How Much Does a Patio Cost? The Complete 2026 Breakdown
The most common question we get asked isn't about colour, size, or finish. It's "how much will my patio cost?" The answer depends on the material you choose, the size of the area, whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a landscaper, and a handful of extras that websites rarely mention. This guide gives you the real numbers — materials, labour, sub-base, pointing, and all the hidden costs — so you can budget properly before you start.
Material costs: what paving actually costs per m²
These are delivered prices including VAT — no extras to add. This is what you'll pay at Universal Paving.
| Material | From per m² | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Indian sandstone (riven) | £20 | £20 – £30 |
| Indian sandstone (sawn) | £25 | £25 – £35 |
| Porcelain | £18 | £18 – £45 |
| Limestone | £25 | £25 – £40 |
| Granite | £27 | £27 – £45 |
| Slate | £25 | £25 – £40 |
Remember the 10% rule. Always order 10% more paving than your calculated area. This covers cuts, waste, breakages, and the slabs you set aside because you don't like the colour. A 20m² patio needs 22m² worth of paving.
Beyond the paving: the other costs
The paving slabs are typically only 40–50% of the total project cost. Here's everything else:
| Item | Cost per m² | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MOT Type 1 sub-base | £8 – £12 | 150mm compacted depth. Approximately 0.2 tonnes per m² |
| Sharp sand | £2 – £4 | For mortar mix |
| Cement | £2 – £3 | For mortar bed and pointing |
| Jointing compound | £3 – £6 | Brush-in compounds cost more but are faster and cleaner than traditional pointing |
| SBR primer | £1 – £2 | Essential for porcelain, recommended for sandstone |
| Edging / haunching | £3 – £8 | Concrete haunch or dedicated edging products |
| Wacker plate hire | — | £35 – £50/day (not per m²) |
| Skip hire | — | £200 – £350 for a small skip to remove excavated soil |
Labour costs: DIY vs professional
| Installation method | Cost per m² | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | £0 (your time) | You do everything — excavation, sub-base, laying, pointing |
| Professional landscaper | £50 – £80 | Excavation, sub-base, mortar bed, laying, pointing, clean-up |
| Premium landscaper | £80 – £120 | Above plus edging, drainage, lighting prep, design input |
Labour is typically the biggest single cost on a professionally installed patio. On a 20m² patio with a landscaper charging £65/m², labour alone is £1,300. This is why DIY installation is so popular — it halves the total project cost.
A realistic note on DIY: If you've never laid paving before, budget a full weekend for a 10–15m² patio. A 20m²+ patio is a two-weekend job. The work is physical — excavation, shifting aggregate, mixing mortar, lifting slabs. It's entirely doable but it's not quick. If time is more valuable to you than money, hiring a professional is a legitimate choice.
Worked examples
Small patio — 15m² — DIY — Indian sandstone
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kandla Grey sandstone 600×600 (riven) | 16.5m² (15m² + 10%) × £21.81/m² | £360 |
| MOT Type 1 (3 tonnes) | Delivered | £150 |
| Sharp sand (10 bags) | £5/bag | £50 |
| Cement (5 bags) | £6/bag | £30 |
| Jointing compound | 1 tub | £30 |
| SBR primer | 1 bottle | £15 |
| Wacker plate hire | 1 day | £40 |
| Skip hire | Mini skip | £220 |
| Total | £895 |
That's approximately £60/m² all-in for a DIY sandstone patio including every material and hire cost.
Medium patio — 20m² — Professional install — Indian sandstone
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kandla Grey sandstone 900×600 (riven) | 22m² × £21.64/m² | £476 |
| All sundry materials | Sub-base, sand, cement, primer, jointing, edging | £350 |
| Skip hire | Standard skip | £280 |
| Professional labour | 20m² × £65/m² | £1,300 |
| Total | £2,406 |
That's approximately £120/m² all-in for a professionally installed sandstone patio.
Large patio — 30m² — Professional install — Porcelain
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kandla Grey porcelain 900×600 | 33m² × £21.11/m² | £697 |
| All sundry materials | Sub-base, sand, cement, SBR primer (essential), jointing, edging | £500 |
| Skip hire | Standard skip | £280 |
| Professional labour | 30m² × £70/m² (porcelain needs more precision) | £2,100 |
| Total | £3,577 |
That's approximately £119/m² all-in for a professionally installed porcelain patio.
What affects the price most?
1. DIY vs professional (biggest factor)
Labour is 40–55% of the total cost on a professionally installed patio. Doing it yourself cuts the total roughly in half. This is the single biggest variable in your budget.
2. Material choice
Riven sandstone is the most affordable natural stone option. Porcelain costs more per m² but needs less maintenance long-term. Granite and premium limestone sit at the top of the price range. The material difference on a 20m² patio is typically £200–£500 — significant but not transformative.
3. Site conditions
If the area needs significant excavation (slopes, existing concrete to break up, tree roots to remove), or if access is difficult (narrow side passage, no vehicular access for deliveries), labour and skip costs increase. A flat, clear site with good access is the cheapest to work with.
4. Extras
Steps, retaining walls, drainage channels, garden lighting conduits, built-in planters — each adds cost. Steps are particularly expensive (£150–£300 per step when professionally installed). If your budget is tight, keep the design simple and add features later.
The cheapest way to get a good patio: Riven Indian sandstone in 600×600, DIY installation, simple rectangular shape, flat site. You can build a quality 15m² patio for under £900 including every material. The only cost you can't put a number on is your time.
How to save money (without cutting corners)
Choose riven sandstone over sawn. Riven is 10–20% cheaper per m² and actually easier to lay because it's more forgiving of small errors.
Choose 600×600 over 900×600. The smaller format is cheaper per m² in most ranges. You need more slabs but each slab costs less.
Order direct from a direct importer. Buying from a reseller or high-street merchant means paying their margin on top of the importer's price. We import directly — no middleman markup.
Buy everything at once. Ordering paving, edging, and accessories together avoids multiple delivery charges (though with us, delivery is free regardless).
Keep the shape simple. Rectangular patios need fewer cuts, produce less waste, and install faster. Every curve, angle, or step adds time and material.
Do the excavation yourself. Even if you hire a landscaper for the laying, doing the dig-out and sub-base yourself can save £500–£800 on a 20m² patio. Check with your landscaper first — some prefer to do the sub-base themselves to guarantee it's right.
Get your exact material cost
Browse our range — every product shows the price per m² including VAT and free UK delivery. No hidden fees to add.
Browse Sandstone Browse PorcelainFrequently asked questions
How much does a 20m² patio cost?
DIY with Indian sandstone: approximately £1,100–£1,400 all-in. Professionally installed with sandstone: approximately £2,200–£2,800. Professionally installed with porcelain: approximately £2,400–£3,200. These ranges cover materials, sub-base, labour, skip hire, and sundries.
Is it cheaper to lay a patio yourself?
Yes — roughly 40–50% cheaper. Labour is the biggest cost on any patio project. A DIY installation saves £1,000–£2,000 on a typical 20m² patio. The trade-off is time (a full weekend minimum) and the risk of errors if you're inexperienced.
How much does a landscaper charge to lay a patio?
Typically £50–£80 per m² in most parts of the UK, rising to £80–£120 in London and the South East or for premium landscapers. This covers excavation, sub-base, laying, and pointing. Most landscapers charge for materials separately on top of their labour rate.
Is sandstone or porcelain cheaper?
Sandstone is cheaper per m² (from £20 vs porcelain from £19). However, porcelain never needs sealing and requires less ongoing maintenance, so the lifetime cost can be similar. The upfront material cost difference on a 20m² patio is minimal — both sit between £19–£22/m² for the most popular options.
What hidden costs should I budget for?
Skip hire (£200–£350 for excavated soil), wacker plate hire (£35–£50/day for sub-base compaction), jointing compound (£30–£60), and SBR primer for porcelain (£15–£25). These are the costs most online calculators miss. At Universal Paving, the paving price includes VAT and delivery — so at least those aren't hidden extras.
