Last updated October 2026
Seven surfaces cover almost every school, park, club and garden project: four rubber or grass surfaces for play, two resin finishes for paths and public spaces, and tarmac or macadam for yards, courts and car parks. Published prices run from about £22 per m2 for rubber grass mats to over £150 per m2 for a small resin path, before VAT. Pick a surface below, or send your plan and we will recommend one.
Which surface suits which job, and what does each cost?
Use the table to narrow the choice, then open the surface page for depths, build-ups and what changes the price.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Surface | Best suited to | Published price per m2 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wetpour | Busy play areas under equipment; colours and graphics | £40 to £140 | Redlynch Leisure, 2026 |
| Bonded rubber mulch | Natural, woodland-style play areas | £40 to £75 published; £60.75 and £84.39 in two parish quotes | Soft Surfaces, Abacus; Wickham Market PC |
| Artificial grass for play | Nursery gardens, green play spaces | £40 to £60, excluding ground preparation | Redlynch Leisure, 2026 |
| Rubber tiles and grass mats | Grass mats on lawns under equipment; tiles on sound hard bases | Grass mats about £22 (parish council quote); tiles about £72 to £112 supply only | Wickham Market PC, 2022; Rubberco, 2026 |
| Resin bound | Permeable paths, tree pits, public realm | £60 to £100 for SUDS-compliant bound; £154 on a small path quote | Abacus, 2025; Cuckfield PC, 2021 |
| Resin bonded | Decorative or grip finishes on a sound base | £35 to £75 on a sound base; one installer quotes £80 to £120 | Three 2026 price guides; Homebuilding and Renovating, 2025 |
| Tarmac and macadam | Playgrounds, MUGAs, courts, car parks | About £36 per m2 to resurface a MUGA (real quotes); £45 to £80 for new driveway-grade tarmac | Wickham PC, 2025; MyBuilder, 2026 |
All prices exclude VAT where the source says so. Two sources (Soft Surfaces and Rubberco) do not state a VAT basis, which is noted on the surface pages.
Which surfaces are tested for play equipment?
Wetpour, bonded rubber mulch, play-grade artificial grass on a shock pad, rubber tiles and rubber grass mats can all be tested under BS EN 1177 to a critical fall height. Resin and macadam are not impact-absorbing play surfaces, so they belong on paths, courts and yards rather than under equipment.
Our page on safety surfacing for playgrounds explains how the surface and its depth are matched to the tallest piece of equipment, and how to check a test result.
How it works
- 01Send a plan and photosThe site, the surface and the date it must reopen.
- 02We check the groundLevels and where the water drains.
- 03Written quoteBuilt around your reopening date.
Which surface lasts longest for the money?
There is no single winner, because life depends on traffic, maintenance and the base. A cheap surface on a poor base fails early, while a good base can often be resurfaced several times. Ask each quote for the warranty in writing and what it requires you to do.
Can different surfaces be combined on one site?
Yes, and most good schemes do. A typical school yard might have wetpour under the climbing frame, grass mats on the bank, a macadam ball court and a resin path to the gate. The edges between them need detailing so there is no trip lip, and each surface is priced on its own line.
Where do courts and pitches fit?
Courts and pitches are built from these surfaces but are priced as whole projects, so they sit under applications. See the applications page for MUGAs, tennis courts, 3G pitches, tracks and markings.
Who does the work
Every surface on this site is laid by the surfacing teams, with Alex Winser overseeing your project on the ground through to sign-off.
Sources
- Redlynch Leisure, Wet pour rubber, Sept 2026
- Redlynch Leisure, Artificial grass, May 2026
- Soft Surfaces, Rubber mulch costs, May 2024
- Abacus, Daily mile track costs, surfaces and installation guide, May 2025
- Wickham Market Parish Council, Play area report, Aug 2022
- Rubberco, Playground matting UK buyer’s guide 2026, June 2026
- Cuckfield Parish Council, Horsefield Green footpath report, May 2021
- Trade2Base, Resin bound gravel costs UK, June 2026
- Best Builders, Resin driveway comparison, Aug 2026
- squote, Resin bonded vs resin bound, May 2026
- Homebuilding and Renovating, Resin driveway cost, June 2025
- Wickham Parish Council, Recreation Committee document pack, 27 Feb 2025
- MyBuilder, Tarmac driveway cost, Aug 2026