The terrace is usually the part of the garden that gets used most. Whether it works comes down to a few points: where it sits, how big it is, what it is made of, how it connects to the garden and where the shade comes from. This article goes through those decisions in order. At the end you'll find what to consider legally if you want to add a roof.
At a glance
- The position follows the sun at the times you're actually outside. The terrace doesn't have to be next to the house.
- The size follows the furniture. Add roughly one metre to the table size on every side that has chairs.
- For the paving, upkeep, slip resistance and heat matter, not just the look.
- The transition to the garden turns an area by the house into part of the garden: steps, beds right at the edge or planters.
- A solid roof is a building project. In Germany, each federal state decides what can be built without a permit.
1. Where should the terrace go?
Next to the house is the obvious choice: short trips to the kitchen, and the patio door is already there. Whether that spot works, though, depends on the sun. On a free day, watch which part of the garden gets sun at the times you sit outside.
- South: sun almost all day. In high summer you'll need shade here.
- West: afternoon and evening sun. Often the best position for anyone who eats outside after work.
- East: morning sun for breakfast, shade in the evening.
- North: right next to the house the area is usually in the building's shadow. A seating area further back in the garden often gets more light.
Think about wind and views, too. A corner sheltered by the house and a hedge gets used more often than an open area the neighbours look down on.
Two places instead of one big one: If the space allows, a dining table by the house and a second, small seat in the garden is a good split. At the second seat you get the sun the house side lacks, or the shade it doesn't have. How several seating areas around an open lawn can look is shown in the first idea of the article Modern garden design.
2. How big does the terrace need to be?
Plan the area from the furniture, not the other way round.
For a dining table: Add roughly one metre to the table size on every side that has chairs. That leaves room to push chairs back and to walk behind people who are seated. A 90 × 200 cm table with chairs on all four sides then needs about 2.9 × 4.0 m, just under 12 m². That's a rule of thumb, not a standard.
For a lounge: Measure the sofa and coffee table before you fix the size of the area, and leave space all round so people can get past comfortably.
What often gets forgotten: the route from the patio door to the table, the barbecue, the parasol base and a cushion box. All of these need space that shouldn't be blocked.
Before you build, mark out the planned area with string or cardboard and put the furniture on it as a test. Then you'll know whether it fits. If space is tight, the article Designing a small garden helps.
3. Which paving fits?
A terrace looks modern mainly through large, calm surfaces and clean edges. Which material you choose depends more on how you use the area and how much upkeep you want.
| Paving | In its favour | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Natural stone | every slab different, very long-lasting | check frost resistance and water absorption per stone type |
| Porcelain | absorbs hardly any water, so frost-resistant | use dedicated outdoor slabs; slip resistance |
| Concrete slabs | large formats, many finishes | check outdoor suitability in the data sheet |
| Wood | warm underfoot | turns grey without care; durability varies by species |
| WPC | no yearly staining | can get very hot in the sun |
Natural stone isn't one uniform material. How much water a stone absorbs and whether it tolerates frost varies by rock type. There is a separate European standard for outdoor slabs (EN 1341). Ask your supplier for these figures before you fall for a colour.
Porcelain (Feinsteinzeug) is a densely fired ceramic that absorbs less than 0.5 % water. That's why it is frost-resistant. For terraces there are dedicated, thicker slabs, often 2 cm.
Slip resistance is often given by manufacturers as a rating from R9 to R13. R13 is the most slip-resistant. In Germany these ratings come from the rules for commercial and public areas. There is no requirement for a private terrace, but they are still useful for comparison.
Wood turns grey without care. UV light breaks down a component at the surface. That's a question of looks; stability doesn't suffer. How long wood lasts outdoors depends on the species. A guide is the durability class under EN 350, from 1 (very durable) to 5 (not durable).
WPC is a composite of wood fibres and plastic. It doesn't need staining every year, but its colour changes slightly in the first months. Manufacturers point out themselves that WPC can get so warm in sunny, sheltered spots that walking on it barefoot is only possible to a limited extent. One manufacturer puts the surface temperature at about 10 % higher than solid wood. WPC also expands in the heat, so the gaps must be left exactly as the installation guide says.
What each type of paving costs varies a lot with material, format and sub-base. How prices for garden work are made up is explained in the article How much does garden design cost?. How a terrace and a pool fit together is covered in the article Modern garden with a pool.
4. How does the terrace connect to the garden?
A terrace that simply stops at the edge of the lawn feels like a forecourt. A designed transition makes it part of the garden.
- Steps: If the terrace sits higher than the garden, wide steps are more than a way down. You can sit on them and put pots there. They are comfortable to walk when twice the step height plus the tread depth comes to about 63 cm. With a 15 cm rise that's a tread of about 33 cm.
- Beds right at the edge: Plants that grow over the edge soften the hard surface. Corten steel raised beds are popular. They can shed rust at first, though, and stain light paving.
- Planters: They can be moved, but they need regular watering.
- Lawn right up to the paving: A flush edge of stone or metal saves trimming.
Two technical points belong in the planning, not on the building site:
- Fall: So that rainwater drains away, the surface gets a slight fall, usually away from the house. Installation guides give about 2 % for this, i.e. 2 cm per metre.
- Connection to the patio door: How close the paving may come to the door threshold is governed by the rules for waterproofing the house. A level, step-free transition usually needs a drainage channel in front of the door. Clarify this with the contractor.
5. Where does the shade come from?
A terrace in full sun is often unusable at midday in high summer. There are several ways to get shade, and they can be combined.
- A tree gives shade and grows larger over the years. In return, leaves fall on the terrace. In Germany, distances to the property line are set by your state's neighbour law.
- A parasol is flexible and quick. Large parasols need a heavy base or a ground sleeve set into the paving. Plan the sleeve in from the start.
- An awning on the house gives shade right outside the door and can be retracted when you want the sun.
- A pergola with an open slatted roof gives light shade but no rain protection. Climbing plants make the shade denser. More in the article Pergola in the garden.
6. Adding a roof: the legal side
If the terrace is to get a solid roof, for example of glass or polycarbonate, that's a building project. In Germany, whether you need a permit is set by your federal state's building code. The limits differ from state to state.
An example from Bavaria: Under Art. 57(1) No. 1(g) of the Bavarian Building Code (BayBO), terrace roofs with an area of up to 30 m² are exempt from the permit procedure. That's the wording in the version in force since 1 May 2026. Earlier versions also limited the depth to 3 m, which is why you'll still find that figure in many guides.
Exempt doesn't mean rule-free. Even without a permit, the roof has to meet all other regulations (Art. 55(2) BayBO). These include setback areas from the boundary and the rules of a local development plan. Whether a pergola with adjustable louvres counts as a roof can be disputed in individual cases. Ask your local building authority before you buy. It takes little time and can save you having to take it down again.
Try it before you build
Light slabs or a timber deck, a terrace by the house or a seat further back in the garden: these are hard to picture on paper. With GardenPilot you upload a photo of your garden, choose a theme world and add what matters to you, for example "large light slabs, steps down into the garden, pergola over the lounge". The first image is free. To compare, you can have a second version shown with the other paving (1 credit). The images are visualizations, not construction plans. Dimensions, fall and connections are planned by the contractor. How it works in detail is explained in the article AI garden design with a photo.
What would your terrace look like in your garden? Upload a photo – the first image is free. Start free with your photo
Frequently asked questions
How big should a terrace be?
Big enough for your furniture plus room to move. As a rule of thumb, add roughly one metre to the table size on every side with chairs. A 90 × 200 cm table with chairs all round then needs just under 12 m². Add walkways, the barbecue and the parasol base.
Which paving suits a modern terrace?
Large-format slabs of natural stone, porcelain or concrete, as well as timber and WPC boards. Decide by upkeep, slip resistance and heat: porcelain absorbs hardly any water, wood turns grey without care, WPC can heat up a lot in the sun. With natural stone, frost resistance and water absorption depend on the rock type.
Does a terrace roof need planning permission?
In Germany, each federal state regulates this in its building code. In Bavaria, terrace roofs up to 30 m² are exempt from the permit procedure (version in force since 1 May 2026). Setback areas and the development plan still apply. If in doubt, ask your building authority.
How much fall does a terrace need?
A slight fall away from the house so water drains off. Installation guides give about 2 %. What counts is the guide for the paving you're laying.
Does the terrace have to be next to the house?
No. If the house side is in shade at the times you're outside, a seat further back in the garden is often the better choice. Many gardens have both: a dining table by the house and a small second seat.
Further reading
What would this look like in your garden?
Upload a photo of your garden and see design ideas on your own space. The first image is free.
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