How much does a concrete driveway cost in Brisbane?
A 2025 price guide for plain, exposed aggregate and decorative concrete driveways across Brisbane and Moreton Bay — and what actually moves the number on a quote.
The honest answer most homeowners want: a standard residential concrete driveway in Brisbane runs roughly $85–$165 per square metre supplied and laid in 2025. The spread is real, and it's driven by finish, access and site prep — not by who you call.
Ballpark rates by finish (Brisbane, 2025)
Plain broom-finished concrete sits around $85–$110/m². Coloured concrete adds $10–$25/m² for oxide. Exposed aggregate runs $110–$165/m² depending on stone choice and wash depth. Decorative finishes like honed, polished or stencilled push past $180/m². These are supplied-and-laid rates on a clean site with reasonable truck access — not headline-only ex-GST numbers.
What pushes the price up
Site access is the biggest hidden cost — if the truck can't reach the formwork, we're wheelbarrowing or pumping, and that's labour. Demolition of an old slab adds $25–$45/m². Steep grades need extra steel and screw piers. Council crossovers attract permit fees and an engineered design. Boundary retaining or stormwater rework can quietly double a small driveway quote.
Why cheap quotes get expensive later
The difference between an $80/m² quote and a $130/m² quote is almost always in what you can't see: sub-base depth, mesh weight, bar chairs, control joints and crew size on pour day. A slab poured on poorly compacted fill will crack inside three summers — and the repair costs more than the original job. Ask any quoter for a written spec, not just a price.
How to compare quotes properly
Line them up on the same scope: m², thickness (100mm residential, 125–150mm for trucks/caravans), mesh grade (SL72 vs SL82), MPa rating, finish, demolition, council fees and sealer. Three quotes on identical scope is the only fair comparison. We send written quotes within 48 hours and break out every line so you can do exactly that.