What You Need to Lay a Patio: Tools and Materials Checklist (UK)
A patio needs tools to dig out, to compact the sub-base, to lay the slabs on a mortar bed and to fill the joints. The plate compactor and the disc cutter are the two most people hire. A 4 × 3 m patio takes 36 slabs of 600 × 600 mm, 2.8 tonnes of MOT Type 1 for the sub-base and 0.90 tonnes of sharp sand for a full mortar bed. The checklist is below, and the patio materials calculator works out your own size.
The tool checklist, stage by stage
1. Set out and dig
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Tape measure and builder's square | Setting out the patio square to the house | Own |
| String line and pegs | Marking the edges and the finished level | Own |
| Spirit level (1.2 m) and a straight timber | Setting the fall away from the house, often about 1 in 60 | Own |
| Spade, shovel and a mattock | Digging out the turf and soil | Own |
| Wheelbarrow | Moving soil out and MOT in | Own or borrow |
| Skip or a muck-away bag | Taking away the soil you dig out | Hire |
2. Sub-base
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Plate compactor (wacker plate) | Compacting the MOT Type 1 in layers | Hire |
| Landscape rake | Spreading the MOT evenly | Own |
| Stanley knife | Cutting the weed membrane | Own |
3. Lay the slabs
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Cement mixer, or a mixing board and shovel | Mixing the mortar bed | Hire a mixer |
| Brick trowel | Spreading the mortar bed | Own |
| Rubber mallet | Tapping the slabs down to level | Own |
| Spacers | Even joints between slabs | Own |
| Disc cutter (cut-off saw) or angle grinder with a diamond blade | Cutting slabs at the edges | Hire a disc cutter |
| Knee pads | Hours on your knees | Own |
4. Point and finish
| Tool | What it is for | Own or hire |
|---|---|---|
| Pointing trowel or a jointing iron | Filling and finishing the joints with mortar | Own |
| Stiff brush | Brushing in jointing compound and cleaning off | Own |
| Buckets and a sponge | Cleaning mortar off the slab faces before it sets | Own |
Safety kit
- A dust mask rated FFP3 and safety glasses whenever you cut. Cutting paving makes silica dust, which is harmful to breathe, so cut outside with water suppression on the cutter.
- Ear defenders for the cutter and the compactor.
- Waterproof gloves for mortar: wet cement can burn the skin.
- Safety boots. A 600 × 600 mm slab is heavy, so lift with a partner and keep your back straight.
- Check for buried services before you dig, using the free LSBUD service.
Materials for other patio sizes
600 × 600 mm slabs with 10% extra, a 100 mm MOT sub-base and a sand bed. The tools are the same for a small patio and a large one, but the MOT grows quickly: a 6 × 4 m patio takes 5.5 tonnes, which is a bulk bag delivery and a lot of barrowing, so ask for it to be tipped close to the work.
| Patio | Slabs | MOT Type 1 | Sharp sand | Weed membrane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 3 m | 27 | 2.1 t | 0.45 t | 10 m² |
| 4 × 3 m | 36 | 2.8 t | 0.60 t | 13 m² |
| 5 × 4 m | 60 | 4.6 t | 1.01 t | 22 m² |
| 6 × 4 m | 71 | 5.5 t | 1.21 t | 26 m² |
See the patio materials list for how each number is worked out, the common mistakes when laying a patio, and the patio and paving planner for the job in order. Estimates only: follow the slab maker's laying instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to lay a patio?
A tape measure, string line and pegs, a spirit level, a spade and shovel, a wheelbarrow, a hired plate compactor, a rake, a cement mixer or mixing board, a brick trowel, a rubber mallet, a disc cutter for the edges, a pointing trowel and a stiff brush.
Do I need a wacker plate to lay a patio?
Yes, for anything more than a few slabs. The MOT sub-base has to be compacted in layers, and a hand tamper cannot get it firm enough over a whole patio.
How many slabs for a 4 x 3 m patio?
36 slabs of 600 × 600 mm, which includes 10% for cuts and breakages, on 2.8 tonnes of MOT Type 1.
How do I cut patio slabs?
With a disc cutter or a large angle grinder fitted with a diamond blade, ideally with a water feed to keep the dust down. Mark the cut on both faces, wear an FFP3 mask and eye protection, and support the slab so it does not pinch the blade.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.
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