A porcelain patio has become a modern British favourite because it looks sharp, stays cleaner, and handles our weather far better than many traditional surfaces. The real question is not only what the slabs cost, but what the complete patio costs once you include the correct base, bedding, jointing, and labour.
This guide breaks the price down in a practical way, using Paving Slabs UK porcelain paving prices for the slab cost, while keeping typical UK installation materials and labour allowances aligned with common industry guidance.
1) Porcelain slab cost per m²
In the UK, outdoor porcelain is normally sold in 20 mm thickness for patios. The most common format is 900 x 600, with 600 x 600 also popular for smaller areas and more traditional patterns. Based on the current ranges on Paving Slabs UK, porcelain paving typically sits in a sensible value bracket compared with many high-street retailers.
Price guide for slabs (material only): a practical working range is £19.50 to £25.00 per m², depending on colour, finish, and format. Browse current options here: Porcelain Paving Collection.
Typical slab formats and what they mean for cost
- 900 x 600 is the most common choice for a clean, modern layout and often offers excellent value per m².
- 600 x 600 can be slightly higher per m² and may increase labour time due to more cuts and more joints.
- Patterns and edges (borders, circles, steps, and detailed corners) increase cutting time and wastage, pushing total cost up.
2) Installation materials and sub-base allowances
Porcelain needs a proper build-up. The slabs are strong, but the system must prevent rocking, voids, and water trapping. A traditional, reliable method is a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, topped with a full mortar bed, and finished with an exterior jointing compound.
| Cost item | What it includes | Typical allowance (per m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-base and compaction | MOT Type 1, laying, levels, compaction | £10 to £25 |
| Bedding mortar | Full mortar bed (not dabs), cement and sharp sand | £8 to £18 |
| Primer and fixing system | Porcelain primer or slurry primer, suitable adhesives where specified | £3 to £10 |
| Jointing | Exterior jointing compound and finishing | £5 to £15 |
| Waste and cuts | Typical overage to cover cutting and breakage | Add 7% to 12% slabs |
These allowances are not a fixed quote. They are realistic budgeting figures that cover the materials a competent installer will use to build a porcelain patio that lasts. If your area has difficult access, poor ground, or drainage issues, the build-up and disposal costs can rise.
3) Labour cost per m² in the UK
Labour is usually the largest part of the bill. Porcelain demands accurate levels, careful cutting, and correct bedding. As a general UK budgeting range, professional installation commonly falls within the figures below depending on location, complexity, and finish standard.
- Standard installation: £45 to £75 per m²
- Higher-spec finish or complex prep: £80 to £120 per m²
- Full package with excavation, waste removal, and detailing: can push beyond £120 per m² on demanding jobs
A good rule of thumb: porcelain itself is often not the expensive part. The cost is in the groundworks, accuracy, and the time needed to do it properly.
4) Total porcelain patio cost per m²
Putting it together, you can estimate a total cost per m² by combining slab price, installation materials, and labour. Using Paving Slabs UK slab pricing and typical UK installation allowances, a realistic total range is as follows.
| Budget level | Slabs (PSU) | Install materials | Labour | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value-focused | £19.50 to £21.50 | £18 to £35 | £45 to £75 | £82.50 to £131.50 per m² |
| Mid-range typical | £20.00 to £24.00 | £25 to £45 | £70 to £100 | £115.00 to £169.00 per m² |
| High-spec finish | £22.00 to £25.00 | £35 to £55 | £100 to £140 | £157.00 to £220.00 per m² |
5) Worked examples by patio size
These examples assume a straightforward garden patio with typical access and a sensible laying pattern. If you add steps, raised planters, drainage channels, or detailed borders, increase the labour and wastage allowance.
| Patio size | Slabs (typical PSU) | Installed total range |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m² | £195 to £250 | £825 to £1,690 |
| 20 m² | £390 to £500 | £1,650 to £3,380 |
| 30 m² | £585 to £750 | £2,475 to £5,070 |
6) What makes porcelain patios cost more or less?
- Ground conditions: soft ground, roots, old concrete, or poor drainage increases excavation and sub-base needs.
- Access and waste removal: restricted access, skips, and manual barrowing add labour time quickly.
- Cuts and layout: intricate patterns or lots of edge cutting means more time and higher wastage.
- Edging and steps: kerbs, copings, steps, and raised edges are skilled details that lift both looks and cost.
- Finish standard: tighter joints, perfect falls, and crisp lines take time, and time is money.
7) Is porcelain worth it compared with traditional paving?
Traditional British patios have long relied on natural stone and concrete flags. They still have their place. But porcelain has earned its reputation because it stays looking tidy with less maintenance, and the colours remain consistent.
- Low porosity: far less likely to stain than many porous stones, and generally easier to wash down.
- Weather resistance: handles frost cycles well when installed correctly on a proper base.
- Consistent finish: neat, uniform lines suit modern gardens and extensions.
- Long-term value: less sealing and less patchy ageing compared with some traditional materials.
If you want the look of premium paving with a cleaner, lower-maintenance finish, porcelain is a sensible choice. The key is to stick to traditional principles: correct falls, proper sub-base, full bedding, and tidy joints.
View current slab options and per m² pricing here: Paving Slabs UK Porcelain Paving.
Final takeaway
For most UK homes, a realistic budgeting range for a porcelain paving patio is:
- Slabs: typically £19.50 to £25.00 per m² (from the Paving Slabs UK range)
- Installed total: typically £82.50 to £169.00 per m² for straightforward jobs, higher for complex work
If you already know your patio size (m²) and whether you are laying onto new ground or an existing base, you can calculate a tighter budget in minutes by applying the ranges above.
