Polski
УкраїнськаWhich type of terrace is cheapest? 2026 cost comparison and a 20 m² example
indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index
The cheapest option is a ground-level terrace made of paving blocks or concrete slabs: including materials and installation, it costs about 425 PLN/m². A ground-level terrace made of pine boards costs about 480 PLN/m², while the median for all materials is 575 PLN/m² (typically 465 ‑ 615 PLN/m²). The most expensive option is a raised terrace on posts, at about 700 PLN/m².
At a glance (as at 5 October 2026)
- A terrace made of paving blocks or concrete slabs, including materials and installation, costs about 425 PLN/m².
- A ground-level pine terrace costs about 480 PLN/m², while a terrace on posts costs about 700 PLN/m².
- The median cost of building a terrace using any material is 575 PLN/m², typically 465 ‑ 615 PLN/m².
- At the median rate, a 20 m² terrace costs about PLN 12,000, typically PLN 9,300 ‑ 12,000.
- Labour alone for installing a terrace usually costs 125 PLN/m², while preparing the sub-base costs about 140 PLN/m².
A terrace can cost anything from a few hundred PLN per metre to an amount closer to the cost of finishing a room. The price depends on three factors: the surface material, the type of structure (ground-level or on posts) and how much work the ground requires. Below, we compare the most popular terrace options side by side, calculate an example for 20 m² and check which is cheapest after several years, rather than just on the day it is completed. The figures are medians from public price lists and construction guides collected in the price index.
Which type of terrace is cheapest?
The cheapest option is a ground-level terrace made of paving blocks or concrete slabs: according to price lists, it costs about 425 PLN/m², including materials and installation. It does not require joists or a supporting structure, and the concrete surface is resistant to water and frost. If the terrace is simply intended to be a hard-surfaced part of the garden, this is the benchmark for the other options.
Standard concrete paving blocks laid in the same way as on a driveway can be even cheaper: laying paving blocks including materials and labour has a median price of 260 PLN/m². However, this price applies to a simple pattern and a larger area. For a small terrace with edging, a step and cuts along the wall of the house, the rate per metre increases.
Domestic timber comes second. According to the sources, a ground-level terrace made of pine boards costs about 480 PLN/m². The material is inexpensive, but the timber needs sealing every year and the boards must be replaced after a dozen or so years.
The most expensive options are a raised terrace on posts, at about 700 PLN/m², and premium surfaces such as composite decking and exotic timber. According to the sources, the composite boards alone cost about 285 PLN/m², before adding the joists and installation.
| Type of terrace | Cost per m² (median) | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete paving blocks (as on a driveway) | 260 PLN/m² | cleaning, sealing every few years |
| Paving blocks or concrete terrace slabs | 425 PLN/m² | cleaning, sealing every few years |
| Ground-level pine boards | 480 PLN/m² | sealing every year |
| Any terrace, median from all sources | 575 PLN/m² | depends on the material |
| Terrace on posts (raised) | 700 PLN/m² | depends on the material |
A full list of options and quotations from price lists is available on the terrace construction page. The two services are shown below with their typical ranges and number of sources:
| Service | Median | Typically | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace construction | 575 PLN/m² | 465 ‑ 615 PLN/m² | 3 |
| Laying paving blocks | 260 PLN/m² | 255 ‑ 270 PLN/m² | 3 |
Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.
How much does it cost to build a 20 m² terrace?
At the median rate for all materials, a 20 m² terrace costs about PLN 12,000, typically PLN 9,300 ‑ 12,000, including materials and labour. This is the price for a simple ground-level terrace; steps, angled edges and raising it on posts increase the cost.
The same area paved with concrete blocks, calculated at the paving rate, costs about PLN 5,200. The difference between the cheapest and an average 20 m² terrace can therefore amount to several thousand PLN and is almost entirely due to the material.
How is the cost divided? In sources that list the components separately, installation labour alone has a median price of 125 PLN/m², while preparing the sub-base costs about 140 PLN/m². The remainder is the cost of the surface material and structure. For timber and composite terraces, the final price therefore depends mainly on the boards selected, while for paving blocks it depends on the quality of the sub-base.
How can you build a terrace as cheaply as possible?
The cheapest terrace is ground-level, rectangular and made of concrete slabs or paving blocks laid on a well-compacted sub-base. Each of the following decisions will reduce the bill more than negotiating the rate:
- A ground-level terrace instead of one on posts. A raised terrace costs about 700 PLN/m², while a ground-level pine terrace costs about 480 PLN/m².
- A simple shape. Every angled edge, curve and step means additional cuts, wasted material and extra hours of work.
- Dimensions matched to the material. Plan the terrace length around the length of the boards or the slab module, and waste will fall to almost zero.
- Doing some of the preparation yourself. You can remove the turf and dispose of the soil yourself; it is better to leave the sub-base to professionals, as this determines whether the surface will sink.
- Work outside the peak season. Contractors’ calendars are full in spring; in autumn, it is easier to find an available date and negotiate the price.
Do not cut costs on drainage or the slope of the surface. A terrace that does not slope away from the house collects water by the threshold of the patio door, and correcting it costs more than doing it properly from the outset.
Which type of terrace is easy to maintain?
Terraces made of concrete slabs, frost-resistant porcelain tiles or composite decking are the easiest to maintain: they only need cleaning, with no annual painting. According to price lists, cleaning paving blocks costs about 13 PLN/m², while sealing costs about 20 PLN/m²; these services are carried out every few years. Details are available on the paving stone cleaning and block paving impregnation pages.
Pine is inexpensive to buy, but it needs oiling or sealing every year. If you do not want to spend a weekend on maintenance every spring, compare not only the price per metre on the day of construction but also the cost of the terrace after ten years. By then, timber’s advantage over concrete slabs and composite decking becomes smaller.
Composite decking does not require sealing and does not splinter, but it becomes hotter than timber in full sunlight. For a south-facing terrace, it is worth choosing lighter-coloured boards.
A simple ten-year calculation looks like this: for a pine terrace, add ten seasons of oiling to the construction cost, including the materials and either your own labour or a contractor’s fee; for paving blocks and slabs, add cleaning and sealing two or three times; for composite decking, add cleaning alone. If the difference in construction cost between pine and composite decking is small, composite usually offers better value over the longer term. If the difference is large and you enjoy working around the house, timber may still be the cheapest terrace you can build.
Does building a terrace require planning permission in 2026?
In 2026, a ground-level terrace of up to 35 m² requires neither planning permission nor notification; the sources used by the index describe this legal position as applying from 7 January 2026. A larger ground-level terrace requires notification, while a very large terrace or one raised on a supporting structure may require planning permission.
Before starting construction, ask the county office how it classifies your project, especially if the terrace is raised, roofed or connected to the structure of the house. A terrace planned together with the house from the outset is also cheaper to build than one added later; we discuss the construction stages in more detail in the article cost of building a house.
What should you ask a terrace contractor?
- Does the price include the sub-base, or only installation of the surface on a prepared base?
- What is the supporting structure made of beneath the boards: timber, composite or aluminium joists, and what do they rest on?
- How is water drained away: what is the slope, and is there drainage by the wall of the house?
- Who removes the soil and waste, and is this included in the price?
- What warranty is provided for the installation, and do the boards have a separate manufacturer’s warranty?
More services for your house and plot, from fencing to paving a driveway, can be found in the house construction category.
„Kompletny taras kosztuje od 300 do ponad 1 000 zł/m² - w zależności od materiału, podbudowy i regionu.”
woodandplay.pl, 2026, source
„Koszty wykonania tarasu drewnianego mogą wynieść od 200 do 500 zł za metr kwadratowy, w zależności od wybranego drewna i stopnia skomplikowania konstrukcji.”
budujemydom.pl, source
„5 lip 2026 — Koszt budowy tarasu w 2026 — orientacyjne ceny za m². Koszt budowy tarasu w 2026 roku to orientacyjnie 250–900 zł/m² z materiałem”
tarasywesola.pl, 2026, source
The prices in this article come from public contractor price lists and construction guides. Each price is accompanied on the service page by its source, date and a verbatim quotation, and we update the medians together with the index (as at 5 October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a concrete terrace?
Taras z płyt betonowych albo kostki z materiałem i montażem kosztuje według cenników około 425 PLN/m². To zwykle najtańsza opcja, bo nie wymaga konstrukcji z legarów.
How much does terrace installation cost without materials?
Sama robocizna montażu tarasu to mediana 125 PLN/m². Przygotowanie podbudowy, jeśli wykonawca liczy je osobno, to około 140 PLN/m².
How much does composite decking for a terrace cost?
Sama deska kompozytowa kosztuje według źródeł około 285 PLN/m², bez legarów, klipsów i montażu. Kompletny taras kompozytowy jest przez to jednym z droższych wariantów.
How much does it cost to enclose a terrace as a conservatory?
Sezonowy ogród zimowy bez ogrzewania kosztuje według źródeł około 2,000 PLN/m², czyli kilka razy więcej niż sam taras. Całoroczny z ogrzewaniem jest jeszcze droższy.
How much does cleaning and sealing a paved terrace cost?
Mycie kostki brukowej kosztuje w cennikach około 13 PLN/m², a impregnacja około 20 PLN/m². Robi się je co kilka lat, nie co sezon.
Check prices with sources
Every amount quoted in the article has a source, date and verbatim quote from the price list on the service page.
Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.
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