Patio Costs by Material (UK 2026)
Prices are per square metre fully installed (supply, labour, sub-base on even ground, edging) and include VAT. Prices exclude removal of existing paving, major levelling or retaining walls. London/South East: add 15-25%.
| Material | Cost per m² (installed) | 20 m² Total | 25 m² Total | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete/paving slabs (standard) | £50-£80/m² | £1,000-£1,600 | £1,250-£2,000 | Budget-friendly, durable, plain appearance |
| Sandstone (natural) | £90-£140/m² | £1,800-£2,800 | £2,250-£3,500 | Popular, warm tones, needs sealing |
| Limestone (natural) | £100-£160/m² | £2,000-£3,200 | £2,500-£4,000 | Premium look, smooth finish, slippery when wet |
| Porcelain (large format) | £100-£180/m² | £2,000-£3,600 | £2,500-£4,500 | Low maintenance, frost-proof, modern aesthetic |
| Slate (natural) | £110-£170/m² | £2,200-£3,400 | £2,750-£4,250 | Distinctive look, can be slippery |
| Block paving (clay or concrete) | £80-£130/m² | £1,600-£2,600 | £2,000-£3,250 | Flexible, repairable, driveway crossover |
| Composite decking (alternative) | £90-£160/m² | £1,800-£3,200 | £2,250-£4,000 | Low maintenance, warm underfoot, not paving |
Prices assume reasonably flat ground. Sloping sites, poor soil or high water table add £10-£30/m² in groundworks. Prices include standard sub-base (MOT Type 1) and haunching.
What Affects Patio Installation Costs?
- Material choice: the biggest single variable. Porcelain and natural stone cost 2-3x more per m² than basic concrete slabs but last longer and look significantly better.
- Size of patio: larger areas reduce the cost per m² slightly as mobilisation and groundworks setup costs are spread. Very small patios (under 10 m²) often attract a minimum call-out charge.
- Groundworks complexity: a standard installation requires excavation to 150-200mm, a compacted sub-base (MOT Type 1 or sharp sand), edging, and haunching. Sloping ground, tree roots, existing hard landscaping or poor drainage all add cost.
- Labour rates: labour is typically 40-60% of total cost. Rates vary significantly — London and South East tradespeople charge £30-£60/m² in labour alone vs £20-£40/m² elsewhere.
- Edging and borders: concrete or steel edging, brick borders or contrasting slab borders add £10-£25 per linear metre.
- Drainage: a patio should be laid with a fall of at least 1:80 away from the house. If drainage to a soakaway or gully is needed, add £150-£500.
- Access: difficult access (narrow side passage, walled garden) requires manual handling of materials and adds labour cost.
- Removal of old paving: breaking out and disposing of an existing concrete patio or slabs adds £10-£20/m².
- Jointing: standard brush-in sand jointing is cheapest; polymeric jointing compound (recommended for porcelain) adds £3-£6/m².
Porcelain vs Sandstone vs Concrete Slabs: Which Is Right for You?
Concrete paving slabs are the most affordable option and are perfectly adequate for a functional patio. Modern textured concrete slabs mimic natural stone reasonably well and are very durable, but they can stain and look dated compared to natural materials.
Sandstone is the UK's most popular natural paving stone. It has a warm, attractive appearance, is widely available in buff, brown, grey and green tones, and costs moderately more than concrete. Sandstone is porous and should be sealed annually to prevent staining and reduce moss growth. It is also slightly variable in thickness, requiring a skilled bedding technique for a level finish.
Porcelain has surged in popularity over the past five years. Large-format rectified porcelain tiles (600x900mm or 600x1200mm) give a contemporary, minimal look with very tight joints. Porcelain is frost-proof, virtually non-porous, very low maintenance and does not need sealing. The downsides are higher material cost, the need for specialist cutting tools, and a harder laying process that demands an experienced contractor. It can also be slippery when wet unless you select a grip-rated (R11 minimum) product.
DIY Patio vs Hiring a Landscaper
A competent DIYer can lay a patio, particularly with regular concrete slabs on a level garden. Material-only costs are roughly 40-60% of the installed price, so DIY saves significantly. However, the groundworks — achieving a correct fall, compacting the sub-base evenly and haunching edging — are where most DIY patios fail, leading to settlement, pooling water and loose slabs within a few years.
For natural stone or porcelain, professional installation is strongly recommended. These materials require precise bedding depths, specialist adhesive mortars (for porcelain, a single-component cementitious adhesive is required rather than sharp sand and cement) and accurate cutting. A poor porcelain installation looks worse than cheap concrete slabs.
Check Before You Lay: Drainage and Planning
Patios close to the house (within 3 m) must slope away from the building at a minimum 1:80 fall to prevent damp ingress. If the patio will cover a drain inspection cover, use a recessed cover infilled with matching paving. New hard landscaping that covers more than 5 m² of the front garden with a non-permeable surface may require planning permission — check with your local authority.
Budget for Landscaping Before You Buy
Our planner helps you set a realistic refurbishment reserve before you buy — factor in garden improvements like a new patio alongside structural works so you have a true total cost from day one.