Costs · Updated June 2026

Conservatory Cost UK 2026: Full Price Guide by Style & Size

A UK conservatory typically costs £8,500–£32,000 supplied & fitted in 2026, with most homeowners spending £12,000–£22,000. Price is driven by style (lean-to vs Victorian vs orangery), size (3x3m vs 5x4m), glazing spec (standard double-glazed vs solar-control vs self-cleaning), roof type (polycarbonate vs glass vs solid tiled roof) and the region. A typical 4x3m P-shape uPVC conservatory with a tiled solid roof lands at £18,500–£24,500 in 2026 — the most popular spec for UK semis since 2023.

5 styles priced Regional rates Real worked example
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How much does a conservatory cost in 2026?

Typical 2026 UK conservatory costs (supplied & fitted, including base):

  • Lean-to (3x3m) — £8,500–£13,500
  • Edwardian (3.5x3.5m) — £12,000–£18,000
  • Victorian (4x3.5m, 3 facets) — £13,500–£19,500
  • P-shape (4.5x3.5m + 2m return) — £17,500–£24,500
  • Orangery (4x4m brick piers, glass lantern) — £22,000–£32,000

Add £2,200–£5,800 for a solid tiled roof (vs polycarbonate), £1,400–£2,800 for premium solar-control glazing, and £1,600–£4,200 for bifold doors instead of French doors. Most conservatories under 30m² fall under Permitted Development — no planning needed.

Conservatory Cost by Style

Style choice changes the visual character and the price. Here’s what each option costs in 2026 with mid-range uPVC frames, double-glazed glass and a polycarbonate roof unless noted.

Lean-to (Mediterranean)

Simple rectangular shape with a single-pitch roof sloping away from the house. Cheapest style, fastest install (5–7 days), best for bungalows and modern semis where roof clearance under the first-floor windows is limited.

3x3m, fitted
£8.5k–£13.5k
Typical breakdown: Frames & glass £5.4k · Polycarbonate roof £1.4k · Base & foundations £2.2k · Install £1.8k · Electrics & finishing £1.2k

Edwardian (square / rectangular)

Classic four-sided pitched roof rising to a central ridge. Maximises internal floor area for a given footprint — the most usable square metre per pound. Most popular style for new conservatories from 2015–2022.

3.5x3.5m, fitted
£12k–£18k
Typical breakdown: Frames & glass £7.4k · Polycarbonate roof £1.8k · Base & foundations £2.8k · Install £2.4k · Electrics, blinds & finishing £1.6k

Victorian (3 or 5 facets)

Period feature with 3 angled facets (or 5 for grand designs) creating a faceted bay window effect. Steep pitched roof with ornate crestings and finials. Suits Victorian and Edwardian period homes. Slightly less efficient on floor area than Edwardian for the same width.

4x3.5m, fitted
£13.5k–£19.5k
Typical breakdown: Frames & faceted glass £8.6k · Polycarbonate roof £2.0k · Base & foundations £3.2k · Install £2.8k · Electrics & finishing £1.6k

P-shape (Victorian + Lean-to combination)

Larger combination shape: Victorian-style main bay with a lean-to return creating an L. Best for separating a dining area from a lounge area within the same conservatory. Needs a wider rear elevation (5m+) to look balanced.

4.5x3.5m + 2m return
£17.5k–£24.5k
Typical breakdown: Frames & glass £11.2k · Polycarbonate roof £2.6k · Base & foundations £4.4k · Install £3.8k · Electrics & finishing £2.0k

Orangery (brick piers + glass lantern roof)

Brick piers between glazing panels with a flat or shallow-pitched roof topped by a glass lantern. Feels more like a true extension than a conservatory — can be used year-round without overheating. Best ROI for properties valued £450k+.

4x4m, fitted
£22k–£32k
Typical breakdown: Brick piers & structural £6.8k · Frames & glass £9.4k · Flat roof + lantern £6.2k · Base & foundations £4.4k · Install £3.8k · Electrics, plaster & flooring £2.4k

What Drives the Final Bill

Two conservatories on the same street can quote £5,000 apart for the same footprint. The six drivers that explain the spread:

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1. Roof type

Polycarbonate roof: baseline (cheapest, but noisy in rain, overheats in summer). Glass: +£1,800–£3,500. Solid tiled (Guardian, LivinROOF, Equinox): +£2,200–£5,800. The solid roof has become the default for new builds since 2023 because it converts the room from “summer-only” to year-round usable.

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2. Glazing spec

Standard 28mm double glazing: baseline. Solar-control low-E glass (Pilkington Activ, Saint-Gobain Cool-Lite): +£1,400–£2,800 total. Triple glazing: +£2,400–£4,800 total — useful in North-facing aspects, marginal benefit south-facing.

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3. Door type

Standard French doors: included. Sliding patio doors: +£400–£900. Aluminium bifold doors (3-pane, opening): +£1,600–£2,800. 5-pane bifold: +£2,800–£4,200. Bifolds give the entire side wall opening to the garden in summer.

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4. Base & foundations

Standard 600mm strip foundation + concrete slab: £2,200–£4,400. Pile foundations (poor ground, sloping site, tree roots within 5m): +£1,800–£4,200. Existing patio that needs full removal first: +£600–£1,400.

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5. Frame material

uPVC: baseline. Aluminium (slimmer sightlines, contemporary look): +25–35% on frame cost. Hardwood (oak, accoya): +50–80% — usually only orangeries. Composite hybrid (aluminium outside, wood inside): +40–60%.

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6. Region

London: +25–35% on the same spec. South East +15%. Wales, Scotland and the North 5–12% below the UK average. Trickier-access sites (rear-garden only through the house, no side access) add £600–£1,400 labour.

Conservatory Cost by UK Region

Based on 320+ recent UK conservatory quotes, 4x3.5m P-shape uPVC, solid tiled roof, French doors, mid-range spec:

RegionTypical costvs UK avg
London (inner)£28k–£35k+35%
London (outer)£25k–£31k+20%
South East£23k–£28k+12%
South West£20k–£25kUK avg
Midlands£18k–£23k-8%
North West£17k–£22k-12%
Yorkshire£16k–£21k-15%
North East£16k–£20k-18%
Scotland£17k–£21k-15%
Wales£16k–£20k-18%

Real Project: 4x3.5m P-shape, Leeds LS6

3-bed semi-detached in Headingley. Rear south-west garden. P-shape uPVC conservatory replacing an old 1990s lean-to. Solid tiled Equinox roof, two Velux roof windows, French doors to the garden plus a side single door. Completed March 2026.

Brief
Remove existing tired lean-to. New P-shape: 4.5m wide x 3.5m projection + 2m return. Solid tiled roof with 2 Velux units for daylight. Mid-spec uPVC frames in anthracite grey. Tiled floor, 4 wall sockets, plumbed radiator off central heating, fully plastered ceiling with downlighters. Used year-round as a snug.
Final cost
£21,850
inc. VAT
Strip-out existing lean-to + skip£680
Foundations + dwarf wall + concrete slab£4,200
uPVC frames + glass (anthracite grey)£5,800
French doors + side single door£1,400
Equinox solid tiled roof + 2 Velux£5,400
Plastered ceiling + 4 downlighters£1,250
Tiled floor + skirting£1,400
Electrics: 4 sockets, mains alarm spur£820
Plumbed radiator off central heating£700
Total (8 working days on site)£21,850

Valuation uplift: £392,000 pre-works → £415,000 post-works (RICS appraisal, April 2026). Net value-add roughly £1,150 — conservatories rarely return more than their build cost, but a tiled roof + plastered ceiling spec lifts ROI vs polycarbonate.

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Common Questions

Most conservatories fall under Permitted Development — no planning needed — provided: rear projection ≤ 3m (semi) or 4m (detached); height ≤ 4m at ridge; max 50% of garden area; not in front of the principal elevation. Conservation areas, AONBs, listed properties and Article 4 directions remove these rights — full planning needed. Always apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (£129) afterwards to protect resale.
Polycarbonate: cheapest, noisy in rain, room unusable May–August because of overheating. Glass: better looking, costs £1,800–£3,500 extra, still overheats without solar-control coating. Solid tiled (Guardian, Equinox, LivinROOF): £2,200–£5,800 extra, converts the room from “summer-only” to year-round livable space. Since 2023 solid tiled is the dominant spec in new conservatories.
A conservatory is mostly glass walls + glass/tiled roof (50%+ glass). An orangery has brick piers between glass panels and a flat-ish roof with a glass lantern (more substantial, feels like an extension). A full extension is brick / block / timber-frame walls + a normal pitched roof. Conservatory: £13k–£20k. Orangery: £22k–£32k. Single-storey extension: £35k–£60k. See our side-by-side comparison.
Lean-to: 5–7 days on site. Edwardian/Victorian: 7–10 days. P-shape: 9–12 days. Orangery: 14–18 days (more masonry & plastering work). Add 3–4 weeks lead time for survey, design and manufacturing before work starts on site.
Roughly break-even to +£2,000 on a mid-spec uPVC conservatory with polycarbonate roof. +£5,000–£12,000 on a solid-tiled-roof spec that’s genuinely a usable room year-round. Orangery: +£12,000–£25,000. A poorly-built, leaky, polycarbonate-roofed conservatory can actually reduce sale value — surveyors mark them as a liability. Always go solid roof + fully plastered ceiling if ROI matters.
Yes — called a solid roof conversion. Replace the polycarbonate / glass roof with an insulated tiled roof system (Guardian, LivinROOF, Equinox) and you transform the space. Cost: £5,500–£11,500 depending on size and roof system. Full breakdown of solid roof conservatory conversions.
A traditional conservatory (50%+ glass walls, 75%+ glass/polycarbonate roof, separated from the house by external-grade doors, not heated by the central heating system on its own circuit) is exempt from Building Regulations. The moment you add a solid roof, knock through to the house, or share the central heating circuit, full Building Regs apply (cost £400–£900 in approval & inspection fees). Most modern “conservatory extensions” with solid roofs need Building Regs.

How we researched these prices

Pricing in this guide is built from 320+ recent UK conservatory quotes collected through BestBuilders between January and May 2026, plus published 2026 trade pricing from suppliers and installer networks. Cross-checked against:

  • Anglian Home Improvements, Everest & Conservatory Outlet 2026 published pricing
  • Guardian Warm Roof, LivinROOF, Equinox 2026 trade price lists for solid roof systems
  • Pilkington & Saint-Gobain 2026 glass specifications and pricing
  • Office for National Statistics Construction Output Price Indices for regional labour weighting
  • Planning Portal for Permitted Development rules and householder application fees
  • Cross-checked against published 2026 quotes on Checkatrade, Houzz, Real Homes & Which? Trusted Traders

Prices include VAT. Where ranges are quoted, they cover the 10th–90th percentile of observed jobs. Last reviewed . Read more about how we research & fact-check.

Conservatory vs orangery vs extension

Full side-by-side: cost, planning, value, year-round usability.

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Costs, ROI and trade-offs of converting a polycarbonate roof to solid.

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