How to Price a Patio Installation: Slab Types, Sub-base and Labour Rate Guide

Quick Answer: A typical UK patio installation in 2026 prices £75–£140 per m² supply and fit for Indian sandstone, £85–£160 per m² for porcelain, £55–£100 per m² for concrete slabs, and £140–£250 per m² for premium natural stone. The build-up is 75–100 mm Type 1 MOT sub-base and either a 30–50 mm sharp-sand spot bed (for traditional sandstone) or a wet mortar full bed (mandatory for porcelain). Falls of 1:60–1:80 away from the house are required, with a minimum 150 mm gap to the damp-proof course (DPC) under Approved Document C. Raised patios over 300 mm in height in residential gardens may need planning permission, particularly where overlooking a neighbour's garden.

Summary

A patio is the project most homeowners commission to make their garden usable, and the project most often laid badly by general builders or weekend DIYers. The technical demands are higher than they look — a patio that's level looks fine on day one but pools water, frosts in winter, and stains within two seasons. A patio with the right falls, the right bed, and the right pointing performs for 25+ years with cosmetic maintenance only.

The pricing problem is the same as for driveways: the visible top layer is 30–50 mm of slab, and the substrate underneath is 75–100 mm of compacted Type 1 sub-base. A patio quoted at £45 per m² has either skipped the sub-base or used the wrong bedding method; a patio at £75–£140 per m² has done it properly. The materials cost difference is real but usually 20–35% — the labour difference is the bigger swing.

This guide covers the four slab families dominant in UK domestic — Indian sandstone, porcelain, concrete, and premium natural stone (limestone, granite, slate, Yorkstone) — with the sub-base, bedding, and pointing decisions that set them apart. The DPC detail (Approved Document C minimum 150 mm gap) and falls (1:60–1:80 away from the house) are non-negotiable. The customer-facing question — "how much does a new patio cost?" — depends mostly on slab choice and bedding method, both of which are quoted line by line.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

Spending too long on quotes? squote turns a 2-minute voice recording into a professional quote.

Try squote free →
Slab type Slab cost Bedding method Total fitted 2026 Lifespan Notes
Indian sandstone (22 mm calibrated) £22–£35/m² Spot bed acceptable £75–£130/m² 20–30 years Most common UK domestic
Indian sandstone (premium hand-cut) £35–£60/m² Full mortar bed £100–£170/m² 30+ years Hand-cut riven texture
Porcelain (20 mm vitrified) £35–£75/m² Full mortar bed mandatory £85–£160/m² 30+ years Frost-proof, low porosity
Concrete slab (35 mm riven) £15–£25/m² Spot bed acceptable £55–£90/m² 15–25 years Budget option
Concrete slab (50 mm machine-pressed) £20–£30/m² Full mortar bed preferred £75–£110/m² 20–25 years Mid-range
Yorkstone (50–60 mm sawn) £80–£140/m² Full mortar bed mandatory £180–£280/m² 50+ years Heritage finish
Granite setts £55–£90/m² Full mortar bed £140–£220/m² 50+ years Robust, slip-resistant
Slate paving £60–£110/m² Full mortar bed £150–£240/m² 30+ years Premium, dark colour
Limestone (15–20 mm) £45–£90/m² Full mortar bed £130–£200/m² 25–35 years Pale, premium

Detailed Guidance

Sub-Base — The Foundation

A patio sub-base is 75–100 mm of compacted Type 1 MOT — slightly less than a driveway because patios don't take vehicle loads. For ground that's well-drained existing lawn or compacted fill, 75 mm is typical. For soft ground, recently dug fill, or where heavy planters or hot tubs are intended, 100 mm or more.

The build-up:

  1. Excavate to design depth (typically 200–250 mm below finished surface for a slabbed patio)
  2. Geotextile separation layer (Terram 1000 or equivalent) — £1–£2 per m²
  3. Type 1 MOT in 75 mm layers, compacted with plate compactor between each
  4. Verify levels with falls of 1:60–1:80 away from the house

A common shortcut on patios is to lay slabs on whatever's already there — old concrete, compacted soil, or even just sand. This works for a season but the first wet winter brings settlement, and porcelain laid over an unstable base cracks within months.

For pricing a typical 25 m² patio sub-base:

Sub-base total typically £900–£1,300 for a 25 m² patio.

See the technical patio installation method for the build sequence.

Bedding Method — Full Bed vs Spot Bed

The single biggest technical decision in patio laying is the bedding method:

Spot bed (5-spot) — five mortar dabs (one at each corner, one in the middle) supporting the slab. The space between dabs is hollow. Faster to lay (15–25 m² per day per gang) and uses less mortar. Acceptable for sandstone, concrete slabs, and other porous natural stone where a hollow cavity under the slab is not problematic.

Full mortar bed — continuous wet mortar bed (4:1 sharp sand to cement, sometimes with SBR additive) supporting the entire slab face. Slower to lay (12–18 m² per day) and uses 2–3× more mortar. MANDATORY for porcelain and most premium natural stone, where hollow cavities trap moisture and cause "picture framing" (efflorescence around slab edges) or cracking under point loads.

The reason porcelain MUST be on a full bed: porcelain has near-zero water absorption (0.5% or less) and zero porosity. Water cannot pass through the slab. With a spot bed, water entering through joints sits in the hollow cavities under the slab, freezing in winter and lifting the slab. Within 2–4 freeze cycles, porcelain on spot bed cracks or de-bonds.

For pricing, the bedding method changes the labour line:

The cost differential is £15–£30 per m² in labour, plus £10–£20 per m² in additional mortar materials.

Indian Sandstone — The UK Default

Calibrated Indian sandstone (22–30 mm thick, sawn to consistent thickness) is by far the most common UK domestic patio choice. Major suppliers: Bradstone, Marshalls, Pavestone, Stonemarket. Colours from pale buff (Mint, Raj Green) through warm brown (Modak, Autumn Brown) to grey (Kandla Grey).

Pricing:

Indian sandstone is durable, slip-resistant when textured, and has 20–30 year lifespan with cosmetic re-pointing every 5–10 years. Ethical sourcing certification (ETI Base Code, Marshalls Fairstone) is a customer-facing premium of £3–£8 per m² over uncertified — relevant for design-led customers and increasingly for Conservation Area planning where source is asked about.

Porcelain — The Premium Modern Choice

20 mm vitrified porcelain is the fastest-growing UK patio material. Pricing has fallen 25–40% over the past 5 years as mass-production grew. Major suppliers: Stonemarket, Marshalls, London Stone, Tile Mountain.

Pricing:

Porcelain advantages over sandstone:

Porcelain disadvantages:

See the porcelain paving installation method for the technical detail.

Concrete Slabs — The Budget Choice

Concrete patio slabs (riven, smooth, or stamped) are the lowest-cost option. £55–£100 per m² fitted.

Pricing:

Concrete advantages:

Concrete disadvantages:

A concrete patio is a sensible choice for utility areas, secondary patios, and budget-driven domestic. For showcase rear gardens, customers typically choose sandstone or porcelain.

Premium Natural Stone

For high-end installations or matching heritage properties, premium natural stone options:

All premium stone requires full mortar bed and skilled installer.

Falls and DPC Clearance

Falls are non-negotiable. A patio must shed water away from the house at 1:60 to 1:80 (12–17 mm fall per metre). Falls of 1:100 or less appear flat to the eye but pool water; falls steeper than 1:50 are noticeable and uncomfortable for outdoor furniture.

For a typical 4 m wide patio against the house, the fall is 50–70 mm across the width — a noticeable visible slope but not uncomfortable.

The DPC (damp-proof course) clearance is critical and codified. Approved Document C of the Building Regulations specifies a minimum 150 mm gap between any external paving and the building's DPC. Bridging the DPC allows water to wick from the patio into the wall above, causing internal damp.

Where the patio level is constrained (existing back door threshold, tight fall to drainage), solutions include:

Bridging the DPC without compensating drainage is a serious defect — an unprofessional install will pass on day one but show as internal damp within 6–18 months.

See the DPC clearance and detailing rules for the full Approved Document C compliance.

Pointing — Sand-Cement, Brush-in Resin, or Jointing Compound

Three pointing systems are common:

Sand-cement pointing (3:1 mix) — traditional. Stiff mortar pressed into joints with a pointing trowel. Cheap, durable, takes paint of a stained slab. Labour-intensive: 2–4 hours per 10 m² of pointing. Material cost £4–£8 per m².

Brush-in resin pointing compound — modern. Pre-mixed resin paste swept into damp joints, water-set to cure. Faster than sand-cement (30–60 minutes per 10 m²) and cleaner (no smearing on slab faces). £15–£35 per 25 kg bag (covers 8–12 m²). Material cost £15–£25 per m². Premium but warrants 10+ years.

Jointing compound (cement-based) — slurry brushed across the patio and into joints. Cheap and fast but stains slabs and looks rough. Used on budget concrete slab patios.

For premium natural stone or porcelain, brush-in resin is the standard. For Indian sandstone, both work — sand-cement is cheaper but stains the slab face if not cleaned promptly; resin compound is more forgiving.

Raised Patios and Planning

A raised patio (deck-style platform above ground level) over 300 mm in height typically requires planning permission, particularly where:

Patios at ground level (no significant height differential) do not normally need planning permission. The General Permitted Development Order (Class E) covers most ground-level garden works.

Conservation areas and listed building curtilages always require planning consent for paving changes.

Programme

A typical 25 m² patio:

Total 3–5 days for a 2-person gang plus labourer. Larger or more complex patios (multi-level, integrated steps, mixed materials) extend programme to 7–10 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a new patio cost?

A 20 m² Indian sandstone patio costs £1,500–£2,800 fitted in 2026. A 30 m² patio is £2,250–£4,200. Porcelain adds £15–£30 per m² over sandstone; premium natural stone adds £50–£100 per m² over sandstone. London adds 20–35%. Sub-base depth, bedding method, and pointing system are the main quote-to-quote variables.

Why are some patio quotes so much cheaper than others?

The cheapest quotes typically skip sub-base depth, use spot bedding where full bedding is required (especially for porcelain), and use sand-cement pointing where brush-in resin would be specified. The visible patio is identical on day one; the difference shows up in years 2–5 with settlement, frost lift, and pointing failure. A reputable quote spells out sub-base depth (75–100 mm Type 1 MOT), bedding method (full or spot), and pointing material — three lines that most cheap quotes omit.

Can porcelain patios crack?

Yes — most commonly when laid on spot beds rather than full mortar beds. Porcelain has zero porosity, so water trapped in cavities under the slab freezes and lifts. Always insist on full mortar bed for porcelain. Cracks can also develop where heavy point loads (planters, hot tubs) sit on slabs without continuous bedding support.

Do I need planning permission for a patio?

For a ground-level patio (no significant raised platform), generally no — covered by permitted development. For a raised patio over 300 mm, particularly where overlooking a neighbour's garden, yes. Conservation areas and listed buildings always require planning consent. Always check with the local planning authority before quoting in heritage areas.

Can I lay a patio myself?

Yes for sandstone or concrete on small areas, with the caveat that sub-base, falls, and DPC clearance are technical and unforgiving. Porcelain DIY is much harder — full mortar bedding is unforgiving and porcelain back-priming is critical. Most reputable installers will not lay slabs on a sub-base they didn't prepare; if you DIY the sub-base and want professional slab laying, expect questions and possible rework charges.

Regulations & Standards