Pricing guide
Tar driveway cost per square metre in the Western Cape 2026
Typical price ranges, what goes into the price, and how to compare quotes fairly.
Typical prices in rand
These are guide ranges for residential work in the Cape Town metro. Your price depends on your site, so treat them as a starting point and book a free survey for an exact figure.
| Work | Unit | Guide range |
|---|---|---|
| New tar driveway (excavation, base, prime and asphalt) | per m² | [[PLACEHOLDER: R range per m²]] |
| Driveway resurfacing (asphalt overlay on a sound base) | per m² | [[PLACEHOLDER: R range per m²]] |
| Slurry seal | per m² | [[PLACEHOLDER: R range per m²]] |
| Brick paving (supply and lay) | per m² | [[PLACEHOLDER: R range per m²]] |
| Minimum job charge | per job | [[PLACEHOLDER: minimum charge in rand]] |
Prices last reviewed 2026. Areas outside the Cape Town metro may include a travel charge.
What affects the price of a tar driveway
1. The ground and the base
This is the biggest variable. On firm ground with an existing base that can be reused, the work is mostly surfacing. On soft sand, clay or a site with old rubble, we must excavate deeper, cart away spoil and import and compact new base material. It is also the part that decides how long the driveway lasts, so it is the last place to save money.
2. Size of the area
Fixed costs such as transport, set-up and the minimum asphalt load are spread across the job. A 30 m² single driveway costs more per square metre than a 200 m² double driveway with a turning area.
3. Access
If a paver and roller can drive straight in, the job is quicker. Narrow side driveways, steep slopes or garages behind the house mean hand-laying and smaller equipment, which takes longer.
4. Asphalt thickness
A typical residential driveway uses a 25 to 40 mm asphalt layer. Driveways that carry delivery trucks, caravans or heavy vehicles need a thicker layer and a stronger base.
5. Drainage
Channel drains, grids, soakaways or connections to stormwater add cost, but they protect the driveway and your home. We price these separately so you can see them.
6. Edging and finishes
Concrete kerbs, a brick paving border or a paved apron at the garage all add cost per metre but make a big difference to how the driveway looks and how long the edges last.
7. Removing the old surface
Breaking out and removing old concrete, paving or asphalt, and disposing of it legally, is a separate cost.
8. Location
Site surveys are free within 35 km of our Blue Downs base; further away a R350 site visit fee applies. Jobs far from Blue Downs, such as the Overberg or Garden Route, also include travel and accommodation costs, which is why we group work in those areas. See our terms.
How to compare quotes
- Ask what is under the tar. A quote that only mentions "tar" with no base depth or compaction is a warning sign.
- Check the asphalt thickness and whether it is hot-mix asphalt or a cold product.
- Check that edging and drainage are included, and how.
- Ask about the guarantee and what it covers.
- Be wary of door-to-door "leftover tar" offers. They rarely include a proper base and are hard to trace if something goes wrong.
Ways to keep the cost down
- If your existing base is sound, ask about resurfacing instead of a rebuild.
- For a faded but sound driveway, a slurry seal costs a fraction of new asphalt.
- Seal cracks early with crack sealing to avoid bigger repairs later.
- Neighbours or complexes who do work together can share fixed costs.
Pricing questions
How much does a tar driveway cost per square metre in 2026?
It depends mainly on how much excavation and base work your site needs, the size of the area, access and finishing details such as edging and drainage. The table on this page gives typical ranges; a site survey gives you an exact, itemised price.
Why is the price per m² lower on bigger driveways?
Every job has fixed costs: getting machines and a crew to site, a minimum asphalt load and set-up time. On a larger area those costs are spread over more square metres.
Is it cheaper to resurface than to build a new driveway?
Usually, because there is less excavation and less imported base material. It only works when the existing base is sound, which we check during the site survey.
Do your quotes include VAT?
Our written quotes state clearly whether prices include VAT, and itemise the work so you can compare quotes like for like.