Free Calculator · Updated September 2026

Conservatory Cost Calculator UK 2026

Answer 4 quick questions for an instant 2026 UK conservatory estimate. Choose style, size, roof and region — realistic low/typical/high figures from real pricing across 519 UK towns. No email required.

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Real pricing from 519 UK towns
Updated September 2026
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Conservatory costs in the UK (2026)Typical installed prices by option — 2026 — Source: BestBuilders.co.uk · typical UK prices 2026 · excludes VAT & access variances Conservatory costs in the UK (2026) Typical installed prices by option — 2026 £0 £8k £15k £22k £30k Lean-to Polycarbonate or glass roof £13k–£13k Edwardian Medium, glass roof £18k–£18k Victorian Medium, bay-fronted £19k–£19k Garden room Insulated, solid roof £25k–£25k Orangery Brick piers + lantern roof £30k–£30k Source: BestBuilders.co.uk · typical UK prices 2026 · excludes VAT & access variances BestBuilders.co.uk
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How Much Will Your Conservatory Cost?

Base style cost × size multiplier × roof multiplier × regional rate. Takes under 60 seconds.

How This Calculator Works

We combine conservatory style, size, roof type and your region with 2026 UK supply-and-fit pricing.

Base Style & Size

  • Lean-to £13,000 · Edwardian £18,000 · Victorian £19,000
  • Garden room £25,000 · Orangery £30,000
  • Small (≤12m²) ×0.80 · Medium (12–20m²) ×1.00 · Large (20m²+) ×1.45

Roof: Polycarbonate ×0.82 · Double glazing ×1.00 · Solid tiled ×1.48.

Region & Range

  • London +35% · South East +15% · South West +2%
  • East Midlands −8% · North West −12% · North East −15%
  • Wales −8% · Scotland −5% · NI −18%
  • Low/high band: mid ×0.88 to ×1.18.
  • Breakdown: ~45% structure, ~38% glazing & roofing, ~17% foundations & contingency.

Costs include supply, labour and VAT. A real quote follows a site survey.

Typical Conservatory Costs by Style (2026)

Indicative supply & fit base prices, medium size, Midlands baseline (glazing/roof upgrades add more).

StyleTypical specCost
Lean-toSmall/medium, polycarbonate or glass roof~£13,000
EdwardianMedium, glass roof~£18,000
VictorianMedium, bay-fronted~£19,000
Garden roomInsulated, solid roof~£25,000
OrangeryBrick piers + lantern roof~£30,000

These figures power the calculator above — enter your own spec for a tailored estimate. For the full breakdown, read our complete cost guide.

Conservatory Cost by Size (2026)

Supply & fit, double glazing, UK-average region. Range spans lean-to at the low end to orangery at the high end — pick your exact style, roof and region in the calculator above for a tighter figure.

SizeTypical footprintAreaCost fitted
Small3m × 3m, 4m × 3mup to 12m²£9,150–£28,300
Medium5m × 3m, 4m × 4m, 5m × 4m12–20m²£11,450–£35,400
Large6m × 4m and above20m²+£16,600–£51,350

How we produced these figures

The cost ranges on this page come from BestBuilders’ 2026 regional cost model: published national cost guides adjusted by a regional labour index and averaged across 519 UK towns, then reviewed against published trade pricing. They are indicative ranges for a typical specification, not quotes — access, finish level and the builder’s workload move real prices either way.

Regulatory points (planning, Building Regulations, grants and VAT) are checked against current UK government guidance. Last reviewed: August 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via the form above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a conservatory cost in the UK in 2026?

A typical UK conservatory costs £12,000–£40,000 in 2026 depending on style, size and glazing. A small lean-to with polycarbonate roof starts around £10,000. A large orangery with solid tiled roof and bifold doors can reach £60,000+. Most homeowners spend £15,000–£25,000 for a medium Edwardian or Victorian style.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Most conservatories fall under Permitted Development and don't need planning permission, provided they meet size limits (no more than 50% of the original house garden, max 4m high, not forward of the principal elevation). Listed buildings and conservation areas always need full planning permission.

What is the difference between a conservatory and an orangery?

A conservatory is predominantly glazed (walls and roof). An orangery has substantial brick or masonry pillars with a solid perimeter and a glazed or lantern roof section in the centre. Orangeries are warmer, more private and closer to a full extension in construction terms — and cost more.

How long does a conservatory take to build?

A medium conservatory typically takes 6–10 weeks from ground-breaking to completion: 1–2 weeks for foundations, 1 week for brickwork base, 2–4 weeks for the frame and glazing, and 1 week for finishing. A garden room or orangery can take 12–20 weeks.

Is a conservatory worth it in 2026?

A well-built conservatory with a solid or glass roof adds 5–10% to property value according to estate agents. Polycarbonate-roofed conservatories are less valued by buyers. An insulated garden room (with solid roof, underfloor heating and good glazing) is increasingly preferred and often commands a premium.

How accurate is this conservatory cost estimate?

It gives a guide based on average UK 2026 prices for the style and size you choose, not a firm quote. Your real cost depends on the base and groundworks, frame material, glazing spec, roof type and how your ground and drainage behave on site. Use the estimate to set a budget, then get a surveyed quote to confirm.

What does the conservatory estimate include and exclude?

The figure usually covers the base, frame, glazing, a standard roof, fitting and 20% VAT. It often excludes tricky groundworks, moving drains or manholes, electrics, heating, flooring, blinds and any dwarf-wall brickwork upgrades. Sloping or soft ground and difficult access can add significantly, so treat those as extras on top of the guide price.

Why would a real conservatory quote differ from the calculator?

A calculator uses averages, but an installer prices your actual plot, including access for materials, ground conditions, drain positions and any building-control needs. Region matters too, with London and the South East typically dearer on labour. Premium glass, solid or tiled roofs and bespoke shapes also move a genuine quote above the average estimate shown.

Can I use a conservatory all year round?

With the right roof and heating, yes. A polycarbonate roof makes a conservatory too hot in summer and too cold in winter to use comfortably all year. Upgrading to a glass roof with solar-control coating, or a solid tiled roof with insulation, plus dedicated heating such as underfloor or a radiator, turns it into a genuine year-round room. An insulated garden room is designed for exactly this and is the most comfortable option in extreme weather.

Do conservatories need building regulations approval?

Often not. A conservatory is usually exempt from Building Regulations when it is built at ground level, is under 30m², is separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, and has its own independent heating controls. Break any of those conditions — for example by removing the dividing doors to open the space up — and approval is typically required. Electrical work and glazing must still meet the relevant standards either way.

What's Included in a Conservatory Price

The headline figures on this page and in the calculator cover the core supply-and-fit package: the dwarf-wall or full-height base, the frame (uPVC, timber or aluminium), the glazing, a standard roof, fitting labour and 20% VAT. On a medium Edwardian or Victorian conservatory that typically works out around £15,000–£20,000 before upgrades.

Several items are usually quoted as extras, so factor them into your budget: groundworks on sloping or soft ground, moving a drain or manhole, electrics and lighting, heating (radiators or underfloor), flooring, plastering, blinds and any dwarf-wall brickwork. A solid or tiled roof upgrade also sits on top of the base price. For a larger footprint with brick piers, compare the numbers against a dedicated orangery cost calculator before you commit.

  • Included: base, frame, glazing, standard roof, fitting, VAT
  • Usually extra: tricky groundworks, drainage moves, electrics, heating, flooring, blinds
  • Upgrade extra: solid or tiled roof, premium glass, bespoke shapes, bifold or sliding doors

Planning Permission and Building Regulations

Most conservatories are classed as Permitted Development and do not need a planning application, provided they stay within the usual limits: no more than half the land around the original house is covered, the structure is single-storey, it is not forward of the principal elevation facing a road, and eaves and ridge heights stay within the permitted maxima. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas are the common exceptions and normally need full permission — always confirm your own limits on the government's Planning Portal conservatories guide before ordering.

Conservatories are also frequently exempt from Building Regulations, but only when they meet specific conditions: they are built at ground level and under 30m², they are separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, and they have an independent heating system with its own controls. Remove those separating doors to make the space fully open-plan and the exemption is usually lost, which brings the glazing and thermal-performance rules into play. If you are weighing a conservatory against a full brick build, our single-storey extension cost calculator is a useful comparison.

Roof Upgrade Options: Polycarbonate, Glass and Solid

Roof choice is the single biggest driver of how usable a conservatory feels year-round, and it moves the price noticeably. Polycarbonate is the cheapest option (around 0.82× the glass-roof cost in the calculator) but it overheats in summer, feels cold in winter and is noisy in heavy rain. A modern glass roof with a solar-control coating is the mid-range choice and keeps the room bright. A solid or tiled roof — roughly 1.48× the glass price — insulates like a proper extension, cuts noise and is the most planning-friendly, at the cost of some daylight.

Replacing an existing tired polycarbonate roof with glass or a solid, insulated system is one of the most popular conservatory upgrades in 2026. To price that specific job on its own, use our conservatory roof cost calculator, then read whether the investment pays back in our solid-roof conversion guide linked below.

How to Choose a Conservatory Installer

The estimate you get from the calculator is a budgeting tool; the price you actually pay depends heavily on who builds it and how they price your plot. Get at least three written, itemised quotes and make sure each one prices the same specification so you are comparing like for like rather than being drawn to the cheapest headline number. Because a conservatory blends groundworks, glazing and roofing into a single job, the biggest differences between quotes usually come from what each installer has assumed about your foundations and roof specification rather than from the frame itself, so read the small print on those two lines especially closely before you compare the bottom-line totals.

  • Ask for costs broken down by structure, glazing and any internal fit-out, not a single lump sum
  • Check the installer registers glazing work with a competent-person scheme such as FENSA or Certass
  • Confirm what is and is not included — foundations, electrics, heating, decorating — in writing before you sign
  • Use vetted local specialists and read recent customer feedback for work of a similar size and style
  • Agree a payment schedule tied to build stages, and never pay the full amount up front

When you are ready, we can match you with up to three vetted local conservatory installers so you can compare real, surveyed quotes side by side. If you are still deciding what to build, it is worth reading around the options first: an insulated garden room cost guide covers the year-round alternative to a traditional glazed conservatory, while a full brick house extension cost guide shows where a conservatory sits against a conventional extension on price and disruption. You can also browse every related tool and guide from our cost guide hub before you request quotes.

Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team · Last updated: 1 September 2026 · Next scheduled review: December 2026 · See our editorial standards.