Landscaper · Patio
How much does a patio cost?
What a new patio costs per square metre in the UK in 2026, what changes the price, what a properly laid patio includes and how to get an accurate quote from a landscaper.
per square metre, laid
Published UK trade day rates and merchant material prices, September 2026. Not yet based on Hard Hat Way quote data.
What changes the price
- Slab choice. Concrete slabs are the cheapest; natural sandstone sits in the middle; porcelain and premium stone at the top
- Ground preparation. Digging out turf or an old patio and getting rid of the spoil is a big part of the labour
- Sub-base and bedding. A proper compacted hardcore base and a full mortar bed cost more than slabs on sand, and last decades longer
- Size and shape. Straight runs are quick; curves, steps and cutting round drains and walls take time
- Drainage and levels. Falls away from the house, a channel drain by the door or a soakaway all add cost
- Access. Tonnes of hardcore and slabs have to get to the back garden, by barrow if there's no side access
A patio is one of the most popular garden jobs, and one where the visible result and the hidden work are two very different things. The slabs are what you see. The dig-out, the base and the bed are what decide whether it’s still flat in ten years.
What drives the price
Slab choice is the obvious one. Concrete slabs are the cheapest to buy and lay. Indian sandstone and similar natural stone cost more per square metre and need more care laying because sizes vary. Porcelain is the top end: the tiles cost more, they need a primer and a full bed, and cutting them takes a proper saw.
Preparation is where the labour goes. Digging out turf or breaking up an old patio, barrowing the spoil to a skip, bringing in hardcore and compacting it in layers before a single slab is laid. On a patio of 20 or 30 square metres that’s tonnes of material in and out, and if there’s no side access it all comes through the house.
Shape and detail add time. A rectangle against a fence is quick. Curves, steps, a raised section or cutting round drains, manholes and a house wall all slow it down. Drainage matters: the patio needs to fall away from the house, and a door at ground level often wants a channel drain to stop water backing up to the threshold.
Landscaper day rates vary by region, with London and the South East higher than elsewhere.
What a good job includes
- The area dug out to a proper depth, not just the turf skimmed off
- A compacted hardcore sub-base, typically 100mm or more, laid in layers
- Slabs laid on a full mortar bed, not on dabs or dots, so nothing rocks or lets water sit underneath
- Consistent falls away from the house, so rain runs off rather than pooling
- Joints of an even width, pointed with a proper jointing compound or mortar
- Cuts made cleanly with a saw, not chipped
- Levels set correctly below the damp-proof course of the house
- Any manhole covers set flush with recessed lids where possible
How to get an accurate quote
Measure the area roughly in metres, decide what kind of slab you’re after, and photograph the whole space from the house and from the far end, plus the access down the side. Say what’s there now (grass, old slabs, concrete) and where a skip could go. That gives a landscaper enough for an honest starting price per square metre. The final price comes after a site visit, when they can check the ground, the levels and where the water needs to go.
These are guide figures, not a promise. Post the job with photos and get real quotes from local landscapers whose work is rated by other trades.
Common questions
Is porcelain worth the extra?
Porcelain is harder, doesn't stain and needs less looking after than natural stone, but it's more expensive to buy and slower to lay because it needs a full bed and a primer. If you want something you never have to seal or pressure-wash, it's worth it. If you're on a budget, good sandstone laid properly will last just as long.
Why is the base so important?
The base is what stops the patio sinking, rocking and cracking. A properly dug out, compacted hardcore base with slabs on a full mortar bed will stay flat for decades. Slabs on spots of mortar or on sand move within a couple of years. It's the part of the job you can't see when it's done, and it's where cheap quotes save their money.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
Rarely. If the patio is at the back and the water drains into your own garden it's normally fine. Front gardens over a certain size, or paving that drains onto the road, have rules about permeable surfaces. Check with your council if either applies.
Free for customers. Quotes by email and in the app.