How much does a patio cost in the UK?
A patio costs £70 to £220 in the UK, typically around £120 per m². What moves the price most is total area in square metres, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
A patio is priced by the square metre, and the paving material is the biggest lever: budget concrete slabs at one end, porcelain and natural stone at the other.
Patio cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your patio in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Need to know how much material to order? Try the concrete calculator or gravel calculator. To price the whole job, use the block paving cost calculator.
Patio cost breakdown
Typical patio costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £70 to £220 per m² |
| + Porcelain or natural stone | add £30 to £80 per m² |
| 10 m² | £700 to £2,200 |
| 20 m² (typical) | £1,400 to £4,400 |
| 40 m² | £2,800 to £8,800 |
What's included in the price?
Typical patio prices include:
- Ground preparation and sub-base
- Bedding mortar and laying
- Paving supplied and pointed
- Spoil removal and clean-up
What changes the price?
The things that move patio prices most:
Total area in square metres
Material: concrete slabs are cheapest, porcelain and natural stone cost more
Ground levels, steps and any retaining walls
Access to the garden
How the price is built up
Most of a patio quote is the ground and the labour, not the slabs on top. The total starts with excavation, a compacted sub-base, edge restraints and the bedding the slabs sit on, then the laying and pointing itself, which is why the rate runs from around £70 per m² at the low end. From there the price climbs with the material: plain concrete slabs sit near the bottom, while porcelain or natural stone add roughly £30 to £80 per m² and push a job towards the £220 top of the band. Sloping ground that needs levelling, steps, retaining walls and tight access all add labour and lift the figure further, and London and the South East cost more again. Labour and groundworks are usually the larger share, often around 55 to 65 percent of the total, with the slabs and bedding materials making up the rest. The split tilts further towards materials once you choose porcelain or natural stone.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Stick with plain concrete slabs rather than porcelain or natural stone. That addon is worth around £30 to £80 per m², so on a 20m² patio it is the difference between the low end and something much closer to the £220 rate.
- Keep the shape simple and the levels flat. Steps, retaining walls and sloping ground all add labour, and a straightforward rectangle on level ground sits nearer the £70 per m² floor.
- Clear the old patio and cart away the waste yourself before the fitter starts, so you are only paying the trade rate for laying, not for site clearance.
- Get quotes from local firms outside London and the South East where you can. The same work simply costs more there.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a patio typically costs around £160 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £120. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £110.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £70 | £120 | £220 |
| London | £90 | £160 | £290 |
| South East / South West | £80 | £140 | £250 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £65 | £110 | £200 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Patio cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £60 | £100 | £190 |
| Birmingham | £70 | £120 | £220 |
| Bristol | £75 | £130 | £240 |
| Cardiff | £65 | £110 | £210 |
| Edinburgh | £70 | £120 | £220 |
| Glasgow | £65 | £110 | £200 |
| Leeds | £65 | £110 | £200 |
| Liverpool | £65 | £110 | £200 |
| London | £90 | £160 | £290 |
| Manchester | £65 | £120 | £210 |
| Newcastle | £65 | £110 | £200 |
| Sheffield | £65 | £110 | £200 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for patio, not quotes.
Common questions
How much does a patio cost for a typical garden?
A typical 20 square metre patio costs roughly £1,400 to £4,400, mostly depending on whether you choose concrete slabs or premium porcelain and natural stone.
What is the cheapest patio material?
Plain concrete or pressed-concrete slabs are the cheapest. Porcelain, sandstone and granite look better and last well but cost more per square metre, both to buy and to lay.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Almost never for a normal back-garden patio laid at ground level: it is permitted development. Check first if the house is listed or in a conservation area, or if you are significantly raising levels near a boundary. The front-garden drainage rules that catch driveways do not usually affect a rear patio.
Why do patio quotes vary so much for the same size?
The slab choice moves the price more than anything: porcelain or natural stone adds £30 to £80 per m² over basic concrete slabs. After that it is the groundwork (digging out and a proper sub-base), access to the garden, and how much cutting the layout needs. Two quotes for "a 20 m² patio" can honestly be £1,400 and £4,400 for those reasons.
Is it cheaper to lay a patio yourself?
Doing it yourself can save a large part of the bill, because labour and groundworks are usually around 55 to 65 percent of the total. On a 20m² job at the £70 to £220 per m² range, that is a real chunk. You still pay for slabs, sub-base and bedding, and the sub-base and levels are the hard part to get right. A patio that settles or ponds is expensive to relay, so it only pays off if you are confident with the groundwork.
How long does it take to lay a patio?
A straightforward patio of around 20m² usually takes a two-person team about three to four days: a day or so to dig out and lay the sub-base, then laying, cutting and pointing the slabs. Bigger areas, awkward access, steps or retaining walls all add time, and that extra labour is part of why the rate stretches towards £220 per m². Wet weather can also stretch the job out, as fresh bedding and joints need time to set.
Does an old patio need removing before a new one is laid?
Usually yes. A new patio needs a sound, well-compacted sub-base, so an old cracked or uneven surface normally comes up first, and that lifting and waste removal is part of the labour in the £70 to £220 per m² rate. Occasionally a solid, level existing base can be built on, but most fitters prefer to start fresh so the finished levels and drainage are right. Clearing it yourself first keeps the cost down.
Does a new patio add value to your home?
Rarely more than it costs. A patio runs £70 to £220 per m2, so a typical 20m2 job is a few thousand pounds, and while a tidy, level patio helps a garden show well to buyers, agents seldom add that full amount to the asking price. A neglected or cracked one can put buyers off, so it earns its keep most as something you enjoy while you live there.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.