Check out the dimensions to fit your backyard bistro table, dining area, fire pit, grill or outdoor kitchen.
If you’re adding a new patio, you probably have a good idea of how you want to use it. But what may be less clear is how large the new patio should be built. Personal preference and existing site will affect the size of your patio, but following a few general sizing rules can help you get a space that fits your needs and avoid building or spending more than you need.
Why patio size matters?
On the one hand, a patio that is too small can feel cramped, and chairs pushed back from the table can slide into the garden beds. On the other hand, large patios can be more expensive, less intimate and have limited garden space. The key is to find the right balance of patio sizes that fit your needs and space without exceedingly too much.
Take a look at our general sizing guidelines for a patio designed for a bistro set, dining table that seats 4 – 6, fire pit, backyard grill, or utility space. Each guide also includes details about which patio on RDKHardscaping is right for you in terms of space planning.
Check with your local building department before planning your new patio because permits, setback requirements and other regulations may affect size and location.
Small patio for the bistro set
Goal: Create a cozy place to relax alone or with one or two people. Approximate size: 6 to 10 feet by 8 to 12 feet
It doesn’t take up much space to support a small table and two chairs. Most bistro tables are 2 to 3 feet wide, which makes them suitable for most patios. In general, we recommend allowing at least 21⁄2 feet from the edge of the table to the end of the patio to allow for seating and circulation space.
Looking at this rule in reverse, 6 x 8 feet is the approximate minimum patio size that will comfortably fit a bistro set. However, you can also set up a bistro on a small patio.
Patio details: Secluded side yard
Location: Buffalo NY USA
Size: 10 x 12 feet
Materials: A paver mix of stone, glass, tile and bricks salvaged from other projects.
This cozy dining space next to a house in (Add Country/ Place/ Sub Place Name) neighborhood has an intimate and inviting feel, with bistro tables and chairs nestled under leafy redbud trees. Extending plants along the walls and overhead makes the space feel larger.
The roughly circular patio layout fits nicely around a round bistro table and helps break up the hallway in the side yard. Architect constructed the patio using materials salvaged from other projects, mixing stone, glass, tile and brick to create a mosaic-like floor. A low stone wall protects surrounding garden beds from chairs that may be pushed over plants in tight spaces.
Tip: You can purchase pavers and other building materials at very discounted prices at your local junkyard.
Mid-patio for outdoor dining
Goal: Create an outdoor dining area for groups of 4 – 6 people.
Approximate size: 10 to 16 feet long and wide.
Typically, both round and square tables that seat four can comfortably fit on a patio that is at least 10 x 10 feet. A round table that seats six will need at least 101⁄2 x 101⁄2 feet, and ideally at least 12 x 12 feet. The rectangular dining table seats 6 and fits comfortably on a patio measuring 10 x 121⁄2 feet.
Patio details: Walled urban dining
Location: Buffalo NY USA
Size: The backyard is approximately 16 x 20 feet including planted area. The patio measures
slightly smaller than 12 x 16 feet.
Material: Bluestone pavers
Surrounded by a slate fence for privacy and tranquil green and white plants, this bluestone patio
looks like a relaxing spot for a private dinner.
Architect of RDKHardscaping recommends leaving at least 21⁄2 feet behind the seating to ensure your patio is wide enough for an outdoor table. Properly prepare the subsurface for pavers and ensure soil conditions are suitable for planting.
Patio around the fire pit
Goal: Design a lounge area that can accommodate a group around an outdoor fire pit.
Approximate size: 15 to 20 feet or more in length and width
With the exception of small portable models, most fire pits are between 3 and 6 feet wide. Whether you use outdoor furniture or a built-in seating arrangement, we recommend maintaining a comfortable distance of 2 to 21⁄2 feet between the edge of your fire pit and surrounding seating. You’ll need a patio at least 15 by 15 feet to accommodate a fire pit and chairs, as long as you leave room for the chairs and 21⁄2 feet of circulation space behind them. Larger fire pit models require more space.
Patio details: Backyard gathering space
Location: Buffalo NY USA
Size: Approximately 16 x 16 feet
Material: Decomposed granite
This Buffalo NY USA backyard by RDKHardscaping, a 256 square feet patio with a smoke-free fire pit and wood floor furniture.
Keep seating flexible by using portable chairs and loveseats instead of built-in furniture. Guests can pull their chairs closer to the fire pit for added warmth or push them back to cool off.
Buffalo NY USA homeowners and her husband, say an outdoor fire pit adds to the enjoyment of evenings in their backyard. It’s really nice to open the doors and light the fire pit on a beautiful night. She really gets us going.
Patio or outdoor kitchen under the grill
Goal: Create a space for cooking and hosting guests outdoors. Approximate size: 8 to 10 feet or more in length and width depending on outdoor kitchen layout.
When determining the size of your outdoor kitchen’s patio, you should consider not only the size of your outdoor grill or outdoor kitchen, but also the number of people you can host it. With the exception of small portable models, most outdoor grills start at about 21⁄2 feet wide and go up from there.
Designer recommends allowing at least 2 feet around the grill for circulation, and ideally 31⁄2 feet. Patios with grills must be at least 8 feet wide and 10 feet long, and grills must be located at least 4 feet from the building.
Patio details: Stylish grilling and fun patio.
Location: (Add Country/ Place/ Sub Place Name)
Size: Approximately 14 x 20 feet
This stylish 280 sq feet poured concrete patio offers ample space for a grill station with bar seatingand a dining table for six, separated from the grill by a comfortable 3 feet wide walkway.
Who designed this patio, recommends orienting the grill toward the patio rather than away from it. Give the griller a view. Placing the grill towards the patio and garden rather than the wall can create a much more sociable experience for those cooking. This way they can talk, cook, monitor everything and even join in the parties.
Also suggests adding at least 11⁄2 to 2 feet on either side of the grill for pans and other cooking gears. If space and budget allow, you can extend the countertop to create bar seating or a buffet area.
A larger patio that can be used for a variety of purposes
The goal: Create a patio large enough to accommodate a second use area, including a dining area,
lounge, outdoor grill and fire pit.
Approximate size: 25 x 30 feet or larger
Patio details: Large bluestone patio.
Location: (Add Country/ Place/ Sub Place Name)
Size: Approximately 25 x 30 feet
Material: Laser cut bluestone pavers
Landscape designer of RDKHardscaping landscape design designed this backyard to include a spacious bluestone patio with space for a dining table for four and a smaller seating area for two or three. The patio is spacious at 750 square feet but still feels intimate thanks to the pleasant sense of enclosure created by the trellis and soft border plants.
In general, landscape designer recommends budgeting 3 x 3 feet for each chair placed around your outdoor table. If you’re planning the size of your patio around your existing furniture or a set you’re planning to purchase, landscape designer recommends making a quick paper model to mock it up. Plan your furniture placement space in advance using graph paper and paper cutouts of each furniture piece so you can move your patio layout around on paper.
When choosing plants and materials to surround your patio, landscape designer recommends keeping it simple and repetitive. Clients like intimate spaces that feel personal and calm. Choose plants and materials for a clean, elegant and calming oasis. Here landscape designer used a palette of dense plantings of white hydrangeas, Japanese woodland grasses and climbing roses, along with a few potted flowers for seasonal color.
Other size considerations
Size: Make sure the size of your patio suits the size of your home and garden. If you have a small to medium-sized lot, you may decide to choose a smaller patio that still fits your needs but leaves room for surrounding plants or shade structures. For larger lots, you may have more flexibility in choosing the size of your patio, but it may make sense not to make it too large so that your patio visually blends in with the other elements of your yard.
Location: Where you choose to place the patio on your property will also affect its size. Patios right next to the house a convenient place to take plates from the kitchen to an outdoor table or grill tend to be slightly larger than those at the back of the garden. For patios re-installed in the garden, the size may be determined by existing features such as plantings, pathways, retaining walls or other garden features.
Patio cover: Adding some type of shade cover is often high on the priority list for a new patio. The type of cover can affect how you plan your patio size. The natural shade of movable umbrellas and tree canopies does not take up much floor space on the patio and practically eliminates the need to consider the size of the patio. Conversely, adding a wooden pergola or shade mount to your patio may require you to budget for more patio space to accommodate poles or expand the size of your shade structure.
Permeability: When choosing your patio size and patio materials, keep in mind that some areas regulate the amount of permeable and impervious surfaces in residential yards. Check with your local building department for size regulations and which pavers fall into which category. Often decomposed granite and gravel are considered permeable, while most cut stone is considered impermeable when finished without gaps between slabs.
