The short answer
A porcelain patio in the UK typically costs around £100–£200 per square metre supplied and laid, with the 20mm porcelain slabs themselves usually £20–£60 per square metre and the balance made up of sub-base material, bedding mortar, labour and waste removal. By patio size that usually works out at roughly £1,500–£2,300 for a small 15m² patio, around £3,000–£4,500 for a medium 30m² patio, and about £5,000–£7,500 for a large 50m² patio. The main things that move the figure are the size of the patio, the slab grade you pick, how easy the access is, and how much groundwork the site needs — poor drainage, tree roots or uneven ground can each add to the cost.
Price depends mainly on how many square metres you are paving, the slab grade, and how much groundwork the site needs. The figures below are typical supply-and-lay prices for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK costs
- Porcelain slabs (material)£20–£60 / m²
- Supplied & laid£100–£200 / m²
- Small patio (~15m²)~£1,500–£2,300
- Medium patio (~30m²)~£3,000–£4,500
- Large patio (~50m²)~£5,000–£7,500
What drives the price
- Patio size: you pay largely per square metre, so the area is the biggest single factor in the total.
- Slab grade & finish: 20mm outdoor porcelain ranges from budget tiles around £20/m² up to premium large-format or stone-effect ranges nearer £60/m².
- Groundwork: the sub-base, bedding mortar and any digging out are a big share of the labour — porcelain needs a proper, well-drained base.
- Access & site conditions: awkward access, tree roots, poor drainage or removing an old patio all add time and waste-removal cost.
| Item | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain slabs | £20–£60 / m² | budget to premium large-format |
| Supplied & laid | £100–£200 / m² | includes base, mortar & labour |
| Small patio (~15m²) | ~£1,500–£2,300 | shorter job, fewer fixed costs to spread |
| Large patio (~50m²) | ~£5,000–£7,500 | more area, often more groundwork |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: MyBuilder and Checkatrade cost guides.
Why the groundwork is a big part of the bill
With porcelain, a large share of the cost is not the slab — it is the base beneath it. A patio that lasts needs a compacted sub-base, a full bed of bedding mortar and a priming slurry on the back of every slab, plus the right falls so water drains away. Skimping on the base is what causes cracked or lifting slabs later, so a lower quote that thins the sub-base or skips proper preparation is not really lower in cost once you factor in repairs. When you compare quotes, check the base build-up and waste removal are written into each one.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a porcelain patio cost in the UK?
Typically around £100–£200 per square metre supplied and laid. That works out at roughly £1,500–£2,300 for a small 15m² patio, around £3,000–£4,500 for a medium 30m² patio, and about £5,000–£7,500 for a large 50m² one, depending on slab grade, access and groundwork.
How much do the porcelain slabs themselves cost?
Outdoor 20mm porcelain slabs usually cost £20–£60 per square metre for the material alone, with budget ranges at the lower end and premium large-format or stone-effect tiles at the higher end. The rest of a supply-and-lay price is base, mortar, labour and waste.
Why is the cost range so wide?
Because gardens differ. The area, slab grade, access, drainage and how much groundwork the site needs all move the figure. A measured quote gives the accurate number for your patio.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific garden. They are guidance, not a quotation.