How to Cut Paving Slabs (With and Without Power Tools)

Cutting paving slabs is often required when landscaping a garden or laying your own patio, installing a new driveway, or creating a pathway. Whether you need to trim slabs to fit edges, cut around drains, or create curves, using the right tools and techniques will help you achieve a professional finish safely and avoid costly mistakes.

The most common methods are using an angle grinder, circular saw with a diamond blade or a block splitter.

Generally, it would be best if you started laying in the middle of the chosen area and then worked outwards.

There are a few methods you can use to cut paving slabs. Whichever you choose, it is imperative to wear PPE to protect you from injury and the dust created. Eye protection, a dust mask, and strong work gloves are all essential, as are work boots if working with heavy slabs.

Cutting stone material with a power tool will result in dust being created. Ensure you do this job in a well-ventilated area and use dust management controls to minimise dust if you’re cutting loads of slabs.

Choosing the best tool for cutting paving slabs

Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Angle Grinder	Curves, corners, and small cuts	Precise and versatile	Creates a lot of dust
Circular Saw	Straight cuts	Fast and accurate	Requires good control
Block Splitter	Straight cuts in concrete slabs	Less dust, easy to use	Cannot cut curves

How to cut paving stones with power tools

Circular saws and angle grinders are great for cutting patio slabs quickly and accurately.

Get someone to help you, especially if the paving slabs are heavy and you must lift them onto the workbench.

You will need:

• Safety PPE (dust mask, eye protection, work gloves)
• Circular saw or angle grinder
• Diamond blade
• Tape measure
• Ground pegs
• String
• Drawing chalk or pencil
• Workbench and clamps

Method:

1. Measure

Ideally, do some initial measuring before buying the patio slabs so you know how many to get and the best size for the job. When I laid my own patio, I ordered a few extra slabs than I needed. It gave me some room for error when making cuts and meant I had spare slabs available in case any cracked during installation. 

Once you’ve got your slabs, before cutting, dry lay your slabs in position and mark exactly where each cut is needed. Make sure you leave enough room for joints and a filling material between slabs and double-check measurements before cutting. 

Then, measure an individual paving slab. Remember to start laying from the centre point, so work out where this is and mark it with a peg. Then, use the string and additional pegs to mark the entire patio size.

After you've established the entire area, you should be able to work out how many slabs you will need to cut and how much.

 

2. Mark

Once you have laid as many full slabs as you can, then it's time to mark the cutout areas on the remaining slabs with chalk or a pencil. Use something in a colour that will show up. Mark both sides of the slab.

Secure the slab to the workbench with clamps so it is really secure.

3. Cut

Use your chosen power tool to cut along the line on one side of the slab. Depending on the thickness of the slab, it may not cut right through; if it doesn't, turn the slab over and repeat on the other side.

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How to cut paving slabs with a block splitter

If you're unsure of power tools or want to limit the amount of dust produced, a block splitter can help. These use a really sharp blade to make one quick incision in stone material for a clean, straight line.

You will need:

• Safety PPE
• Block splitter
• Tape measure
• Chalk or pencil

Method:

1. Set the block splitter up

If you're hiring your block splitter from Speedy Hire, all our products come with user instructions and safety information. There's a chance you haven't used this tool before, so ensure you familiarise yourself with what they do and how to use them.

You must give yourself plenty of space and get someone to help.

2. Measure

Measure the area for your patio and how much you will have to cut off the paving slabs around the edges. Use the chalk to mark where you’ll be cutting the paving slab with the block splitter.

3. Use the block splitter

Line up the cutting line with the blade on the splitter. Lower the handle to cut the slab. The blades should have hardened cutting edges and are reversible, so they should easily cut through a wide variety of common paving materials.

 

FAQs

What's the best method for cutting paving slabs?

Are you confident with power tools? If so, a circular saw is quick and easy if you have the correct blade. They are great at cutting in straight lines.

But the block splitter is ideal if you're not confident with tools and want to reduce the dust created. Ensure you hire a model with the correct cutting depth and width for your paving slabs.

How do I cut angles and curves from slabs?

Do you need to cut out shapes, curves, or angles from the slabs? You may have to work around a raised bed, drain, or pipework that can't be removed. Not to worry.

Use an angle grinder with a diamond blade. These are smaller than circular saws, offering more precision.

What's the best blade for cutting paving slabs?

Different cutting disc materials are suitable for cutting various materials. Diamond masonry blades are the strongest and explicitly designed for cutting stone.

If your paving slabs aren't stone and are a delicate material such as porcelain or slate, you may need a porcelain blade, which is just as sharp but a bit more gentle.

Can you cut paving slabs without a saw?

Yes, a block splitter can be used to cut paving slabs. These tools are designed to create a straight break without producing as much dust as using powered cutting tools.

Block splitters cannot cut curved lines, so for these you'll need a powered cutting tool. They also typically work best on concrete slabs, so if you're working with porcelain slabs or other materials, you'll need a different tool.

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