Explaining the Cost of Natural Stone Paving

June 20, 2013

We're often asked about the cost of natural stone paving. Here we uncover the factors involved and show how to save money on your modern garden renovation.

This impressive design by Tom Massey, built by Landform Consultants, uses Britannia Buff sawn Yorkstone, one of the UK's loveliest pavings.

Country of origin

Indigenous stone paving costs are always higher than imported paving. Portland stone, Yorkstone and Welsh slate are three of our best known UK stones. All have a track record of quality and durability but come with a high price tag. They are often three or four times more expensive than imported stone and this is purely based on the higher costs associated with producing stone in the UK. Land cost, labour costs, fuel, transport costs all mean that anything produced in the UK will always be more expensive than any imported equivalents.

Camel Dust Indian riven sandstone offers an economical option in this large project by Garden Solutions.

Riven paving

Riven Indian sandstone is the one of the cheapest stone pavings available on the market. This is not to say there is anything wrong with it. In most cases, it's a hardy, durable material which stands up well to our British climate, although there are some types that should be avoided because they are so soft. The reason Indian sandstone is much cheaper than riven Yorkstone (the British equivalent) is that labour and production costs are much lower in India than they are in the UK. The cost of Indian stone has risen in recent years due to the mechanisation of the industry but it's still a value-for-money paving solution, made even more so by our commitment to keeping all our paving prices affordable as possible.

Depending on where you live, our own fleet or a third-party carrier will deliver straight to your door.

Sawn Paving

This tends to cost a lot more than riven material because of the extra time needed to produce it and the machinery required. Sawn paving has to be passed through a cutting machine several times in order be cut on all sides. Block saws, gang saws, polishing machines and high-quality protective packaging all require significant investment. Companies that have the foresight to make this investment need to charge a higher price for the stone in order to make the business financially viable.

How to reduce the cost of garden paving

Stone paving is sold in crates and you'll find that many builders' merchants will only sell you full crates. Not only does this lead to waste - if you need 25 slabs and the crate holds 20, then you'll have to order 15 extra slabs you didn't need - but obviously it costs more than necessary.

Split packs

The answer is split packs. Not only are London Stone happy to split a crate, but we don't charge for splitting them. You'll find that many suppliers either refuse to split, or charge for the privilege.

Free delivery

Delivery costs are often a significant addition to paving orders. At London Stone, all orders over £750 + vat are free, on all of our products.

Customer-friendly pricing

After the explosion in costs during Covid, we've been delighted to fulfil our promise to reduce prices on a wide range of our natural stone paving. But this isn't the only option. As a value-for-money alternative to natural stone, check out our range of porcelain paving.

How to make a garden design look more expensive

Not everyone has the budget to spend on premium sawn paving but, with a little creativity, the cost of natural stone paving needn't get in the way of a designer look. More economical riven paving is every bit as capable of delivering a design to be proud of as, for example, the sawn sandstone pictured below.

Designer Lucy Willcox laid rectangular Contemporary Grey sawn sandstone slabs in a grid pattern for this striking patio.

Single-size paving slabs

One of the best ways to do this is to use a single-sized stone. Random patterns of natural stone certainly have their place within garden design but they are quite usual. Set your design apart by using a single size slab. We're big fans of using rectangular stone slabs laid in a grid, or stack-bond, style. if you are brave enough to do this, your project will definitely stand out from the rest. In the North London garden pictured, designer Lucy Wilcox opted for sawn sandstone rectangles laid in a grid pattern, creating a contemporary sleek appearance.

Greenbird Gardening have chosen the even tones of Kota Blue limestone for this bijou courtyard garden.

Take care with colour

We also suggest sourcing stone slabs with a consistent colour. Generally, natural stone with an even colour will help to provide modern, looking-clean lines. Stone like Kota Blue Limestone offers consistent colour without breaking the bank. Or check out Midnight Black Limestone to add dark drama.

The even split and colouring of Kandla Grey Indian sandstone gives a contemporary look to this courtyard by Harrington Porter.

A smooth split

Some riven paving splits to a flatter surface than others. Kandla Grey Indian sandstone is one, which also delivers the even colouring that works so well in modern garden design. Why not visit one of our showrooms around the country, where you'll be able to see different pavings close up and benefit from the helpful advice of our trained and experienced staff? We look forward to seeing you soon! Post updated: January 2024