovery, which may be relevant where it is safe and appropriate to repurpose the concrete. For the latter scenario, consult with a suitable professional first.
Mechanical Breakup Removal
You may instead prefer or require a mechanical breakup removal of your concrete driveway. Along with being generally more affordable, it is also usually faster than manual breakup and removal.
While less precise, mechanical breakup removal is efficient, less labour-intensive, and well-suited to medium or large concrete driveways. It will, however, be more disruptive than a manual removal process. Mechanical breakup removal is suitable for homes with good accessibility.
Mini Digger Removal
This is a specific type of machine-based concrete driveway removal and is well-suited to medium or large driveways with ease of access. Mini digger removal will, as with mechanical breakup removal, save money and time due to its efficiency and less labour-intensive nature. It is, however, unsurprisingly louder than the manual breakup and removal of a concrete driveway.
Grab Lorry Collection
If you have sufficient access for a grab lorry collection (such as in the case of a mechanical breakup removal or mini digger removal), you are looking at spending an additional £150 to £300 on top of the primary price of the work. While it will add to your bill, grab lorry collection can save time and act as an efficient way of removing the debris left over at the end of the concrete driveway removal.
Checklist: Hiring Contractors for Concrete Driveway Removal in the UK
Before you accept a quote for a concrete driveway removal, it is worth pinning down the following:
- Is waste disposal included? Skip hire, grab hire, and tip fees are often quoted separately, so check whether they sit inside the price or on top of it.
- Are they insured for demolition work? Breaking up concrete sends debris around the site, so confirm public liability cover before anyone starts.
- How will the site be protected? Ask what goes down to shield nearby walls, paving, drains, and parked cars during the breakup.
- Is machinery hire in the quote? A breaker or mini digger can be charged on top, so check whether hire costs are already covered.
- What state will the ground be left in? Confirm whether it will be left level and ready for the next stage, or whether that is a separate job.
- What do their reviews say? Check ratings and reviews from previous customers on MyJobQuote before you commit.
FAQs
Can a Concrete Driveway Be Removed by Hand?
Yes, while machinery-based removal is possible, you can hire a professional to remove a concrete driveway by hand.
Is Waste Disposal Usually Included in the Price of a Concrete Driveway Removal?
This will depend on the contractor(s) you hire and what they include in their quotes. Quotes are generally extensive. However, you'll want to verify to err on the side of caution.
Is It Cheaper to Remove and Replace a Driveway at the Same Time?
This can save time and money by compressing the work into the same timeline and having labour costs and the work cover both jobs at once. It can be more financially efficient and ultimately cheaper.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Concrete Patio?
Concrete patio removal is priced the same way as a driveway, at around £30 per square metre, so a typical patio works out cheaper simply because it covers less ground. Access matters more on a patio, since the waste often has to be carried through a side gate or the house rather than loaded straight into a skip on the drive.
Do I Need Planning Permission to Remove a Concrete Driveway?
No, not for the removal itself. Permissions and drainage rules attach to whatever surface goes down afterwards, so they are worth checking against your replacement plans rather than the removal work.
