How much does a patio cost in the UK?
Most UK homeowners spend between £2,400 and £9,800 on a new patio in 2026, with the average around £4,800 for a 25 m² area in Indian sandstone laid on a properly excavated sub-base. The numbers below are the same ones we use inside our quote calculator — they're built from supplier price lists and recent landscaper invoices, not estimated.
Pricing tiers
- Budget — £90–£130 per m²
- Concrete flags or basic riven sandstone
- Standard 100 mm MOT type 1 sub-base
- Pointing with sand & cement (not jointing compound)
- Skip hire and basic spoil removal
- Mid-range — £140–£200 per m²
- Premium Indian sandstone or sawn limestone
- 150 mm sub-base with full membrane
- Brush-in resin jointing compound
- Edge restraints and a discreet drainage fall
- High-end — £220–£340 per m²
- 20 mm vitrified porcelain on a primed slurry bed
- Engineered sub-base with integrated linear drainage
- Mitred edges, step kits, and matching coping
- Levels surveyed, bonded perimeter, no movement joints visible
Where the money goes
Materials usually account for 35–45% of a patio bill. Labour, plant hire, sub-base aggregates, jointing compound, and waste removal make up the rest. A common surprise is excavation: removing 150 mm of clay over 25 m² is over 4 tonnes of spoil, which alone costs £180–£260 in skip and disposal fees.
Regional modifiers
- London & SE: +18% to +25% — Driven by labour day-rates and parking restrictions, not materials.
- South West: +5% to +10% — Premium for stone-yard delivery into rural postcodes.
- Midlands: Baseline — What our calculator's mid-range numbers reflect.
- North West & Yorkshire: −5% to −10% — Competitive landscaper market keeps day-rates lower.
- Scotland (Central Belt): −3% to +5% — Glasgow and Edinburgh sit close to Midlands rates; Highlands cost more for delivery.
Timeline
Allow 4–6 working days for a 25 m² patio: one day excavating, one to lay and compact the sub-base, two to lay the slabs, then a day for jointing and edge work. Wet weather adds days — porcelain especially can't be laid in standing water.
Frequently asked
- Is porcelain really worth double the price of sandstone?
- For a forever-home patio that gets full sun and BBQ traffic, often yes — porcelain doesn't stain, doesn't fade, and stays algae-free. For a rental or short-stay garden, premium sandstone delivers 80% of the look at half the price.
- Do I need planning permission for a patio?
- In most UK gardens, no. You only need permission if the patio raises ground level above 30 cm next to a boundary, or if your property is listed or in a conservation area. Front-garden paving over 5 m² needs to be permeable.
- What's the cheapest way to get a decent patio?
- Pick budget-tier riven sandstone (£25–£35/m² as a material) but don't compromise the sub-base or jointing. The expensive failures are always foundation failures, never surface failures.
- How long should a patio last?
- A correctly built sandstone patio: 20–25 years. Porcelain on a proper bed: 30+ years. Concrete flags: 10–15 years before they start to spall and stain.