For a 20m² patio using a mid-range material such as Indian sandstone, MyBuilder gives a UK guide price of £2,000-£3,500. That is approximately £100-£175 per square metre for the project. The guide was updated on 21 October 2026 and leaves VAT unspecified. Ask for a local price including any applicable VAT. Read the patio installation guide.

For comparison, Checkatrade’s budget-slab table shows £70-£100 per square metre for materials and installation, plus VAT. At 20m² that is £1,400-£2,000 before VAT. That particular table is dated September 2024, so treat it as an older reference when discussing this season’s prices. See the Checkatrade patio cost table.

Where will the excavated ground go?

A four-by-five-metre rectangle is easy to measure. The route out of the garden is just as important. Show the contractor the narrowest gate, any steps, the nearest parking and where spoil can be loaded. In a London terrace or a Kent courtyard, carrying old slabs and soil can take as much planning as delivering new paving.

Ask the quote to identify lifting the old surface, excavation, disposal, base preparation, bedding, laying and jointing. If any existing base will be reused, agree how its condition will be checked and what happens if it proves unsuitable. Each price should describe the same starting point.

Price the edges as well as the middle

Mark door thresholds, steps, inspection covers and drainage channels on a photograph. Agree where water will run and how the patio will meet the rest of the garden. A short retaining edge or a new step can be a substantial piece of work even on a small paved area.

When you send dimensions, include the slab name, proposed pattern and photographs of the access. See our guide to patio levels and drainage or contact BOL about the proposed work.