Adding a patio to your home is not a straightforward task. And planning your patio always begins with figuring out the correct size. So how big should your patio be? We’ve got five expert tips that’ll help you find out.
Its purpose should determine your patio’s size. Your patio size is determined by whether you want an intimate setting or if you’re looking to entertain. The furniture and features you want to use on your patio also play a role in determining how large it needs to be.
Patio designs must always use the “form follows function” rule, so there are many things that you need to consider long before you start picking out tables and recliners and can start building.
Determine The Purpose
You may want a patio that’s simply a nice outdoor spot for you to enjoy your first cup of coffee every morning, or you may be building a patio as an outdoor entertainment area. You might even just be interested in building a sundeck patio to compliment your pool. All of this needs to be considered immediately before you plan any further. Here’s a look at what the typical measurements for the four different patio types are:
| Patio Type | Dimensions |
| Bistro | 6-7 ft (diameter) 1.8-2.1m (diameter) |
| Living Room | 16ft x 18ft 4.8m x 5.4m |
| Outdoor dining | 12-14ft (diameter) 3.6-4.2m (diameter) |
| Sundeck | 2ft x 6ft (per lounge chair) + 3-5ft clearance from pool 0.6m x 1.8m (per lounge chair) + 0.9-1.5m clearance from pool |
Not every patio is the same and your dimensions will differ according to your home’s unique features, where you want to put your patio, how much space you have available, the furniture you’re planning to use and traffic flows. But, as long as you have a general idea of your patio’s purpose (why you want one) you can pick a suitable place in your garden and accommodate for any of the factors that we’ll discuss
Would this size accommodate something like an outdoor kitchen if that is your ultimate goal for the space? If so than depending on your materials your patio double as the foundation for your outdoor kitchen.
How Big Is Your Outdoor Furniture?
Picking the right furniture that utilizes the space you have well, keeping it intimate but not packed, is critical for getting exactly what you want out of your new patio. Furniture includes tables, benches, bar stools, fridges, loungers, sofas, islands, and drinks carts.
You may also be considering a feature like a fireplace or a firepit that you also need to measure out and make room for. A living room patio should be 15 by 20 feet (4.5 by 6m) to accommodate a small dining room table and four chairs as a general rule of thumb.
Our recommended size for a circular outdoor dining patio is 12-14 feet (3.6-4.2m) is enough to accommodate a 48″ (1.2m) round table. Additional chairs will typically take up about 3 x 3 feet (0.9 x 0.9m).
So go to the area you’re planning to build your patio, and use some chalk to measure out the dimensions, figure out what the size of the furniture you want to buy is and draw it in, making sure that your patio will have enough space to move around easily in.
And don’t forget to make accommodation for stairs, which require a buffer for people to step onto the patio. Bearn in mind, also, that if you want awnings or a gazebo or some kind of permanent or movable structure if you want protection from the sun and/or rain.
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Bistro/Sundeck Patios
Bistros are perhaps my favorite type of patio and are perfect if you don’t have a huge garden. They are ideal if you want a small, intimate setting that overlooks your garden, where you can just chill with a cup of coffee in the morning or if you have a friend over for deep, meaningful conversations. A bistro patio just needs enough space for two chairs and a small table. So you can opt for a round bistro or a square one. A round one should measure at around six to seven feet (1.8-2.1m) in diameter, while it’s recommended that a square bistro patio is built at six-and-a-half feet by six-and-a-half feet (2m x 2m).
On the other hand, Sundeck patios are for those of us who have pools in our gardens and are looking for something to put our deck chairs on and sit on with your feet in the water. Depending on how your pool is shaped, the sundeck’s size will vary, but you should always keep in mind that you need three feet (0.9m) between the water and your deck chairs at least, and you need two by six feet (0.6m x 1.8m)for each deck chair.
Living Room/Outdoor Dining Patios
While living room/outdoor dining patio types don’t have the same degree of intimacy that a bistro has to offer, they do make a big difference if you like to entertain. The size is always determined by how much you want to kit it out. If you want a fire pit, bar fridges, a dining table, and loungers altogether with a pergola, you’re going to need more than you would if you just want six chairs and a round table.
But the beauty of these kinds of spaces is the freedom you have to do whatever you please. What you need to bear in mind, however, is that your patio needs to be in proportion to your house. It shouldn’t be more significant than your living room. So take a step back before you do anything to make sure that your home isn’t going to look unbalanced.
But, again, you need to figure out what you want from your living room/outdoor dining area patio. If it’s just going to be a place you’re using in the summer, for example, think about where you’re getting shade from at different times of the day – you may want to build a gazebo, awnings, or a pergola to protect you from the worst of the mid-afternoon glaze. Or, if you’re going to use the patio a lot during winter, you should consider similar structures to withstand the rain or snow, or wind. And how often will you be using this area? Would you like to install certain features like plumbing, gas, or a power outlet? Bear all these things in mind when determining the size of your patio as well (and where they’ll be placed).
Traffic Flow Through And Out The Area
It’s all well and good for there to be enough space on your patio to fit all your furniture and features, but remember that we’re not playing a game of Tetris here, and you need to leave enough room for people to move around in. The entrance and the edge of the patio cannot be too close to furniture because it’d be pretty embarrassing if one of your guests’ chairs slipped and broke something, wouldn’t it? Just go back to the chalk “drawing board” and make sure that there are clear paths to and from every part of your new patio. What’s very helpful to conserve space is to have multipurpose furniture that can be shifted around to change the composition of the patio or to have wall-mounted seats to make more room.
Conclusion
Your patio will be a reflection of yourself, just like the rest of your home is. But this is one of those genuinely livable spaces that are integral to your house’s character. You’re going to be spending a lot of time here, and it’s critical that you plan it correctly and have a perfect idea of how big your patio should be.
Sources
Concrete Patio Size & Type | Concrete Network
How to Choose a Size for Your Patio | Better Homes & Gardens
How Big Should a Patio be? | Southern Exposure
How to calculate the right patio size infographic | Merchant Depot
Thinking about a new patio? Some tips from a patio designer… | Alda Landscapes