Cost of Laying a Patio

How Much to Lay a Patio?

How much does laying a patio cost?

The cost to lay a patio in a standard 20 square metre area...

...is typically around £900 to £2,500. This price includes the cost to excavate and lay foundations, as well as the supply and installation of your paving slabs.

What is your main reason for laying a patio?

Outdoor dining area

10 votes - 53%53% of votes

Somewhere to relax

8 votes - 42%42% of votes

Entertaining guests

1 votes - 5%5% of votes

Garden area for plants

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

Increase property value

0 votes - 0%0% of votes

19 votes See results Hide results

What factors impact the patio costs you're quoted?

The cost of laying a patio in the UK varies depending on materials:

• Budget options such as concrete and brick patio slabs cost around £900 to £1,600
• Premium slate patios cost between £900 and £3,800
• Premium stone patio can cost up to £4,600

Calculate the Cost of Laying a Patio

Want a better idea of how much it costs to lay a patio?

Try out our patio cost calculator.

You'll need the length and width (in metres) of the area you'd like to install a patio on.

While this calculator is a great starting point, getting quotes from local patio layers is the best way to understand the total patio cost for your specific project.

Quotes you get through MyJobQuote are fast, free, with no obligation to proceed.

New Patio Prices

Below are some estimated costs of hiring a landscape gardener to build a patio.

These prices represent the total cost of your patio project, including supply and professional installation.

Small Patio Costs (10m²)

Medium Patio Costs (20m²)

Large Patio Costs (40m²)

Types of Patio Installations

The type of patio you choose will depend on your budget, the look you're after, and what's possible in your outdoor space. Here's how the main materials compare, who each one suits best, and the typical supply cost per m².

Brick

Traditional clay bricks bedded on mortar for a warm, characterful finish that suits period and cottage-style gardens, typically £35 to £80 per m². There's plenty of choice by type and quality, which is why prices vary so much.

Best for: classic, characterful spaces on a moderate budget.

Block paving

Small interlocking units, usually concrete or clay pavers, laid on a compacted sand bed rather than a mortar bed, at £30 to £65 per m². The blocks lock together in a pattern and can be lifted and relaid individually, which makes repairs straightforward.

Best for: durable, patterned surfaces and areas that double as a patio and path.

Concrete

The most budget-friendly option at £20 to £55 per m², available as poured concrete or concrete slabs. Quality varies a lot, so cheaper mixes may not last as long.

Best for: a hard-wearing patio at the lowest cost.

Slate

A premium natural material at £50 to £90 per m², with rich colour and good slip resistance when textured.

Best for: a contemporary, high-end finish.

Stone

Natural stone gives a premium, characterful finish, and there are lots of options to choose from. Each type varies in price and durability:

• Indian sandstone — £40 to £55 per m². The most affordable natural stone and a popular all-rounder, with warm, varied tones.
• Limestone — £45 to £70 per m². A smooth, even finish in softer greys and blues. It's slightly more porous, so it benefits from sealing.
• Granite — £70 to £95 per m². Extremely hard-wearing and slip-resistant, ideal for high-traffic areas.
• York stone — £75 to £95 per m². A classic British stone with a traditional look. Reclaimed pieces can cost more.

Best for: a natural, premium look with lots of colour and texture options.

Porcelain

A modern, low-maintenance option at £50 to £100 per m². It's hard-wearing, frost-proof and resistant to stains and fading. It needs a slurry primer for good adhesion, which adds a little to labour.

Best for: a sleek, low-upkeep finish that keeps its looks for years.

How Much Does a Patio Builder Cost?

Day rates for gardeners are between £150 and £200.

You'll typically need two for professional installation, bringing your labour costs closer to £300 to £400 a day.

Labour tends to swallow up around 25% to 35% of the total project cost. Broken down, that’s around £20 to £40 per m² just for manpower before you add materials, preparation, and waste removal.

It's good to know that: Most installers will give you a total cost for the whole patio, rather than charging by the day. It’s handy to know the average cost per square metre to check you’re not being overcharged.

Typical all-in costs (materials + labour) usually sit around £60 to £120 per m². Use that when comparing fixed prices.

Timescales for Laying a Patio

How long a patio takes depends on the size, ground conditions, and weather.

Here are typical scenarios:

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

What Impacts Patio Installation Costs?

There isn’t one single price driver. It’s a mix of size, materials, prep, and how fiddly the job is.

Here's a snapshot of what to be aware of:

Ground Prep and Sub-Base

Most patio designs need excavation plus a compacted sub-base (e.g., Type 1 MOT). Softer ground or areas that take more weight need more depth and time.

If you’re flagging, allow £15 to £60 per m² for the flags, plus £75 to £100 per m² as the cost to lay.

Falls and Drainage (SuDS)

Patios are laid to a gentle fall away from the house. Surface water should go to a permeable ground or a soakaway, not the foul system.

If there’s nowhere for runoff, you may need channels/gullies or a soakaway — the cost of installing a soakaway is around £850.

Access and Site Constraints

Narrow side passages, steps, and roots will slow things down.

Removing an existing patio will add to your overall waste costs (often ~£100+ depending on volume). If there’s a lot to clear during site preparation, a single skip hire cost can be more efficient than multiple trips.

Labour Rates by Region

London and the South East trend higher due to overheads and parking.

As a ballpark on larger jobs: Bigger firms in London ~£2,400 to £2,600, while the in the north ~£2,000 to £2,200.

Seasons and Weather

Wet and frozen ground slows excavation and affects mortar. Most installers avoid laying in heavy rain or frost, which can stretch timelines.

Remember: Ask for an itemised, written quote that shows excavation depth, sub-base build-up, drainage/falls, laying pattern, jointing, waste removal, and any extras. It makes comparing like-for-like much easier when hiring professionals.

Patio Size

Bigger areas mean more excavation, more sub-base, more slabs, and more time.

As a rough sense-check, small patios (~10m²) often land around £800 to £1,100, while large (~40m²) can reach ~£4,600, depending on spec and access.

Slab Type and Quality

The cost to lay your patio depends on the quality of your materials.

Budget concrete starts from about £20 per m², but cheaper mixes can fail sooner (air pockets and freeze/thaw). You'll pay more for quality materials, which is why natural stone and better-made concrete can cost up to £95 per m², with porcelain a little higher at up to £100 per m².

Pattern, Edging and Extras

Simple stretcher bond is quickest. Intricate patterns, tight curves, steps, brick edging, recessed manholes, lighting, or planters all add labour time and materials.

Patio Doors

If your project also opens up the back of the house, it's best to budget for new doors as a separate cost. Fitting French or bi-fold doors to connect the house to your new patio can add a fair amount, so it's worth pricing up the cost of patio doors alongside the patio itself.

Hidden Patio Installation Costs

Unfortunately, there can also be some hidden costs. Ground conditions, drainage and levelling often aren't obvious until work begins, and because they affect the foundation of the whole patio, they can add a considerable amount to the total.

Hidden Tree Roots

Scenario - You're excavating and find thick tree roots covering the patio area

Expected Added Cost - £475

Removing a tree root costs between £200 and £750, with the total price being dependent upon the extent of the root spread. This will require specialist equipment and will slow down your patio building progress, negatively impacting your project timeline.

If you suspect tree roots might be present in your ground, it's best to flag this before the project starts to help mitigate the impacts.

Waterlogged Ground

Scenario - Digging reveals spongy soil, or a hole that fills with water once dug out

Expected Added Cost - ~£850

Good drainage is one of the most important parts of any patio, and poor drainage is a common cause of patio failure. Laying a patio on top of waterlogged ground will result in a shifting base with a dipped surface and complete patio failure in a few years' time. To remedy the issue, your installer may need to install a soakaway, increase the sub-base depth, or alter the levels. Each of these adds to the cost, but it works out far cheaper than relaying the patio later on.

Poor Ground Conditions

Scenario - Digging reveals soft, made-up or stony ground that won't support a standard sub-base

Expected Added Cost - £300 to £1,000+

Not all ground is ready to build on. Soft or made-up soil often has to be dug out deeper and replaced with more compacted sub-base material, while buried rubble or rock slows excavation down and adds to the labour. The sub-base is what stops a patio sinking or cracking later, so it's not somewhere installers will cut corners, and it can add a fair amount to the total.

Uneven or Sloping Ground

Scenario - Your garden slopes or sits at different levels, so it needs levelling before the patio can be laid

Expected Added Cost - £500 to £1,500+

A patio needs a stable, even base, so uneven or sloping ground has to be levelled first. Depending on the drop, this can mean extra excavation, bringing in more sub-base material to build up the low areas, or adding retaining edges to hold everything in place. On a steeply sloping garden, this can be one of the largest costs in the whole quote. Our guide to garden levelling costs breaks this down further.

Finding Utility Pipes or Cables

Scenario - Your labourers find utility pipes or cables in their dig site

Expected Added Cost - £1,200 to £4,400+

Finding an unexpected supply cable or pipe is cause for the immediate halt of work. Unknown supply lines should be treated as live and require specialist investigation.

The cost for this kind of situation varies greatly depending on the type of supply, whether it's live or disconnected, and how easy it is to remove or reroute. For example, if you're dealing with a water supply pipe, you'll need to contact your local water supplier to discuss your options - whether that's diverting it or building over.

Having access to a map showing your local utilities before digging starts can help prevent this scenario from becoming an issue.

How to Save Money on a Patio

A new patio is a big outlay, but there are a few sensible ways to bring the cost down without cutting corners on the finish:

• Work with your existing levels — Excavation and levelling are among the biggest costs, so keeping the patio close to your garden's current levels avoids a lot of extra digging and waste.
• Do some of the prep yourself — Clearing the area, lifting an old surface, or moving waste to a skip can save on labour day rates.
• Choose a cheaper material — Concrete and block paving cost far less per m² than natural stone or porcelain, and still give a hard-wearing finish.
• Keep the shape simple — A straightforward square or rectangle with a simple laying pattern is quicker to lay than intricate designs, curves or lots of cuts, which all add labour.
• Get several itemised quotes — Comparing at least three quotes side by side helps you spot a fair price and avoid paying over the odds.

What's Involved in Laying a Patio?

How much work is involved in laying a patio?

Here's what to expect when you get your new patio installed:

Before the Job Starts

• Survey, Measurements, and Drainage — The installer checks access, measures up, and confirms where any services (cables/pipes) run. Drainage will be considered, and if a runoff needs managing, your professional installer may add a channel drain or a soakaway.
• Spec and Materials Chosen — Sub-base (Type 1 MOT), full mortar bed, and your chosen slabs. Porcelain/smooth stone usually needs a slurry primer on the back for good adhesion.

During the Job

• Strip Out, Prep, Build Sub-base — Lift any old surface and excavate to the right depth for sub-base, bed and slab thickness. Lay Type 1 MOT in layers and compact thoroughly (garden patios often allow ~100mm compacted, adjusted for ground/loads).
• Lay the Bed — A full mortar bed is laid (typically ~30mm to 50mm). Porcelain/smooth stone gets a slurry primer before it goes down.
• Lay the Slabs — Start from string lines, tap each slab level with a rubber mallet and keep the fall consistent. Once the bed has firmed up, joints are filled (mortar or resin/compound to suit the slab), and the surface is cleaned.

After the Job

• Curing and First Use — Keep off heavy furniture/loads until bedding and joints have cured (often 24 to 72 hours, weather dependent).
• Snagging — Check edges, levels and water run-off; tidy any small imperfections.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

Patio Repair Costs

The average cost of repairing a patio tends to be significantly lower than the cost of replacing one.

However, this will depend greatly on the scale of repair work required. Patio repairs are usually completed within one day, so you should expect to pay around £150 to £200 for professional repairs.

The most common patio problems include:

• Sinking Slabs — Caused by sub-base compaction or erosion, typically costing £150 to £200 per day for professional repair.
• Surface Cracking — Often due to age or ground movement, with materials costing £26 to £125.
• Loose or Wobbly Slabs — If your garden paving or blocks start to become loose, this may be because the jointing mortar has failed. Patio repointing costs are typically £20 per sqauare metre.

Cost of Patio Removal

Taking up an old patio is normally priced as labour – you’ll also want to cover waste removal. A couple of workers will run to roughly £300 to £400 a day.

Take a look at a few patio removal scenarios to give you a clearer picture:

Looking for patio removal costs per m²?

• A small 10m² patio costs between £25 to £50 per m² to remove
• A medium 20m² patio costs between £20 to £35 per m² to remove
• A large 40m² patio costs between £18 to £25 per m² to remove

Why does the removal cost per m² reduce as the size of the patio increases?

Patio removal carries both fixed and semi-fixed costs. Your labourer will have the same equipment, travel, and garden waste collection no matter the size of the patio - so a larger patio may see reduced costs per m² as it can be removed more efficiently.

What Alternatives to a Patio Are There?

Already have a patio sorted? Here are some complementary ideas for your outdoor space:

Gravel Paths

Gravel paths are quick to put down and easy to tweak later.

Want an uncluttered finish that lasts? Lay down a firm sub-base along with a weed membrane. Then, use edging to keep stones from wandering onto lawns or beds.

Best for: Quick, budget-friendly paths and relaxed seating areas.

Material cost: £20 to £50 per m²

Pros

• ✔ Quick to install and hard-wearing when you lay it over a firm sub-base and membrane
• ✔ Lots of colours and sizes

Cons

• ✖ You’ll need to tidy it up regularly to keep it looking good
• ✖ Trickier to clear in snow and ice — scraping will move the stones

Bark Mulch Paths

Bark gives you a natural, soft finish underfoot. However, it'll compress and break down, so be sure to top it up now and then.

It works best on top of a breathable membrane with edging to keep it in place. If you’re clearing a lot of old borders or green waste, a skip is worth having.

Planning a bigger garden project? Typical landscaping costs vary by materials, access, and drainage.

Best for: Natural-looking garden paths and borders.

Material cost: £90 to £180 per bulk bag (coverage varies by depth)

Pros

• ✔ Helps suppress weeds
• ✔ Soft underfoot and easy to top up

Cons

• ✖ Not great for heavy foot traffic — it shifts about
• ✖ Leaf blowers and strong jets can scatter it

Garden Decking

Installing garden decking is brilliant for levelling awkward spots and creating a clean seating area fast. Timber needs periodic care, while composite costs more up front but is lower-maintenance.

Best for: Level seating space on uneven ground.

Material cost: £15 to £90 per m² (timber or composite)

Pros

• ✔ Warm, natural look with flexible designs for small or large spaces
• ✔ Hardwood can last decades if cared for

Cons

• ✖ Cheaper boards may only last 10 to 15 years
• ✖ Needs ongoing maintenance to avoid rot and wear

Resin-Bound Surfaces

Resin-bound gives you a smooth, modern look that drains surface water through the mix when laid on a suitable base. It wants solid prep and neat edging, so get itemised quotes.

Best for: Smooth, modern finish with good drainage.

Material cost: £60 to £90 per m²

Pros

• ✔ Permeable, so it helps with surface water
• ✔ Clean look and comfortable underfoot

Cons

• ✖ Can encourage weed growth if not maintained
• ✖ Resin-bonded (not bound) options aren’t permeable, and can pool water

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Do you need planning permission to lay a patio? In most cases, no.

Planning Permission

Patios are considered permitted development if:

• It's built at ground level and doesn't alter your overall land levels (e.g., isn't a raised platform)
• The new patio doesn't cover more than 50% of the total land around your property

However, planning permission will be required if:

• The patio will be raised more than 300mm above ground level, or if you're significantly changing the ground levels (e.g., in a steep garden)
• You live in a listed property, flat, or maisonette

Building Regulations

You won't often need to comply with Building Regulations for a ground-level patio.

However, they will apply if:

• Your patio affects your property's drainage system, or working near damp-proof courses
• Your patio design includes steps or retaining walls
• You're planning on laying a patio over inspection chambers/drains

Patio Maintenance and Cleaning

Regular cleaning and maintenance will help your patio last longer and keep it looking its best. Here are the key things to know:

• General Patio Cleaning - Cheap and effective, regular maintenance of your patio will keep it in good condition. Brush your patio to remove debris, pull up and treat weeds where you find them, and remove general dirt with a simple soap and water solution.
• Removing Stubborn Stains - Deck cleaners or degreasers work well to tackle lived-in stains. Power washing should be used cautiously, depending on your patio material, and a professional jet washer will charge between £150 and £400, depending on your patio size.
• Patio Protection - Keeping your patio covered with a surface protector helps during the winter months to prevent build-up. Brick patios in particular benefit from having a sealant added for £3 to £6 per m².
• Patio Repointing - Crumbling pointing isn't cause for a brand new patio, you can easily fix it by getting your patio repointed for £20 per m².

How to Find and Hire a Patio Installer

Who you choose to lay your patio can make or break it. A good installer will make sure your patio looks good and stands the test of time.

Before starting your patio project, make sure you:

• Do they have groundwork experience/knowledge? Digging and excavation are a major part of patio laying, and getting it wrong can be costly. Make sure your labourer shows knowledge of correct depths, sub-base, and understands load-bearing principles.
• Do they understand the drainage requirements? Getting falls wrong can cause a waterlogged or flooded garden. Your labourer needs to know the correct fall levels and show evidence of fitting soakaways or other drains where needed.
• Do they have experience in laying your patio material? Premium materials like slate and natural stone behave differently to standard-sized brick patios. Find a labourer with experience in your chosen slab type for best results.
• Do they have plenty of positive customer reviews? Spend a few minutes scrolling reviews, or check their MyJobQuote profile to see all their feedback from other homeowners.
• Do they have insurance? Professional installers should have public liability insurance.
• Do they offer a guarantee? Decent installers will usually back their work, especially if it sinks or the joints give way.
• Do they offer written quotes? Get at least 3 quotes from patio installers near you. Make sure they're itemised so there are no hidden fees.

With MyJobQuote, you don't need to commit to anything — all quotes from patio installers are fast, free, with no obligation to go ahead.

FAQs