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What changes the cost of a patio?
Patio costs depend on the size and shape, the paving chosen, how much digging and sub-base the ground needs, the levels and drainage, and extras such as steps, edging and walls. This guide prints no price, so compare written quotes for the same paving, the same base and the same layout.
Last reviewed:What goes into a patio
A patio is a paved area in the garden, usually next to the house, for sitting, eating and getting from the back door to the lawn. The slabs are the part you see, but much of the work and cost lies beneath them.
A well-built patio usually has:
- Excavation. Turf, topsoil and soft ground dug out to the right depth.
- A sub-base. A layer of granular material, laid and compacted in stages.
- A bedding layer. Usually a mortar bed for each slab.
- The paving. Porcelain, natural stone, concrete or clay.
- Jointing. The gaps between slabs filled with a jointing compound or mortar.
- Edges and falls. Edging to hold the patio in, and a slight slope to shed rain.
Skipping depth on the sub-base, or bedding slabs on a few dabs of mortar, can save time on the day but often leads to rocking or sinking slabs later.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. This guide does not print a price. It explains what changes the cost of a patio, what to ask about the base and levels, and how to compare quotes.
What changes the cost of a patio
| What is being priced | What makes it bigger or smaller | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Area and shape | Size, curves, angles, cut-outs round drains or trees | How the area was measured |
| Paving | Porcelain, sandstone, limestone, concrete, clay | Which paving, size and thickness |
| Supply | Paving bought by you, or by the installer | Whether paving is in the price |
| Excavation | Depth to dig, turf and soil removal, access for a digger | How the spoil will be removed |
| Sub-base | Depth and type of granular material | How deep the sub-base will be |
| Bedding | Full mortar bed, primer on the slab backs | How each slab will be bedded |
| Jointing | Brush-in compound, wet mortar joints | Which jointing method and colour |
| Levels and drainage | Slopes, falls away from the house, drainage channels | Where rain will go |
| Steps, walls and edging | Steps to the lawn, low walls, edging stones | What extras are included |
| Access | Narrow side paths, carrying everything through the house | How materials will get to the garden |
| VAT | Whether the business is VAT registered | Whether the total includes VAT |
A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S5]. Many landscapers are sole traders, so check every total for VAT.
Choosing the paving
Paving changes both the materials and the labour.
- Porcelain. Hard, dense and consistent, with low water absorption. It is slower to cut and drill, and it usually needs a slurry primer on the back and a full mortar bed.
- Natural stone. Sandstone, limestone, slate and granite each look and weather differently. Sizes and thicknesses can vary, which takes longer to lay.
- Concrete slabs. Usually the lower-cost choice, in a wide range of finishes.
- Clay pavers and setts. Small units, so more pieces and more joints.
Ask each installer what they would recommend for the look you want, the shade in your garden and how much upkeep you are happy with. If you buy the paving yourself, ask the installer to check the quantity and what bedding and jointing it needs.
Base, levels and the house
The base is where a patio succeeds or fails. Marshalls' installation guidance for its concrete paving specifies a well-graded granular Type 1 sub-base, 40mm to dust, placed and compacted in layers [S1]. It also says that where paving is laid up to an existing building, the finished surface must be at least 150mm below the damp proof course to prevent rising damp problems [S1].
That level rule can change the job a lot. If the ground by the back door is already high, the installer may have to dig down further, add a step down from the door, or fit a drainage channel along the house. Ask each installer:
- how deep they will dig, and what sub-base they will use
- how they will keep the patio below the damp proof course
- which way the patio will fall, so rain runs away from the house
- whether a channel drain is needed
- what they will do about air bricks low on the wall
Cutting, dust and safety
Most patios need cuts around edges, drains and corners. Cutting paving with a power saw makes a lot of fine dust. HSE says cutting paving blocks, kerbs and flags with a cut-off saw can produce very high levels of silica-containing dust, and that the risk should be controlled with water suppression or on-tool extraction [S3].
Ask the installer how they control dust when cutting, especially if neighbours, children or pets are close by. A good installer will cut with water or extraction, away from open windows.
Planning permission
Back garden patios do not usually need planning permission. The Planning Portal's guidance on paving covers front gardens, and says a new or replacement surface of any size made from permeable materials, or one that drains to a lawn or border, does not need planning permission [S2]. It says covering more than five square metres of a front garden with traditional, impermeable paving that does not drain to a permeable area does need permission [S2].
If your house is listed, or the patio is at the front, check with your council first.
Steps, walls and finishing touches
Extras are where patio quotes often differ the most.
- Steps. Down to the lawn or up to the back door. Each step needs its own base and careful cutting.
- Low walls and raised beds. These add bricks or blocks, foundations and coping.
- Edging. Stops the patio edges from moving and gives a clean line against the lawn.
- Lighting. Low-voltage lights in walls or steps, planned before the paving goes down.
- Sealing. Some natural stones are sealed after laying. Ask whether that suits your paving.
Patios in Cheshire
When you post a patio job, include photos of the area from a few angles, rough measurements, the paving you have in mind and how the garden is reached. Say whether the ground slopes and whether an old patio needs breaking out first. A landscaper covering Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the villages nearby can then judge the digging, the levels and how materials will get in.
Some landscapers quote from photos and measurements, while others visit first. A visit usually gives a firmer price, because they can check the levels at the back door. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business on QuoteZila.
What to have ready before you ask for quotes
- photos of the area and rough measurements
- the paving you would like, and whether you are buying it
- how much the ground slopes, and the height of the back door step
- whether an old patio, decking or lawn needs removing
- steps, walls, edging or lighting you would like
- how materials can reach the garden
- your postcode and when the work could be done
How to compare patio quotes
Check each quote for:
- The area, shape and layout.
- The paving: type, size, thickness and who supplies it.
- Excavation depth and spoil removal.
- The sub-base type and depth.
- Bedding method and jointing.
- Levels, falls and drainage against the house.
- Steps, walls, edging and lighting.
- Whether VAT is included, and whether the price is fixed.
Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least three different traders before choosing [S4]. It also says to be cautious if a price is a lot lower than other quotes [S4]. A low patio quote may mean a thinner base or dabs of mortar where another installer has allowed for a full bed.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Lay a porcelain patio off the back doors, about the width of the house, with a step down to the lawn." Or: "Break out an old concrete patio and replace it with natural sandstone. Side access only through a narrow path." Or: "I have bought paving slabs. Please quote to prepare the base and lay them."
Get quotes for a patio
Describe the area, the paving and any extras, with photos and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See the landscapers page, driveways and paving, the driveway cost guide or the fencing cost guide. For a raised area instead, see what changes the cost of decking.
Official and public sources
QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
- Laying paving: Marshalls installation guidelines for concrete paving [S1].
- Planning and paving: Planning Portal: paving your front garden [S2].
- Dust from cutting paving: HSE: cutting paving blocks, kerbs and flags [S3].
- Quotes: Citizens Advice [S4].
- VAT: GOV.UK on when to register [S5].
Questions about patio costs
How much does a patio cost?
This guide does not print a price. The area, the paving, the digging out and sub-base, the levels and drainage, and any steps, walls or edging all change the total. Ask each landscaper to quote for the same paving and the same base so the totals can be compared.
Do I need planning permission for a patio?
A patio in a back garden does not usually need it. The Planning Portal's rules on paving cover front gardens, where a permeable surface or one that drains to a lawn or border does not need permission. Check with your council if the house is listed or the patio is at the front.
How far below the damp proof course should a patio be?
Marshalls' installation guidance for its concrete paving says the finished surface, when laid up to an existing building, must be at least 150mm below the damp proof course. Ask your installer how they will set the levels against the house.
Is porcelain more expensive to lay than concrete slabs?
Often, yes. Porcelain is hard and dense, so it is slower to cut and needs a primer and a full mortar bed. Concrete and natural stone have their own needs. Ask installers to quote for your chosen paving.
What sort of base does a patio need?
Most patios are laid on a compacted granular sub-base, with the slabs bedded in mortar on top. The depth depends on the ground and the paving. Ask each installer how deep they will dig and what sub-base they will use.
How long does it take to lay a patio?
It depends on the size, the ground and the weather. Ask each installer how many days they expect, when the patio can be walked on, and when furniture can go back.
Does QuoteZila check the landscapers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Related guides
- Landscapers: patios, paths and garden layouts
- Driveways and paving: paving at the front of the house
- Driveway cost: what changes the cost of a driveway
- Fencing cost: if the boundary needs work too
- All cost guides
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
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Related pages
- Patio Steps Cost: What Changes the Price. What changes the cost of patio steps in Cheshire: the number of steps, the height to climb, materials, foundations, cutting slabs, handrails and drainage.
- Pool Installation in Cheshire: What Changes the Cost. What changes the cost of installing a swimming pool in Cheshire: pool type, digging, groundwork, heating, electrics, planning rules, running costs and VAT.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ "How does getting quotes work?".
- S1: Installation Guidelines for Concrete Paving (29-03-23), Marshalls. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://media.marshalls.co.uk/image/upload/v1680083328/Installation-Guides/Concrete-Paving-Installation-Guidelines-29-03-23.pdf
- S2: Planning permission: Paving your front garden, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/paving-your-front-garden/planning-permission/
- S3: Construction dust: Cutting paving blocks, kerbs and flags, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/cutting-paving-blocks-kerbs-and-flags.htm
- S4: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat