UK Home Improvement Cost Index 2026
How much does it cost to extend, convert a loft, fit a new kitchen or install solar in 2026 — and how much more do you pay depending on where you live? This BestBuilders study compares real 2026 quote data for nine major home projects across all 14 UK regions. The headline: the same job can cost up to 56% more in London than in the cheapest parts of Britain.
The "improve-it premium": London homeowners pay up to 56% more
Across the nine projects we tracked, London is the most expensive region in Britain for every single one. A dormer loft conversion starts at £40,500 in London versus £26,000 in South Wales and Merseyside — a £14,500 gap. A single-storey extension runs £33,500 versus £22,000 (+52%). Even a new roof costs 60% more in the capital. The cheapest regions are consistently South Wales, Merseyside & North Wales, the North East and Yorkshire.
What each project costs — capital vs cheapest
Typical "starting from" prices for a standard project, drawn from BestBuilders 2026 quote data. Figures are rounded; see the methodology below.
| Project | London (from) | Cheapest region (from) | Difference | % more in London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dormer loft conversion | £40,500 | £26,000 | £14,500 | +56% |
| Single-storey extension | £33,500 | £22,000 | £11,500 | +52% |
| Garage conversion | £10,800 | £6,800 | £4,000 | +59% |
| New kitchen | £10,500 | £7,000 | £3,500 | +50% |
| Solar panels (4–5kW) | £5,175 | £4,275 | £900 | +21% |
| Bathroom renovation | £5,000 | £3,500 | £1,500 | +43% |
| New roof (re-roof) | £4,000 | £2,500 | £1,500 | +60% |
| Driveway | £3,000 | £2,000 | £1,000 | +50% |
| EV charger (7kW) | £945 | £595 | £350 | +59% |
Extension & loft conversion cost by UK region, 2026
Starting prices for a standard single-storey rear extension and a rear dormer loft conversion, ranked most to least expensive region.
| UK region | Single-storey extension | Dormer loft conversion |
|---|---|---|
| London | £33,500 | £40,500 |
| South East | £30,000 | £36,000 |
| Southern | £27,500 | £33,000 |
| Eastern | £27,000 | £32,000 |
| West Midlands | £25,000 | £30,000 |
| East Midlands | £25,000 | £30,000 |
| North West | £23,500 | £28,500 |
| Yorkshire | £23,500 | £28,500 |
| South West | £23,000 | £27,500 |
| Scotland (North & South) | £23,000 | £27,500 |
| North East | £22,500 | £27,000 |
| South Wales · Merseyside & North Wales | £22,000 | £26,000 |
Want your local figure? Try the extension cost calculator for an estimate tailored to size, finish and region.
Why does the same project cost so much more in London?
The regional gap is driven by four things, and it mirrors the pattern in RICS BCIS and FMB benchmark data:
- Labour rates. Skilled-trade day rates in London and the South East run 25–40% above the national average, the single biggest factor on a labour-heavy job like an extension or loft.
- Demand and backlogs. High demand and long waiting lists let builders in the South East price higher; quieter regional markets are more competitive.
- Access and logistics. Terraced streets, restricted parking, skip permits and tight rear-access add cost in dense urban areas — especially in inner London.
- Property type. Period terraces (common in London) often need more structural work, party-wall agreements and bespoke joinery than newer regional housing stock.
The takeaway for homeowners: the regional figure is a starting point, not a quote. The spread within a region — between the cheapest and most expensive builder — is often as wide as the gap between regions, which is why comparing three quotes matters more than any headline average.
Key findings, 2026
- London is the most expensive UK region for all nine projects analysed.
- The biggest cash gap is a dormer loft conversion: £14,500 more in London than in South Wales or Merseyside.
- In percentage terms, a new roof shows the widest gap at +60%, closely followed by garage conversions and EV chargers (+59%).
- Solar panels have the narrowest regional gap (+21%) — equipment is a bigger share of the cost than labour, and panel prices are national.
- The cheapest regions for home improvements in 2026 are consistently South Wales, Merseyside & North Wales, the North East and Yorkshire.
- A homeowner doing an extension and a loft conversion in London would pay roughly £26,000 more than the same projects in the cheapest region.
Citing this study
You are welcome to cite the BestBuilders 2026 UK Home Improvement Cost Index in articles and reports. Please credit BestBuilders with a link to this page (bestbuilders.co.uk/costs/uk-home-improvement-cost-index-2026).
The full regional dataset (all nine projects across 14 regions), charts and attributable commentary are available on request — use the quote form below to get in touch and we will pass your request to our press team.
UK home improvement cost questions
How we built the index
Figures are BestBuilders 2026 "starting from" prices for a standard specification of each project, averaged by region across our quote dataset covering 519 UK towns grouped into 14 regions. Prices are rounded and are intended for budgeting, not as quotes. The regional pattern — London and the South East highest, Wales, the North East and Merseyside lowest — is consistent with independent benchmarks including RICS BCIS building-cost data and FMB (Federation of Master Builders) member surveys.
Last reviewed June 2026 · Next scheduled review September 2026 · Published by BestBuilders, a UK home-improvement quote service. Editorial standards: figures are reviewed quarterly against live quote data and cross-checked against RICS BCIS and FMB benchmarks.
Explore the detailed cost guides: extensions, loft conversions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, driveways, solar panels and EV chargers — or see the full cost guide hub.