Update April 2022: The landscaping industry is experiencing unprecedented price increases which have been well publicised in the media. Our own research has shown that the cost of patio slabs alone has increased by 44% over an 18 month period. As always, we urge consumers to get at least three quotes for comparison (get your free quote here). The patio prices on this page were correct as of April 2022 but are subject to change due to economic pressures.
In hurry?
Here are the key points, based on a typical 35 square metre patio:
- Paving slabs cost between £20 and £75 per square metre, depending on quality and type.
- Sand, cement, other materials, waste disposal costs etc are around £17 per square metre but depends on how much waste is generated and how deep the base of the patio is.
- Labour is around £40-50 per square metre but varies on where you live and the type of tradesperson/business you use.
As a general guide, consumers are looking at paying around £100-120 per square metre of patio, based on an average size patio and mid-range slabs.
Prices per square metre will be cheaper if lower quality slabs are used, cheaper labour employed or you have a huge patio (economics of scale). Expect to pay more per square metre if your patio is smaller, if you choose better quality slabs, you employ a larger company with more overheads or you want to raise the height of the patio etc.
We think patios are far better than timber decking; they are easier to clean, don’t need staining every few years, they’re not as slippery and they will never rot.
But how much does a new patio cost? How much are the materials? What’s the going rate for labour? How long does the work take?
Keep reading and we’ll describe in detail how much a new patio costs.
On this page we will cover the following:
- A poll so you can see how much others think a patio will cost.
- A “works schedule” so you can see exactly what work is involved with replacing a patio.
- Guide prices for a new patio (updated April 2022).
- A breakdown of the cost of the materials typically required.
- A time-lapse video – see how much work is involved with laying a new patio.
- Get ideas and inspiration.
- A look at drainage options and planning permission.
If you want to know how much it costs to lay a patio and want a breakdown of all the costs, keep reading.
Poll – How Much Do You Think It Will Cost to Lay a Patio?
We launched this poll in 2019 so it contains both new and old answers but you may find it insightful.
Tens of thousands of people have participated so far.
How much do think a patio like this will cost? Vote and see the results:
Our Patio Price Guide – What’s Included in Our Figures
Here is a works schedule that outlines the construction process and materials involved in laying a new patio.
All good landscape gardeners should provide their customers with something similar to this prior to the work starting so the customer knows what to expect.
Patio prices are displayed further down this page and include everything you see in the list below.
- Carry out the initial site survey.
- Remove existing grass or patio etc that is in the area.
- Excavate the ground to a depth of around 175mm.
- Lay any drainage channels per the results of the initial survey.
- Compact the existing soil with a vibrating plate.
- Lay and compact approx 100mm of sub-base material.
- A bedding layer of mortar around 30-40mm thick is then laid.
- Concrete slabs are then bedded onto the mortar leaving a 10-15mm gap between each slab.
- The patio is left for 24 hours so the mortar can harden.
- The gaps between the slabs are then filled with mortar and “pointed” to leave a neat finish.
- Dispose of all waste material.
Note: There are many different ways to lay patio slabs; onto sand, onto a dry mix of sand/cement or onto wet cement. There are pros and cons to each and the best solution will depend on the size of the patio and the type of slabs used. Our “works schedule” includes the most popular options and steps.
Time-Lapse Video of Paver Patio Installation:
What is Excluded From Our Price Guide Below?
Below you’ll find our price guide for a new patio based on research conducted in 2022.
We haven’t made any provision for drainage such as channels, piping or soakaways. You may need to consider this if rainwater from your patio doesn’t flow naturally to the lawn or flower beds.
We have assumed mid-priced slabs at around £40 per sq mtr (supply only). The price per metre for slabs in 2022 generally start around £22 for the most basic variety. Prices can go up to hundreds of pounds per square metre.
If access to the rear garden is problematic, then additional costs may apply to allow for the extra time required to complete the patio project.
When researching the cost of a new patio, we assumed that the work will take three days for a typical patio. If however, you want unusual pattern designs that require a lot of cutting then the work may take a little longer.
Breakdown of Costs – Assuming a 35 Square Metre Patio
Sub-base – delivered in 6 x jumbo bags: £350
Sand and cement – used for bedding and pointing: £225
The slabs – are variable in price but a mid-range product will cost: £1400 for 35 sq mtrs
Waste disposal – assumes a minimum 1 x skip: £250
Labour, profit margins, incidental costs, running costs etc – 2 men for three days – start £1200 but varies depending on location.
VAT – not always charged on labour as some small businesses operate below the VAT threshold.
Total: £3500 to £4200 depending on the VAT status of the business.
That works out at £100 – £120 per square metre. Want to know how much a patio costs? Start at £100-125 per square metre with increases/decreases depending on the type of slab you choose and whether your installer is a company, small trader etc.
VAT and How it Affects the Price (read this)
In the landscaping industry, there are plenty of smaller businesses and sole traders that operate below the VAT registration threshold. This means they don’t need to charge VAT on their wages and profits.
All materials used in the project still require VAT to be paid.
More information about how you can legally avoid VAT on many aspects of home improvement projects can be found here.
Supply-Only Patio Price
Below are three examples covering the budget range up to the premium range.
The price displayed includes delivery, wastage from cutting/damages and all the materials you’ll need for a typical patio, such as sand, cement, sub-base etc.
Budget Range
Bradstone Edale
Slabs: £22 per sq mtr
Sub-base: £10-12 per sq mtr of patio
Sand and cement: £7 per sq mtr of patio
Total: £39 per sq mtr (supply only price)
Mid-Range
Bradstone Bamburgh
Slabs: £40 per sq mtr
Sub-base: £10-12 per sq mtr of patio
Sand and cement: £7 per sq mtr of patio
Total: £57 per sq mtr (supply only price)
Premium Range
Bradstone Metallico
Slabs: £75 per sq mtr
Sub-base: £12 per sq mtr
Sand and cement: £7 per sq mtr
Total: £94 per sq mtr (supply only price)
See Over 1000 Inspiring Patio Ideas
Looking for patio inspiration and design ideas?
As regular visitors to our site will know, we really like Pinterest, which in our opinion, is the best place on the web to find ideas and get inspiration for any garden project.
Explore over 1000 patio ideas here
Other Sites Worth Checking Out
Because we work in the home improvement industry, we often find ourselves exploring other websites for guidance, hints, tips and ideas.
In addition to Pinterest, we think you’ll like the following sites:
The Landscaping Network has plenty of patio ideas and also guides for installation and lighting ideas.
The Ideal Home Magazine is another great source of patio and garden ideas and is well worth exploring.
When is the Best Time of Year to Lay a Patio?
As we have pointed out to visitors on other parts of this site, there are times of the year when tradespeople, such as landscape gardeners, are busy and periods when they’re quiet.
Late Spring, Summer and the early Autumn seasons are the busiest times of the year for most landscape gardeners.
While the weather makes this a great time to replace a patio, it also means:
- You may have to wait longer for your landscape gardener as they’ll be busy on other projects.
- Some businesses outsource their extra summer workload to subcontractors, which can lead to low-quality workmanship.
- You won’t get any discounts that are offered during quieter periods of the year such as winter.
As many of you are aware, some landscape gardeners reduce their prices during quieter winter spells, just to keep their business ticking over until the profitable warmer seasons arrive. This is a common practice for home improvement businesses that primarily work outdoors.
How Can You Turn This to Your Advantage?
Simple – plan your garden improvement project during the winter and try to get the work completed before the end of Spring, when many other homeowners start their garden improvement projects.
Bonus – by planning your project in advance, you’ll have the work all wrapped up in time for you to enjoy your garden in the summer. Summers are often short and sweet in the UK and it would be shame to ruin yours by having your garden looking like a building site.
Let Us Help You Get a Patio Price Online
Get a customised patio price online by providing a few details about your project.
Just tap the button below to get started, it only takes a few minutes to fill in the form:
Patio Maintenance and Cleaning
Once you’ve got your new patio, you’ll need to maintain it to keep it looking at its best.
On this page we look at the best patio cleaners you can buy and suggest some step-by-step instructions on how to keep your patio looking pristine all year round without the need for pressure washing.
More:
A new soakaway is normally very expensive, but only because the ground needs to be dug up. However, if you having a new driveway or patio installed, the garden will already be partially excavated so it's just a case of going a bit deeper and installing drainage crates, some pipework and a drain head or channel.
Below you can find a link to our recently updated trade day rates page:
This guide was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.
Don’t forget; we have price guides for hundreds of home improvement projects.
Explore our full list of detailed price guides here.
