How much does it cost to lay a new patio?

If you’re planning a new patio project, this guide is for you. We’ve put together everything you need to know about the cost to lay a patio – including material costs and labour.

And it’s important to consider all of the potential costs before you get started. The last thing you want is to get halfway through the project and max out your budget.

How much does a new patio cost?

Patios can be built from a range of different materials and follow virtually any design or layout to fit in with the size and style of your garden. But the specification of your patio will affect the cost.

Below are some average new patio costs in the UK.

Patio cost per m²

As a rough estimate, you can expect the average patio cost to be around £65 - £475 per m². However, there isn’t a clear-cut answer for the cost of your patio.

The total patio cost per m² will depend on a range of factors, such as:

• Quantity and quality of materials needed
• Type of paving slabs
• Complexity of the patio installation and paving design
• How long the job will take
• Whether or not you will need any drainage channels or soak ways,
• Any issues with garden access or waste disposal
• Condition of the earth
• Skip hire fees (if needed)

A ballpark new patio cost quote

Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from £1,700 upwards for your new patio.

Of course, it all depends on the type of patio, the size of the space, and the amount of preparation work required.

If you want to add shelter over your patio, this would be an additional cost to the project.

If you’re looking for ideas, consider an awning to add shade and protection from the rain. For more information and prices, check out our patio awning cost guide.

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How much does a concrete patio cost?

Generally speaking, concrete patios cost significantly less than other types of patio. On average, you can expect to pay between £65 - £120 per m² for a standard concrete patio.

How much does a flagstone patio cost?

The cost of a flagstone patio will vary depending on the types of slabs used, the space and so on. Prices for flagstones typically range from around £120 - £475 per m². 

How much does a raised patio cost?

A raised patio will usually cost more than other types of patio, due to the retaining wall.

Again, costs will vary significantly depending on a range of factors, however, raised patios usually cost around £85 - £275 per m².

How much does it cost to lay a patio?

When working out your new patio cost, you’ll need to factor labour into the total, as well as the materials.

Typically, manufactured paving slabs (usually made of concrete) are the cheapest while natural stone and porcelain pavers can be found at higher price points.

Labour costs to lay a patio

On average, you can expect to pay around £280 per day for labour costs of laying a patio.

This cost will usually cover all the preparation needed to get the area for your patio ready.

That includes digging out the area, preparing the ground with hardcore, laying layers of sand and mortar, and, of course, laying the patio.

How much does it cost to lay porcelain slabs in the UK?

This will depend on factors such as your garden’s size and the porcelain type. We recommend getting three quotes to compare.

Average price per m² to lay Indian stone or porcelain (labour only):

As we mentioned above, it’s hard to give an Indian stone or porcelain paving labour cost per square metre in the UK.

But to help you budget, it’s helpful to know the average day rates for local tradespeople.

Below are average day rates for tradespeople who you might hire to lay Indian stone or porcelain for your patio:

• Landscape gardener – £200 - £360 per day
• Bricklayer – £240 - £360 per day
• General labourer – £160 per day

How much are paving slabs? (Slab cost only/material cost)

When looking at the material cost of slabs, the average cost of budget paving slabs is around £70 - £100 per m².

Patio installer hourly rates

The hourly rate you’ll pay for a tradesperson to lay a patio can vary considerably depending on the area you live in the UK.

On average you can expect to pay a landscape gardener between £25 - £45 an hour, or £200 - £360 a day.

A bricklayer will charge between  £30 - £45 an hour, or £240 - £360 a day.

In either case, the professional you choose will need the help of a general labourer for the day, who will charge, on average,  £20 an hour, or  £160 a day.

As a guide, a typical 20m² patio will take three to four days to lay, so you could be looking at between £1,080 – £2,160 in labour costs.

Flagging costs to lay paving slabs per square metre – labour only

If you’re only interested in getting a professional to lay paving slabs and nothing else, then you can expect the cost to be around  £35 - £100 per m².

Patio cost calculator for the UK

When calculating the cost of your new patio, you need to start with the area that you intend to have paved by your chosen professional.

Here’s our quick patio price calculator equation to help you quickly work out the rough total cost of your patio project:

Cost of materials + Labour + Additional costs* = Total cost of laying a patio

*These may include charges such as special features for your patio, skip hire, or garden landscaping to spruce up around the edges of the patio.

Example patio cost

Based on a square patio of 25m² (5m x 5m) and an average cost per m² of £130.00, you can expect to pay around £3,250 for laying a patio.

On top of this, you might need to factor in £40 per m² for ground preparation.

And on top of that, you’ll probably need to hire a skip for disposing of any garden waste – at a cost of around £250.

As we’ve mentioned, we always recommend getting quotes from multiple local tradespeople to get an accurate idea of your total patio cost.

Popular types of patio

Whether you’re going for a sleek and stylish modern patio or one that’s more traditional, there are a wide variety of materials available to help you achieve the desired result.

Before you can work out your garden patio cost, you’ll need to decide what type of patio you want. These are some of the most popular types of patio:

Flagstone patio

A classic patio design choice, flagstone is one of the most popular types of patio around.

Of course, like any type of paving, there are pros and cons to consider if you’re considering getting a flagstone patio.

The benefits of a flagstone patio

Flagstone patios are incredibly versatile. Cut in uniform or irregular shapes, they can be laid in various ways, using various coloured stones and laying patterns.

They’re also durable and resistant to moisture and heat, so they’ll stay looking their best for years to come.

Another benefit of flagstones is that they are non-slip when wet, so you don’t need to worry about slips and falls in wet weather or near water features.

Looking for inspiration? Check out our flagstone patio ideas.

The drawbacks of a flagstone patio

Although flagstones are relatively easy to install, they can be heavy and difficult to work with.

Arranging the stones in a way that looks good and fits your allocated space and design can also be time-consuming.

Concrete patio

A concrete patio offers a low-maintenance, high-impact take on garden paving. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a concrete patio.

The benefits of a concrete patio

One of the main benefits of opting for a concrete patio is that it can be laid on one, unbroken surface.

This means that it isn’t likely to crack to allow weeds and moss to grow between the gaps, as they can do with a flagstone patio.

Concrete is also incredibly durable, weatherproof, and easy to clean, making it ideal for outdoor paving.

A concrete patio can also be stamped, engraved, coloured or textured to make it resemble a brick or flagstone patio, for just a fraction of the cost.

To show you what is possible for your garden, check out our concrete patio ideas.

The drawbacks of a concrete patio

Although concrete doesn’t tend to crack, if cracking does occur, it can be difficult and expensive to repair. Another drawback of a concrete patio is that it can be extremely slippery when wet.

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Raised patio

If you want to create a seamless transition from the inside of your property to your outdoor space, a raised patio is a great option, providing an alternative to wooden decking. Below we look at the pros and cons of a raised patio.

The benefits of a raised patio

Raised patios offer several benefits. They are versatile and low maintenance, with very few constraints.

There is also a wide range of materials, styles and colours to choose from, so it can be designed to fit perfectly in your outdoor space.

Our raised patio ideas article gives plenty of inspiration on what you could do with your garden.

The drawbacks of a raised patio

A raised patio is more complex to construct than a flat patio, particularly if there’s a lot of ground to be moved. They can also be more expensive than other types of patio.

How long does it take to lay a patio?

The amount of time it will take to lay your patio depends on the type, size, and layout of the type you’ve chosen, as well as how much preparation work is required.

Your tradesperson should be able to give you a timeline for completion before the work starts. However, be aware that this could change if they encounter unexpected issues.

Different types of patio installation

Installing a flagstone patio

When you’re having a new flagstone patio installed, your tradesperson will start by marking the patio’s edges with mason’s lines before squaring and layering the strings.

Next, they’ll excavate the patio area. This involves removing any grass or flowers and digging down approximately six inches, plus the thickness of your flagstones.

Once the area has been excavated, a two-inch layer of compactible gravel will be added, followed by a decomposed granite layer.

Your flagstones will then be placed onto the surface, working from one end to another. Finally, the gaps between the stones will be filled with stones, sand or gravel.

How long does it take to replace a flagstone patio?

If you’re replacing your flagstone patio with fresh new paving, you’ll need to take into account the time needed to remove the old flagstones.

Generally, you can expect the process to take two to three days.

Installing a concrete patio

Here’s a quick overview of the process of installing a concrete patio:

1. The guide strings are set up to mark out the edges of the patio. Once these have been positioned, it’s important that they are squared and sloped as necessary
2. All grass and plants will be removed from the area, and the soil will be dug down to accommodate the concrete
3. The area will then be filled with compacted gravel before the concrete form is built and set into the gravel base
4. Your tradesperson will then pour the concrete, distribute it evenly and smooth it out using a screed board
5. Once the concrete has cured, the surface is smoothed and they’ll apply any optional finishes you’ve chosen

As you can see, building a concrete patio requires a lot of prep work. You’ll want to take this into account when planning your patio budget.

How long does it take to replace a concrete patio?

As a rough guide, laying a concrete patio will usually take two to three days.

If you are removing an existing concrete patio before replacing it with a new one, you’ll need to add another day or so to break up the old concrete and clear the area.

Installing a raised patio

Building a raised patio works much the same as constructing any other type of patio, but with the addition of a retaining wall:

1. The ground area and the patio height will be marked out, and a trench will be dug for the retaining wall. This needs to be deep enough to ensure the wall is solid
2. The bottom of the trench will then be levelled and made waterproof before concrete is poured in to create a horizontal surface
3. Your tradesperson will then build the retaining wall
4. Once the retaining wall is in place, the patio surface area will be dug out and prepared
5. Finally, the paving you have chosen will be laid

How long does it take to replace a raised patio?

Adding the retaining wall means that raised structures take longer to build than other types of patio. As a rough guide, you should expect the build to take three to four days.

How to get accurate patio quotes

When speaking to local patio installers, there are a few things you can do to help when asking for quotes:

• Work out the size of your patio: Measure the length and width of the patio area and multiply the two figures to give you the size in square metres. Any professional patio installer will want to know this upfront
• Decide on the type of paving you want: This will affect the cost of materials and possibly the labour too. Ideally, find the type of paving online or in a shop and share with the tradesperson
• Mention specific features: It’s also useful to know the surrounding finish you want for your patio. That could be raised brick flower beds, steps, drainage channels or posts

When planning your patio project, it’s important to get a range of quotes. By comparing costs of local tradespeople you can be sure you’re paying a fair and competitive price for the work.

We’ve made it super easy to get multiple quotes from local tradespeople. Fill in our free request a quote form, and we’ll get multiple patio installers to contact you directly.

Find the best patio installers near you

For the best results and a patio that enhances your garden for years to come, contact a professional tradesperson to design and install your new patio for you.

FAQs

Can I get a handyman to lay patio slabs?

You may find that a local handyperson is experienced in laying patio slabs. But, check their skills and experience before hiring them.

If you’re hiring a local tradesperson to carry out work, always make sure they have the relevant know-how for the job.