In 40 seconds
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 rest being sub-base, bedding mortar, labour and waste. For a common 30m² patio that works out at roughly £3,000–£4,500, while a small 15m² patio is often around £1,500–£2,300 and a large 50m² one around £5,000–£7,500. Porcelain costs more up front than concrete or budget sandstone, but it is non-porous, frost- and stain-resistant and can last around 25–50 years with little upkeep, so over its life it often works out lower in cost than materials that need regular sealing. It must be laid differently from stone — on a full mortar bed with a priming slurry on the back of every slab — which is why proper installation matters. The honest answer is always a range, because it depends on your patio size, access and groundwork.
Most porcelain paving guidance is published by firms selling slabs or laying patios, so the numbers tend to be optimistic and the groundwork glossed over. The pages below give honest cost ranges, compare porcelain fairly with natural stone, explain why it has to be primed and laid on a full bed, and weigh whether it is actually worth the extra — before you take a single quote.