Gardening · Updated September 2026
Greenhouse Cost UK 2026: Supplied, Based & Built
A typical 6x8 aluminium greenhouse costs £500–£1,500, the base it must have £300–£800, and assembly £150–£400 — so £950–£2,700 standing and glazed. Like sheds, the base is the part that decides how long the rest lasts.
Greenhouse cost, supplied and built — 2026
Aluminium frames with horticultural glass unless noted; toughened glass and cedar frames sit at the top of each range.
| Setup | Typical cost | Includes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact 6x4, built | £650–£1,300 | Frame, glazing, base, assembly | Starter size |
| Standard 6x8, built | £950–£2,700 | Frame, glazing, base, assembly | The common choice |
| Large 8x10 / 8x12, built | £1,800–£4,500 | As above, bigger everything | Serious growing |
| Cedar frame upgrade | +£500–£1,500 | — | Looks better, needs oiling |
| Toughened glass upgrade | +£100–£400 | — | Worth it with children or footballs |
| Slab or concrete base only | £300–£800 | Dig, sub-base, finish | Must be level and square |
Indicative 2026 UK prices, compiled from published installer pricing (Checkatrade, MyJobQuote, MyBuilder and BookaBuilder cost guides, August 2026). BestBuilders has no quote history in this category yet, so treat these as a budgeting guide and confirm against three written quotes.
What changes the cost
| Cost factor | Typical impact | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The base | the decision that matters | A greenhouse frame is light and rigid only when square - an unlevel base twists it until the glass tells you |
| Glazing choice | ±£100–£400 | Horticultural glass is cheap and sharp when broken; toughened costs more and crumbles safely; polycarbonate bounces but yellows |
| Frame material | aluminium vs cedar | Aluminium is maintenance-free; cedar is beautiful and wants oiling every other year |
| Access and assembly | +£100–£250 | Hundreds of panes and bolts - a windy day and no side access slow it |
| Water and power to it | +£150–£900 | A butt off the roof is cheap; a tap or outdoor circuit is trench work priced like the shed equivalent |
Greenhouse installed cost by UK region — 2026
Modelled from regional labour rates rather than measured in this category - materials cost much the same everywhere, the labour does not.
| Region | Typical installed cost | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,220–£3,460 | +25–30% |
| South East | £1,120–£3,190 | +15–20% |
| South West | £1,000–£2,840 | +5% |
| Midlands | £950–£2,700 | baseline |
| North England | £870–£2,480 | −5–10% |
| Scotland | £860–£2,430 | −10% |
| Wales | £860–£2,430 | −10% |
| Northern Ireland | £810–£2,300 | −15% |
Getting it priced properly
1. Level base first, greenhouse second
Every assembly manual assumes a level, square base. The £300-£800 groundwork is what makes the £1,000 frame fit.
2. Match glazing to the household
Toughened glass costs £100-£400 more and turns a breakage from casualty to sweep-up. With children, it is not really optional.
3. Plan rain capture at build time
A greenhouse roof fills water butts fast, and 2026 is the year that matters - gutter kits cost £30-£60 fitted during assembly.
What this costs at a glance
The same table, drawn.
The base is what it stands or falls on
Like a shed, a greenhouse is only as good as what it stands on. A £500–1,500 aluminium frame needs a level, solid base at £300–800 — and with glass and wind in the mix, level matters more here than almost anywhere else in the garden. A frame racked even slightly on a poor base cracks panes and jams the vents, so the base is not the corner to cut. Before buying, work out orientation (an east-west ridge catches the most winter light) and whether you want glass or polycarbonate: glass looks better and lasts, polycarbonate is safer around children and holds heat.
Assembly at £150–400 is worth paying for on anything but the smallest kit — the glazing is fiddly and easy to break if you rush it. Price the frame, base and build together with the greenhouse calculator, and the wider gardening hub covers the growing beds and watering that go around it.
Greenhouse — frequently asked questions
A standard 6x8 aluminium greenhouse lands at £950–£2,700 including the base and assembly - the frame is £500–£1,500 of that, groundwork and building the rest.
Yes - level and square, in slabs or concrete, costing £300–£800. Frames anchored to earth twist out of square and start cracking their own glass.
Rarely - the same permitted development rules as sheds: single storey, height limits near boundaries, and no more than half the garden covered by outbuildings in total.
It is safer and insulates slightly better; it also yellows, scratches and blows out of frames in storms. Toughened glass is the durable middle ground for family gardens.
Related cost guides
Hourly and day rates, and regular maintenance.
Treatments, scarifying and annual programmes.
Base, shed and assembly priced together.
Registered members: Gardening
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Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team · Last updated: 4 September 2026 · Next scheduled review: December 2026 · See our editorial standards.