What a porcelain
patio really costs.
Slabs are the part everyone prices first, and the part that usually matters least. Here's where the money actually goes.
Most UK porcelain patios come in around £90 to £150 per square metre installed. The slabs are usually a third of that. The base, the mortar and the labour are the rest, and they are what decide whether it still looks right in ten years.
Where the budget goes.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain slabs | £25 to £45 per m² | 20mm, R11, varies by size and finish |
| Excavation and disposal | £15 to £30 per m² | Skip hire and spoil removal |
| MOT type 1 sub-base | £8 to £15 per m² | Compacted in layers, 100mm to 150mm |
| Mortar bed and primer | £8 to £14 per m² | Full bed, never dot and dab |
| Labour | £35 to £60 per m² | Depends on region, access and cuts |
| Jointing compound | £4 to £8 per m² | Brush-in resin joint |
| Edging and drainage | Varies | Channel drain, step units, kerbs |
Figures are indicative UK market ranges for 2026 and will move with region, access and ground conditions. For a firm supply price on your area, send us the square metreage.
Slab price is the easy bit
Larger formats and textured finishes sit at the top of the range, standard 600x600 and 600x900 greys at the bottom. Buying an extra 10% for cuts and breakages is normal, and cheaper than reordering a different batch later.
Groundwork is where quotes diverge
If the existing patio has to come up, if the ground is soft, or if there is no access for a barrow run, the labour and disposal line moves fast. Two quotes on the same patio can differ by a thousand pounds purely on what is underneath.
Don't cut the bedding
Porcelain needs a full mortar bed and a slurry primer on the back of every slab. Anyone quoting dot and dab, or skipping the primer, is quoting a patio that will crack or lift. That saving is not a saving.
Budget for water
Falls, a channel drain along the house, and somewhere for the water to go. On new builds this often gets missed and it is the most common reason a good patio starts pooling in year two.
Lifetime cost favours porcelain
There is no sealing, no annual treatment and no colour fade. Over ten years the upkeep gap against sandstone closes most of the price difference you paid at the start.
How much is porcelain paving per square metre?
Supply-only porcelain typically lands between roughly £25 and £45 per square metre in the UK depending on size, finish and thickness. Installed, most homeowners budget £90 to £150 per square metre once base, mortar, labour and disposal are included. Ask us for a live supply price on your area.
Is porcelain more expensive than sandstone to install?
The laying method is the same, but porcelain is harder to cut and needs a primer slurry on the back of every slab, so labour is usually a little higher. The bigger difference is the slab price, not the install.
How much does a 20 square metre porcelain patio cost?
As a rough guide, 20 square metres installed usually falls between £1,800 and £3,000 depending on access, ground conditions, drainage and how much groundwork is needed. Slabs are typically only a third of that total.
Can I save money by laying it myself?
You can save the labour, but the base and the bedding are what make a patio last. If you are not confident with falls, compaction and a full mortar bed, the saving usually gets spent again on remedial work.
Tell us what you need and we'll price it.
Send over your area in square metres and we'll come back with availability, pack sizes and a quote.