A new patio in Birmingham and the West Midlands typically costs £80–£210 per m² laid, depending on the paving. Concrete slabs are the cheapest at £80–£120 per m², Indian sandstone £110–£160, and porcelain £140–£210. Digging out the old lawn or slabs adds £8–£35 per m². Most medium patios of about 22m² come out at roughly £2,000–£5,000, and there is a minimum of about £1,500 for any new paved surface.
These are the ranges our quote form uses for patios. They are indicative and include taking the waste away.
Patio prices per m² by material
| Paving | Per m², laid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slabs | £80–£120 | Cheapest, wide choice of colours, can fade |
| Block paving | £90–£140 | Hard-wearing, suits paths joining a drive |
| Indian sandstone | £110–£160 | The most popular choice, natural colour variation |
| Porcelain | £140–£210 | Low upkeep, stain resistant, needs precise cutting |
| Not sure yet | £100–£160 | — |
The per-m² rate covers a compacted sub-base, a full mortar bed and the paving, jointed and pointed. Porcelain costs the most to lay because it is thin, hard to cut and needs a primer so it bonds to the mortar.
Digging out
The old surface has to come up and the ground dug down so the new patio sits at the right level.
| Existing surface | Excavation per m² |
|---|---|
| Lawn or soil | £10–£18 |
| Gravel | £8–£14 |
| Old decking | £10–£20 |
| Old slabs or block paving | £15–£25 |
| Concrete | £20–£35 |
A patio against the house must sit at least 150mm below the damp-proof course, so moisture cannot bridge into the wall. On some houses that means digging out more than you would expect, or adding a channel drain where the patio meets the wall.
Typical prices by patio size
These assume a new patio on an old lawn with no steps or drainage extras.
| Patio size | Concrete | Sandstone | Porcelain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, about 10m² | £1,500 | £1,500–£1,780 | £1,500–£2,280 |
| Medium, about 22m² | £1,980–£3,040 | £2,640–£3,920 | £3,300–£5,020 |
| Large, about 40m² | £3,600–£5,520 | £4,800–£7,120 | £6,000–£9,120 |
Small patios hit the £1,500 minimum for a new surface: a crew, mixer, sub-base delivery and skip cost much the same for 8m² as for 15m². Patios over 80m², or any estimate over £8,000, are priced after a free survey.
Extras
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Steps, each | £150–£300 |
| Channel drain along the house or a doorway | £60–£100 per metre |
| Soakaway, where the ground will not take the water | £600–£1,200 |
Steps are priced per step and depend on the width and the material. A garden with more than one change of level, or retaining walls, is priced after a survey. See paths and steps.
Drainage. A patio should fall gently away from the house, about 1 in 60 to 1 in 80. Where it cannot, or where it meets a door threshold, a channel drain carries water away. A back-garden patio does not fall under the front-garden 5m² permeable rule, but water still has to go somewhere, and on Birmingham's heavy clay it can pool. See drainage and soakaways.
Worked examples
Medium sandstone patio on an old lawn, 22m²
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Sandstone, 22m² × £110 / £160 | £2,420 | £3,520 |
| Digging out lawn, 22m² × £10 / £18 | £220 | £396 |
| Total | about £2,640 | about £3,920 |
Porcelain patio replacing old slabs, 22m², two steps and a 4m channel drain
Porcelain at 22m² × £140–£210 is £3,080–£4,620. Lifting the old slabs at 22m² × £15–£25 adds £330–£550. Two steps at £150–£300 each add £300–£600, and 4m of channel at £60–£100 per metre adds £240–£400. The total is about £3,950–£6,170.
What pushes the price up or down
- Material. Porcelain and premium sandstone cost more to buy and to lay than concrete slabs.
- Cuts and shapes. Curves, circles and borders mean more cutting and more waste.
- Slab size. Large-format slabs look clean but are heavy and need a flat, well-prepared base.
- Levels. A sloping garden may need a retaining edge or steps. Anything with more than one level change goes to a survey.
- Access. If materials and spoil have to go through the house, or there is no room for a mini digger, expect 15–20% more.
- Pointing. A brush-in jointing compound is quicker than hand-pointed mortar joints, but some porcelain and sandstone finishes suit mortar better.
What is included
A fixed price should normally cover digging out and taking the spoil away, a membrane where needed, a compacted sub-base, a full mortar bed (not dabs of mortar at the corners), the paving, jointing and a clean-down. Ask for the sub-base depth and the bedding method in writing. Patios laid on dabs rock and crack, and cheap patios fail for the same reasons as cheap drives: see why cheap driveways fail.
How to get a fixed price
- Measure the length and width of the area. The same method as measuring a driveway works.
- Use the quote form for an instant range.
- Add photos of the area, the back wall of the house showing the air bricks and damp course, and the route in for materials.
- We pass your enquiry to one local specialist, who confirms a fixed price or visits.
For a patio at the front used for parking, see the driveway cost per m² guide instead.
Questions
How much does a 20m² patio cost?
On an old lawn, about £1,800–£2,760 in concrete slabs, £2,400–£3,560 in sandstone and £3,000–£4,560 in porcelain. Steps and drainage are extra.
Is porcelain worth the extra over sandstone?
If you want a patio that stays clean with little upkeep, often yes. Porcelain resists stains and moss. Sandstone is cheaper and has a natural look, but needs cleaning and can be sealed.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
A patio at ground level in a back garden does not normally need planning permission. Raised platforms over 30cm high are treated like decking and do. Listed buildings have tighter rules.
How long does a patio take to lay?
A medium patio of around 20m² usually takes three to five days. Mortar and jointing need a day or two to cure before heavy use.
Why must a patio be below the damp course?
If the patio is too high, rain splashes and soaks the wall above the damp-proof course and can cause damp inside. The usual rule is at least 150mm below it.