The short answer
In the UK, laying a patio typically costs around £70 to £150 per square metre supplied and laid, though budget concrete slabs can come in lower and premium porcelain or natural stone push higher. That square-metre rate bundles the excavation, sub-base, mortar bed, the slabs, jointing and labour. The biggest variable is the paving material: plain concrete slabs sit at the cheaper end, while porcelain and quality natural stone cost considerably more per metre. The rate falls on larger, simpler patios because fixed costs spread further, and rises on small, intricate or awkwardly accessed areas. Always check whether a quote is supply-only or supply-and-lay, and whether it includes the groundworks, as these make up much of the real cost.
The per-square-metre figure is the quickest way to compare patio quotes, but it only means something once you know what is inside it. The same number can describe a thin slab on sand or a properly bedded, well-drained patio.
Patio cost per m2 at a glance
- Typical supply-and-lay rangeAround £70–£150 per m²
- Lowest-pricedConcrete slabs
- PremiumPorcelain, quality natural stone
- Biggest driverSlab material
- Rate falls onLarger, simpler patios
What the per-square-metre rate includes
A genuine supply-and-lay rate accounts for the whole build, not just the visible slabs. A well-laid patio is a layered structure, and each stage carries cost:
- Excavation and disposal: digging out turf and soil to the required depth and removing the spoil.
- Sub-base: a compacted layer of crushed stone (commonly MOT Type 1) that gives the patio a stable, load-spreading base. A patio needs less depth than a driveway but still requires a proper sub-base to avoid sinking.
- Mortar bed: most patio slabs are laid on a full mortar bed for a solid, even support, with a priming slurry for porcelain and some stone.
- The slabs: concrete, porcelain or natural stone, plus a cutting allowance for edges and obstacles.
- Jointing: filling the gaps between slabs with a pointing mortar or a brush-in jointing compound.
- Falls and drainage: the patio is laid to a slight fall so water runs off, away from the house.
If a quote looks unusually cheap per metre, it often signals a thin or missing sub-base, or slabs laid on dabs of mortar rather than a full bed — both common causes of rocking and sinking later.
How slab choice changes the price
The single biggest cost variable is the paving material. Concrete is mass-produced and cheap; natural stone is quarried; porcelain is manufactured to tight tolerances and is hard-wearing and low-maintenance. The figures below are indicative supply-and-lay UK guidance.
As with a driveway, the headline rate is an average, and small patios carry a higher rate because the fixed costs of set-up, plant and disposal barely change with size. The slab format matters too: large-format slabs cover ground quickly and keep labour down, whereas circles, curved edges and intricate patterns mean more cutting, more waste and more skilled time. When you weigh quotes, check whether the figure is supply-and-lay or labour-only, as that single distinction can explain a large gap between two prices.
Access and ground condition round out the picture. Where materials and spoil can be moved easily the labour is lower, but carrying everything through a house adds significant time, and soft, sloping or made-up ground may need a deeper sub-base or extra excavation. Steps, raised areas and retaining all add structural work beyond the flat-slab rate, which is why an itemised quote tells you far more than a single headline figure.
| Slab type | Indicative cost per m² (supplied and laid) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slabs | Around £70–£100 | Budget-friendly, wide choice |
| Indian sandstone | Around £90–£130 | Popular natural stone, riven finish |
| Porcelain | Around £110–£150 | Low maintenance, precise, harder to cut |
| Premium natural stone | Around £120–£160+ | Limestone, granite, sawn finishes |
Indicative UK figures for guidance only; obtain itemised quotes for your site.
Why the rate rises or falls on your patio
Two patios of the same area can be priced very differently. The per-square-metre rate responds to several practical factors:
- Area size: larger patios spread fixed costs over more metres, lowering the rate. Small patios carry a higher rate because set-up and disposal barely change.
- Slab format and cutting: large-format slabs cover ground quickly; intricate patterns, circles and curved edges mean more cutting, waste and labour. Porcelain is harder to cut and needs specialist blades.
- Access: if materials and spoil can be moved easily, labour is lower. Carrying everything through a house adds significant time.
- Ground condition: soft, sloping or made-up ground may need a deeper sub-base, retaining or extra excavation.
- Levels and steps: a raised patio, steps or retaining walls add structural work well beyond the flat slab rate.
The most useful comparison is not the lowest headline rate but an itemised quote stating the excavation depth, sub-base, bedding method and slab specification. That distinguishes a properly built patio from a cosmetic one that may rock or sink within a couple of seasons.
Reading a patio quote on substance
Once quotes arrive, the per-square-metre figure becomes a comparison tool, and the trick is to read each one for what it actually builds. Two patios quoted at very different rates often differ in the unseen detail rather than the slabs on top. A few checks separate a sound patio from a cosmetic one:
- Sub-base: look for a named material and compacted depth. A patio needs less depth than a driveway, but it still needs a proper sub-base to stay level. Slabs laid straight onto soft ground will sink.
- Bedding method: a full mortar bed gives even, solid support, whereas five dabs (a blob in each corner and the middle) leaves voids that let slabs crack and rock. The full-bed method is the mark of a quality job.
- Falls and drainage: the patio should be laid to a slight fall, away from the house, so water runs off rather than ponding or running back toward the wall. This must be below the damp-proof course where it meets the building.
- Jointing: a stated pointing mortar or brush-in compound, not just loose sand, keeps the joints sound and weed-resistant.
- Slab specification: the material, thickness and finish should be named, since these drive both cost and durability.
When two quotes diverge sharply, the difference almost always lives in these lines. A higher figure that specifies a proper sub-base, a full mortar bed and correct falls is frequently better value than a cheaper one that leaves them vague, because those are the details that decide whether the patio stays flat and dry or starts rocking and ponding within a season or two. The per-square-metre rate is most useful as a lens for spotting where a contractor has invested in the foundation work you will never see — which is exactly where a patio succeeds or fails.
Frequently asked questions
Is laying a patio cheaper per square metre on a larger area?
Generally yes. Fixed costs such as set-up, plant and disposal spread over more square metres on a larger patio, lowering the rate per metre. A small patio carries a higher rate because those fixed costs barely reduce, so it does not cost a small fraction of a big one.
Why is porcelain more expensive to lay than concrete?
Porcelain slabs are precise and hard-wearing, but they require a priming slurry on the back to bond properly and specialist diamond blades to cut, which slows the work. The material itself also costs more than concrete. Together, these push the supply-and-lay rate above that of concrete or sandstone.
Does the patio rate include digging out and a sub-base?
A proper supply-and-lay rate should include excavation, removing the spoil, a compacted sub-base and a mortar bed, not just the slabs. Always confirm this, as some low quotes assume the area is already prepared or skimp on the sub-base, which leads to sinking and rocking slabs.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific site. They are guidance, not a quotation.