MyBuilder puts outdoor tile labour at £30–£50 per m² for a basic installation and £50–£70 per m² for larger or complex areas (August 2026). A porcelain patio supplied and laid, including the sub-base, is £90–£150 per m².
The groundwork, the full mortar bed with priming slurry, and resin jointing are what make outdoor porcelain slower than indoor tiling.
Outdoor porcelain is popular because it's frost-resistant, doesn't need sealing and stays looking new. Pricing it like an indoor floor is a mistake, though. What goes underneath, the laying method and the weather all add time.
Published prices
| Item | Typical UK price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor tile labour, basic installation | £30–£50 per m² | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
| Outdoor tile labour, large or complex areas | £50–£70 per m² | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
| Specialist installations | up to £100+ per m² | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
| Outdoor porcelain tiles (supply): basic / mid / high end | £25–£50 / £50–£70 / £70–£90 per m² | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
| Porcelain patio, supply and install, including sub-base | £90–£150 per m² | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
| Two-person patio team day rate | £320–£600 | MyBuilder, August 2026 |
MyBuilder also notes that London and the South East usually come in 20–30% above these national averages.
What makes outdoor porcelain different
- Groundwork: for a new patio, MyBuilder describes digging out 150–200 mm and laying 100–150 mm of compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base. Decide whether that's in your price or done by a landscaper.
- Laying method: porcelain must go on a full mortar bed, with a priming slurry on the back of each slab so it bonds (MyBuilder).
- Jointing: resin-based jointing compound, not kiln-dried sand.
- Falls and drainage: set falls away from the house, and plan where the water goes.
- Cutting: 20 mm porcelain is hard to cut, so you need a proper saw and blades.
- Weather: rain and frost can stop work, so allow for it in the timescale.
Worked example: 20 m² onto an existing sound base
| Line | Working | Using the published ranges |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 20 m² × £30–£50 | £600–£1,000 |
| Porcelain (mid-range) | 22 m² with 10% wastage × £50–£70 | £1,100–£1,540 |
| Priming slurry, mortar, resin jointing | from your merchant | at your price |
| Groundwork and sub-base | if needed | priced separately |
MyBuilder says a standard 20 m² patio takes a two-person team two to four days, including a day for excavation and sub-base. Check your labour price against the days you'll actually spend on site with the labour cost calculator.
Sources
- MyBuilder: How much do outdoor tiles cost? · updated 21 August 2026; tile prices and labour per m²
- MyBuilder: Patio installation costs · updated 21 August 2026; all-in cost per m², laying method, team day rates, timescales
Prices change. Figures were checked on 20 October 2026; always check current costs and your own figures before quoting.