"How much is a new patio?" is the first question on almost every enquiry, and the honest answer is that it depends. Not a dodge, just the truth. The same size patio can vary by thousands depending on the material, the state of the ground, and how easy the garden is to get to.
What follows is real pricing for the Derby area, the same figures we work to, so you can budget properly before anyone comes out. For a number tied to your own garden you can use our instant quote tool, but this will give you a solid feel for it first.
The short answer: price per m²
Most of the cost comes down to the material on top and the base underneath. Here's where the main options sit, fully installed, including the groundwork:
| Material | Installed cost (per m²) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Indian sandstone | £80 – £115 | Traditional gardens, sensible budget |
| Block paving | £90 – £125 | Patios that flow into a driveway or path |
| Porcelain | £110 – £150 | Modern gardens, lowest maintenance |
These are installed prices, not just the slabs off a pallet. They include the base, the bedding and the labour, which is the part that actually determines whether the patio is still flat in ten years.
What you're actually paying for
People assume they're paying for the slabs. The slabs are a smaller slice than you'd think. Most of the cost is in the work you never see once the job's done.
A patio that lasts is built up in layers: excavation to the right depth, a compacted sub-base, then a full mortar bed under every slab. Skip or thin any of those and the surface moves. The reason a proper patio costs what it does is the day or two of groundwork before a single slab is laid.
How size changes the total
Per-m² pricing is useful, but most people think in terms of the whole job. As a rough guide for the Derby area:
| Patio size | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Small (up to 20m²) | £900 – £3,000 |
| Medium (20 – 40m²) | £1,700 – £6,000 |
| Large (40 – 70m²) | £2,900 – £10,500 |
| Full garden (70m²+) | £4,500 – £16,000+ |
The spread within each band is mostly material choice and groundwork. A small sandstone patio on good ground is near the bottom of its range. A porcelain patio that needs the old one removed and levels rebuilt is near the top. Our pricing guide breaks these down further if you want to see the add-ons line by line.
What pushes the price up
A few things reliably move a quote towards the top of its range:
- Access. If everything has to be barrowed through the house or down a narrow side passage instead of straight off a drive, that's more labour and more time.
- Removing an old patio. Lifting and skipping the old surface usually adds around £15 to £25 per m².
- Level changes. A sloping garden that needs a retaining wall, steps or built-up levels is more groundwork and materials.
- Drainage. If water needs somewhere to go, channels or soakaways add cost but save you a flooded patio later.
- Premium materials. Top-end porcelain ranges and thick natural stone cost more to buy and, in porcelain's case, more to lay.
What keeps it down
It works the other way too:
- Good, level ground that needs minimal excavation.
- Reusing a sound existing base where it's genuinely up to the job.
- Easy access straight from a driveway.
- Sandstone over porcelain if the look suits the house.
- A simple rectangular shape with less cutting than a circular or multi-level design.
Be wary of a quote that's much cheaper
If one quote comes in well under the rest, find out why before you jump at it. The base is where the savings usually hide, and it's the one part you can't inspect once the slabs are down.
A common shortcut is spot-bedding, where slabs sit on five dabs of mortar instead of a full bed. It looks fine for a season, then the unsupported middles crack and the edges rock. Putting that right means lifting the lot and starting again. A fair quote that builds it properly is cheaper than a bargain you pay for twice.
Getting an accurate number
Every garden is different, so the only way to a firm price is for someone to see it. When we come out we look at the ground, the access and the levels, talk through materials, and give you an itemised quote with no pressure attached.
Get a free quote, try the instant quote tool for a fast estimate, or call Jamie on 07891 632305. If you're still deciding on materials, our guide to Indian sandstone vs porcelain walks through the trade-offs.