How much does a patio cost in the UK?
Most published UK guides put a professionally laid patio at roughly £90 to £180 per square metre in 2026, including the sub-base and labour. That makes a typical 15 m² patio about £1,350 to £2,700, with premium porcelain, difficult access or removing an old surface pushing it higher.
Typical installed patio prices
| Material | Per m² installed | 10 m² | 20 m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian sandstone | £70 – £170 | £700 – £1,700 | £1,400 – £3,400 |
| Porcelain | £90 – £180 | £900 – £1,800 | £1,800 – £3,600 |
| Premium porcelain or natural stone | £170 – £230+ | £1,700 – £2,300+ | £3,400 – £4,600+ |
Ranges combine published 2026 guides, which vary widely. Totals are the per-m² range multiplied out; small patios usually cost more per m² because the digger, skip and set-up costs don’t shrink. Removing an old patio adds roughly £15 – £25 per m² for digging out and disposal, and difficult access (everything through the house) can add 10 – 25% to labour.
What you are paying for
- Digging out and sub-base: typically 150 – 200 mm dug out and 100 mm of compacted MOT Type 1, plus skip or muck-away. On clay or soft ground it can be more.
- The paving: porcelain needs a slurry primer on every slab and a full mortar bed; sandstone varies in thickness and takes longer to lay level.
- Labour: often 40 – 60% of the total. A 15 – 20 m² patio is commonly a 3 – 5 day job for two people.
- Edges and drainage: edging, steps and a drainage channel along the house all add cost, and are often missing from cheap quotes.
Getting the levels right
- Keep the patio surface at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course of the house, or you risk damp in the walls.
- Lay it with a fall of about 1:60 away from the house, so rain runs to a lawn, border, gully or soakaway, never towards the house or onto a neighbour’s land.
- Check where drains, manholes, gas and water pipes run before anyone digs.
Do you need planning permission for a patio?
In England, a patio in the back garden doesn’t normally need planning permission. Front gardens are different: if you pave more than 5 m² with a surface that water can’t soak through, and the rain doesn’t drain to a lawn or border, you need planning permission. Permeable paving, or draining to a planted area, avoids that.
Rules can be tighter for listed buildings, flats and areas covered by an Article 4 direction, so check with your council if any of those apply.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
The front garden rule above applies in England. Raised patios and decking can count as building work in their own right, and the limits for those vary between the nations.
- Wales has its own permitted development rules. They are similar to England’s in many places but not identical, so check with your council before relying on English limits.
- Scotland has separate planning rules, and most building work needs a building warrant from the council’s building standards team before it starts.
- Northern Ireland has its own permitted development order and building regulations, run by local councils.
Before you hire someone
- Get at least three written, itemised quotes for the same specification.
- Check the quote includes the sub-base depth, drainage, edging and waste removal.
- Ask how they will set the level against your damp-proof course.
- Ask for photos of recent work and a reference you can call.
- Check their public liability insurance before work starts.
- Agree stage payments rather than paying most of the price up front.
Common questions
How much does a 20 m² patio cost in the UK?
Using the published 2026 ranges, a 20 m² porcelain or sandstone patio laid professionally typically costs about £1,400 to £3,600, more for premium porcelain or natural stone, difficult access, or removing an existing patio.
Is porcelain or sandstone cheaper?
Sandstone is usually a little cheaper to buy and lay, but published ranges overlap a lot. Porcelain needs a primer on every slab and is harder to cut, while sandstone varies in thickness and takes longer to level.
Do I need planning permission for a patio in my back garden?
In England, usually not. Paving a front garden with an impermeable surface over 5 square metres that doesn’t drain to a lawn or border does need permission. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
How long does it take to lay a patio?
A 15 to 20 square metre patio is commonly three to five days for a team of two, depending on ground conditions, access and the material.
Sources
Figures and rules were checked on 14 October 2026. Prices are published UK ranges, not quotes: get written quotes for your own job.