Cost calculator
Patio cost calculator
Almost every failed patio failed underneath. The paving you choose sets the look; the sub-base, bedding and falls set whether it is still flat in five years.
Area to be paved.
Broad trade availability keeps day rates near the national average.
Estimated range, ex VAT
£3,000 – £7,700
- Labour (typical)
- £2,950
- Materials (typical)
- £2,400
Guidance only. A real quotation depends on site conditions, specification and access — which is exactly what an independent review of your own quote will tell you.
What affects the cost
Paving material
Concrete slabs at the low end, sandstone mid-range, porcelain and granite at the top — porcelain also needs a slurry primer and diamond cutting.
Excavation and disposal
Digging out 150–250mm of soil and taking it away is priced per tonne and is a real cost, not padding.
Levels and steps
Sloping gardens need retaining, steps or a raised deck edge, all of which are structural work.
Drainage
Falls away from the house, linear drains at door thresholds and a soakaway where run-off cannot discharge to a drain.
Access
No side access means barrowing everything through the house or craning it — this can add days.
Regional pricing differences
Materials cost roughly the same everywhere in the UK; labour does not. Use the region selector above to apply a local index — London and the South East typically run 15–30% above the national average, while the North East, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire sit below it.
Labour vs materials
Roughly 55% of this type of work is labour and 45% materials. Excavation, muck-away and laying are the labour. Porcelain and natural stone shift more of the cost into materials.
Common hidden costs
- Skip or grab lorry charges for spoil, especially where a driveway cannot take a lorry.
- Sealing porcelain or sandstone, sometimes quoted separately.
- Edge restraints and haunching, which cheap quotes omit and which cause slabs to creep.
- Reinstating turf and planting disturbed during the works.
How to save money
- Choose a standard slab size — cutting time is a big share of labour.
- Keep the patio rectangular and away from level changes.
- Lay in spring or autumn when landscapers have gaps in the diary.
- Ask for the sub-base depth in writing: 100–150mm of compacted MOT type 1 is the benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a patio cost per m²?
£110–£260 per m² fitted in 2026 including excavation and sub-base, depending on paving type.
How long does a patio take to lay?
A 25m² patio typically takes 4–7 working days including excavation and curing.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Not usually for a garden patio at ground level. Raised terraces above 300mm and front gardens with impermeable surfacing have rules.
Why is porcelain more expensive to lay?
It needs a full mortar bed, a slurry primer on the back of each slab and diamond blades to cut — more time and consumables.
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