Resin-Bound Driveway Calculator – How Many Kits Do I Need?
Measure the driveway or path, choose the depth, and we'll work out the resin-bound kits, primer and base materials — with a cost estimate.
Resin-Bound Driveway Calculator
What are you doing?
18mm is the standard driveway depth — enough to take car weight and turning wheels without breaking up.
Measure rectangles length by width. Split an L-shape into two rectangles, or measure a circle straight across its widest point.
Measure your driveway
15 m²
Odd-shaped garden? Split it into rectangles, triangles and circles — we add them up for you.
You need
5kits
15 m² at 18mm, including 5% waste
- Coverage per kit
- 3.2 m²
- Aggregate
- 500 kg
- Primer units
- 1
- Base
- Existing tarmac
How we worked this out
Your shopping list
5 × Resin-bound kits (100kg aggregate + resin, 3.2 m² each at 18mm)
500kg of dried aggregate in total.
£825
1 × 5L units of resin primer
Covers about 25 m² per unit.
£45.00
Resin-bound coverage and kits
| Area | Kits at 18mm (driveway) | Kits at 15mm (path) | Aggregate at 18mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m² | 4 | 3 | 400 kg |
| 20 m² | 7 | 6 | 700 kg |
| 30 m² | 10 | 8 | 1,000 kg |
| 50 m² | 17 | 14 | 1,700 kg |
| 80 m² | 27 | 22 | 2,700 kg |
How this calculator works
A resin-bound kit is a fixed weight of kiln-dried aggregate — normally 100kg — plus the two-part resin that binds it. Coverage depends entirely on how thick you trowel it out. A kit that covers 3.2m² at 18mm will stretch to about 3.8m² at 15mm, because the same volume of material is spread thinner.
We work coverage out as kit coverage × 18 ÷ your depth, divide your area by that figure, add 5% waste and round up to a whole kit. There is no such thing as half a kit — the resin comes pre-measured for the aggregate and the ratio must not be changed.
Primer is quoted separately, typically around 25m² per 5-litre unit on a sound surface, more on tight tarmac and less on porous concrete.
Worked example: a 30m² driveway
A drive 6m by 5m is 30m². At 18mm, each kit covers 3.2m², so 30 ÷ 3.2 = 9.38 kits. Add 5% waste and round up and you need 10 kits — 1,000kg of aggregate. At around £165 a kit that is £1,650 of material, plus two units of primer at about £45.
A professionally installed resin drive of that size typically comes in between £2,700 and £3,600, so the labour element is real money — but so is the risk. Resin-bound has a short working window and an unforgiving finish; most first-timers should practise on a path before tackling the front drive.
What goes underneath matters more than the resin
Resin-bound is a surface course, not a structural layer. It is only ever as good as the base beneath it. Over sound tarmac or concrete you simply clean, dry, prime and lay. If the existing surface is cracked, rutted or moving, it must come out — laying resin over failing tarmac just gives you a smooth-looking failure a year later.
For a new base, the standard build-up is 150mm of compacted MOT Type 1 topped with 60–70mm of tarmac or a 100mm concrete slab. On a permeable design, an open-graded stone base and permeable binder course are used instead so water can drain straight through. Our MOT Type 1 and concrete calculators will work out those layers for you.
Tips from the trade counter
- Buy all your aggregate from the same batch. Stone colour varies between batches and a mismatched kit halfway across the drive shows badly.
- Watch the weather. Surface must be dry, air temperature 5–25°C, and no rain for at least four hours after laying.
- Mix for the full time. Under-mixed resin leaves dull patches and loose stone. Use a forced-action mixer, not a cement mixer.
- Set out edges first. Resin needs a firm edge restraint — aluminium trim, block paving or the existing kerb — or it crumbles at the perimeter.
- Plan drainage before you start. A permeable design needs somewhere for the water to go, and an impermeable one needs a channel drain across the threshold.
UK planning rules for front driveways
In England, laying a hard surface of more than 5m² in a front garden needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable, or rainwater is directed to a permeable area such as a border or soakaway within your own boundary. Resin-bound laid on a permeable base normally counts as permeable; resin-bonded on solid concrete does not.
Dropped kerbs are a separate application to the highways department, and rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check with your local council before you order materials.
Frequently asked questions
How many square metres does a resin-bound kit cover?
A standard kit of 100kg of dried aggregate plus resin covers about 3.2m² at 18mm. Laid at 15mm for a path the same kit covers roughly 3.8m².
How thick should a resin-bound driveway be?
18mm for a driveway taking cars, and 15mm for paths and patios. Thinner than 15mm and the surface is prone to breaking up under turning wheels.
Can I lay resin-bound over my existing driveway?
Yes, if the existing tarmac or concrete is sound, clean, dry and free of movement cracks. Loose, crazed or heaving surfaces must come up first — the resin only bonds as well as what is underneath.
Is resin-bound permeable?
Resin-bound (aggregate mixed through the resin and trowelled out) is permeable when laid on a permeable base. Resin-bonded (loose stone scattered on a resin layer) is not.
Do I need planning permission for a resin driveway?
In England, a front garden hard surface over 5m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a permeable area within the garden. Resin-bound on a permeable base normally qualifies — check with your local council.
What temperature can you lay resin at?
Between about 5°C and 25°C, on a dry surface with no rain forecast for several hours. Cold slows the cure right down; hot weather shortens the working time to a few minutes per mix.
How long before I can drive on it?
Foot traffic after about 6 hours, vehicles after 24–48 hours depending on temperature. Follow the resin manufacturer's cure times rather than guessing.