Cost guide
Tarmac depth survey cost
The price of knowing the thickness laid everywhere on the road, how it compares with coring, and how to book it so it costs less.
Guide price: a tarmac depth survey costs from £895 per road section (around 200–300 m), covering the scan of the layer underneath, the scan of the new surface and the thickness report. If we've already scanned the sub-base for a level check, the second scan and thickness report cost from £450. Before VAT, travel included within 50 miles of Corby.
| Option | Guide price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Full depth survey, one section | from £895 | Before scan, after scan, thickness map and report |
| Surface scan after our sub-base scan | from £450 | Second scan and thickness report only |
| Each extra bituminous layer | from £395 | Binder to surface course thickness, on the same road |
| Tonnage check against delivery tickets | included | Volume from the thickness map, converted at your stated density |
Guide prices before VAT. Fixed quote on request.
Scan comparison versus coring
Coring is the traditional thickness check, and adopting authorities still ask for some cores. A core gives you a physical sample and a true thickness at that spot. What it can't do is tell you about the 99.9% of the road between the cores.
| Coring | Scan comparison | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | One spot per core | The whole surface |
| Damage | Holes to reinstate | None |
| Finds where it's thin | Only if a core lands there | Yes, mapped and measured |
| Needs planning ahead | No | Yes, the layer below must be scanned first |
For most estate roads the best value is both: a scan comparison across the whole road, and a small number of cores placed where the scan says they're most useful.
A worked example
A 250 m estate road. We scan the sub-base as a level check before surfacing (£495), then scan the binder course after it's laid and produce the thickness report (£450). Total £945 for a level check on the sub-base and a full binder thickness map, with tonnage worked out from it.
Ways to keep it down
- Book the sub-base scan as soon as surfacing is programmed. It's the one part you can't go back for.
- Survey binder and surface course on the same road to share set-up and travel.
- Group several roads on the same phase into one visit.
What's included
- Both scans on the same site control
- Colour thickness map over the layout
- Min, average and max thickness
- Areas outside tolerance in m²
- Volume and tonnage estimate
- Point clouds and registration errors
See how the method works on the tarmac depth surveys page, or compare all prices.
Tarmac depth surveys across the area
Questions we get asked
How much is a tarmac depth survey?
From £895 per road section for both scans (the layer underneath and the finished surface) and the thickness report. If we have already scanned the sub-base as part of a road scan, the surface scan and thickness report are from £450.
Is a tarmac depth survey cheaper than coring?
Per hole, a core is cheaper. But a core proves the thickness at one spot, and you need several per road plus reinstatement. A scan comparison covers the whole surface, tells you exactly where any shortfall is, and costs about the same as a modest coring programme on a typical estate road.
Can I get a tarmac depth survey price for tarmac that's already laid?
Only if the layer underneath was scanned or accurately levelled before it was covered. Without that, thickness can't be measured by scanning and coring is the only option.
What counts as a road section in a tarmac depth survey price?
One continuous length of road scanned in a half-day visit, usually 200 to 300 metres. Longer roads are priced as additional sections or full days.
How much does it cost to add another tarmac layer to a depth survey?
Each extra bituminous layer on the same road is from £395, for example measuring surface course thickness on top of a binder survey you have already booked. The tonnage check against delivery tickets is included at no extra cost. Prices are before VAT, with travel included within 50 miles of Corby.
How can I keep the cost of a tarmac depth survey down?
Book the sub-base scan as soon as surfacing is programmed, because it is the one part you can't go back for, and it doubles as a level check. After that, the surface scan and thickness report are from £450 rather than £895. Surveying binder and surface course on the same road, and grouping several roads on one phase into a visit, share set-up and travel.
Book a scan or ask a question
Send the drawing, the location and when you need it. We reply the same working day with a fixed price.