UK Home Improvement Cost Index 2026
The most comprehensive UK cost dataset available — 51 home improvement services tracked across 519 UK towns, refreshed quarterly from active homeowner quote requests. Use it to benchmark quotes, plan budgets, and understand regional variation before you commission work.
What the 2026 data shows
Across 519 UK towns and 51 services tracked in Q2 2026, three patterns dominate the cost landscape. First, London applies a 25–47% premium on virtually every category — most extreme for major building works (single-storey extensions cost 47% more in London than the UK average) and least extreme for material-led work like solar panels (just 15% London premium). Second, the gap between cheapest and most expensive UK regions has widened in 2026 — a single-storey extension that costs £22,000 to start in Merseyside or South Wales starts at £33,000 in London for the same scope. Third, mid-tier specifications now dominate buyer demand: kitchen-renovation budgets cluster between £7,000–£25,000 nationally, with premium fitted kitchens (£14,500–£43,000) and budget refits (£4,000–£16,000) as wings of the same distribution.
The biggest 2026 movers vs 2025 are heat-driven energy installations (solar PV + battery now averages £8,519–£15,034 nationally) and the BUS-grant-stimulated heat pump market (covered separately). Major structural work — extensions, lofts, garage conversions — has remained price-stable year-on-year despite material inflation, with labour rates absorbing the difference. For homeowners, the practical implication is that regional benchmarking matters more than national averages — see the regional breakdown below before fixing a budget.
How we collect this data
The Best Builders Cost Index is compiled from active quote requests submitted by UK homeowners through our network across 519 towns covered by Best Builders. We capture each project's stated scope, postcode, specification tier, and the quoted price ranges returned by our verified builder network. Outliers (top and bottom 5%) are excluded. Costs reflect mid-spec finishes unless explicitly labelled "budget" or "premium". Data is refreshed every quarter; the figures on this page reflect the Q2 2026 dataset.
What's included: labour, standard materials, foundations and structural work, basic finishes, building control fees, and standard rate VAT. What's excluded: architectural fees, planning application costs, party wall surveyor fees, kitchen/bathroom fit-out beyond standard spec, premium glazing or bespoke joinery. Towns vs regions: per-town variation within a region is typically ±5% of the regional average; we report regional figures for citability, with per-town figures available on individual town pages.
This dataset is citable for editorial use with attribution to "Best Builders 2026 Cost Index". For full methodology or to request bespoke breakdowns, email editorial@bestbuilders.co.uk.
2026 UK Cost Ranges by Service
National average ranges for all 51 services in the Best Builders network. Cheapest-region figure reflects the UK region with the lowest typical quote (usually South Wales, Merseyside & North Wales, or North East). London column shown for comparison.
Major Building Works
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-storey extension | £24,928 – £50,200 | £33,000 – £67,000 | £22,000 – £44,000 |
| Side extension | £16,280 – £37,736 | £21,500 – £50,500 | £14,500 – £33,000 |
| Double-storey extension | £50,200 – £90,339 | £67,000 – £121,000 | £44,000 – £79,000 |
| Dormer loft conversion | £34,926 – £60,198 | £47,000 – £81,000 | £30,000 – £52,000 |
| Hip-to-gable loft conversion | £38,367 – £69,303 | £51,500 – £93,000 | £33,000 – £60,000 |
| Mansard loft conversion | £43,772 – £84,375 | £59,000 – £113,000 | £38,000 – £73,000 |
| Garage conversion (integral) | £8,047 – £18,106 | £10,800 – £24,300 | £6,800 – £15,300 |
| Garage conversion (double) | £15,088 – £30,176 | £20,250 – £40,500 | £12,750 – £25,500 |
| Garage conversion (detached) | £18,106 – £35,206 | £24,300 – £47,250 | £15,300 – £29,750 |
Kitchens, Bathrooms & Plumbing
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen budget refit | £4,315 – £12,098 | £5,500 – £16,000 | £4,000 – £11,000 |
| Kitchen renovation (mid-range) | £7,631 – £24,928 | £10,000 – £33,000 | £7,000 – £22,000 |
| Kitchen premium / fitted | £16,280 – £32,560 | £21,500 – £43,000 | £14,500 – £29,000 |
| Bathroom renovation | £3,472 – £14,759 | £5,000 – £20,000 | £3,000 – £13,000 |
| En-suite installation | £3,472 – £13,179 | £5,000 – £18,000 | £3,000 – £11,500 |
| Wet room installation | £4,492 – £22,138 | £6,500 – £30,000 | £4,000 – £19,500 |
| Bathroom fit (plumbing only) | £1,196 – £3,485 | £1,600 – £4,600 | £1,050 – £3,100 |
| Boiler replacement | £1,794 – £3,991 | £2,400 – £5,300 | £1,600 – £3,500 |
| Emergency plumber callout | £119 – £348 | £160 – £460 | £110 – £310 |
Solar, EV & Energy
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panels (PV array) | £4,510 – £8,519 | £5,175 – £9,775 | £4,275 – £8,075 |
| Solar + battery storage | £8,519 – £15,034 | £9,775 – £17,250 | £8,075 – £14,250 |
| Solar thermal (hot water) | £3,508 – £6,515 | £4,025 – £7,475 | £3,325 – £6,175 |
| EV charger (untethered, 7kW) | £704 – £1,106 | £945 – £1,485 | £595 – £935 |
| EV charger (tethered) | £1,207 – £2,212 | £1,620 – £2,970 | £1,020 – £1,870 |
| EV + solar integration | £1,408 – £2,816 | £1,890 – £3,780 | £1,190 – £2,380 |
| Full house rewire | £3,485 – £7,983 | £4,600 – £10,600 | £3,100 – £7,000 |
Roofing, Driveways & Landscaping
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitched roof replacement | £2,472 – £14,759 | £4,000 – £20,000 | £2,000 – £13,000 |
| Flat roof replacement | £1,951 – £12,588 | £3,000 – £17,000 | £1,500 – £11,000 |
| Roof repair | £1,236 – £5,209 | £2,000 – £7,000 | £1,000 – £4,500 |
| Block-paved driveway | £2,160 – £9,763 | £3,000 – £13,000 | £2,000 – £8,000 |
| Resin-bound driveway | £2,741 – £11,801 | £4,000 – £15,500 | £2,500 – £9,500 |
| Tarmac driveway | £1,080 – £5,381 | £1,500 – £7,000 | £1,000 – £4,500 |
| Landscaping (design + install) | £2,998 – £11,956 | £4,000 – £15,800 | £2,600 – £10,600 |
| Patio installation | £1,995 – £6,484 | £2,650 – £8,600 | £1,750 – £5,700 |
| Garden fencing | £702 – £2,492 | £925 – £3,300 | £625 – £2,200 |
Painting, Carpentry & Electrical Smaller Works
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior painting | £1,794 – £4,488 | £2,400 – £5,950 | £1,600 – £3,950 |
| Interior painting (whole house) | £1,499 – £3,485 | £2,000 – £4,600 | £1,300 – £3,100 |
| Wallpapering (per room) | £348 – £846 | £450 – £1,125 | £300 – £750 |
| Fitted wardrobes | £1,794 – £5,978 | £2,400 – £7,900 | £1,600 – £5,300 |
| Bespoke staircase | £1,794 – £5,481 | £2,400 – £7,250 | £1,600 – £4,850 |
| Internal door (fit) | £453 – £1,494 | £600 – £1,975 | £400 – £1,325 |
| Consumer unit (fuse board) | £453 – £897 | £600 – £1,200 | £400 – £800 |
| EV charger install (labour) | £792 – £1,790 | £1,050 – £2,375 | £700 – £1,575 |
Project Logistics (Skips, Scaffolding, Removals)
| Service | UK Average Range | London | Cheapest UK Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skip hire (4-yard) | £97 – £163 | £130 – £220 | £85 – £145 |
| Skip hire (8-yard builders) | £207 – £357 | £280 – £480 | £185 – £320 |
| Skip hire (maxi/12-yard) | £298 – £484 | £400 – £650 | £265 – £430 |
| Scaffolding (one elevation) | £484 – £820 | £650 – £1,100 | £430 – £730 |
| Scaffolding (chimney) | £335 – £669 | £450 – £900 | £300 – £595 |
| Scaffolding (full house) | £893 – £2,084 | £1,200 – £2,800 | £795 – £1,855 |
| Removals (1-bed flat) | £260 – £521 | £350 – £700 | £230 – £465 |
| Removals (3-bed house) | £521 – £1,042 | £700 – £1,400 | £465 – £925 |
| Removals (4+ bed/large) | £968 – £2,234 | £1,300 – £3,000 | £860 – £1,985 |
All ranges sourced from Best Builders 2026 Cost Index · Aggregated from active quote requests across 519 UK towns · See individual town pages for postcode-specific figures.
Five things the 2026 data tells us
London single-storey extension premium
A single-storey rear extension in London averages £33,000–£67,000 vs the UK average £24,928–£50,200 — the steepest regional premium of any service we track.
Average solar + battery installation
Solar PV plus battery storage now averages £8,519–£15,034 nationally in 2026. London adds about 15% — much narrower than building-work premiums because most cost is in equipment, not labour.
Boiler replacement floor (national avg)
A standard combi boiler swap averages £1,794–£3,991 in 2026. Add £200–£800 for system or back-boiler conversions. London adds ~33% (£2,400–£5,300).
Kitchen spread (budget to premium)
Premium fitted kitchens (£16,280–£32,560) cost roughly 3× budget refits (£4,315–£12,098) for the same room footprint — finish and brand drive the gap, not labour.
Loft conversion entry point
Even the cheapest loft conversion type (dormer) starts at £30,000–£52,000 in the lowest-cost UK regions. Mansards reach £113,000+ in London — the highest-ticket category we track.
Typical London premium across services
Median London uplift vs UK average sits at 25–35% for trades-heavy work and 15–20% for equipment-led services (solar, EV chargers). Use this as a quick check when benchmarking quotes.
Our sources for this index
The Best Builders 2026 Cost Index is primarily a first-party dataset. Where we cross-check against secondary sources, we cite:
- Best Builders 2026 Quote-Data Index — primary dataset: active quote requests aggregated across 519 UK towns, refreshed quarterly
- Federation of Master Builders — extension and major-works cost guides
- RICS Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) — quarterly UK construction cost data
- Checkatrade Cost Guides — secondary cross-check for trade rates
- Energy Saving Trust — solar PV, heat pump and EV charger cost guidance
- Planning Portal — regulatory information used in scope definitions
Citing the Best Builders 2026 Cost Index
This dataset is free to cite for editorial, research and journalistic purposes with attribution. Preferred citation: "Best Builders 2026 Cost Index, [Service Name] – [Region], retrieved [date]". For bespoke breakdowns, custom dataset extracts, or interview requests, email editorial@bestbuilders.co.uk.
Editorial standards
All cost ranges are derived from active quote requests in our network and reviewed quarterly. Outliers (top and bottom 5% of quotes per service-region) are excluded before aggregation. Regulatory and methodological information is reviewed against current UK government guidance at each refresh. We do not accept payment for editorial coverage; builder listings are earned through our vetting process, not bought.
Last updated: 23 May 2026 · Next scheduled refresh: 23 August 2026 · Data version: Q2 2026
Benchmark Your Quote Against This Data
This index shows what UK homeowners are actually paying — but your project, town and spec will shift the number. Tell us what you are planning and we will match you with up to 3 vetted local builders for free quotes you can compare against the ranges above.
- ✅ Free, no obligation, no spam
- ✅ Up to 3 quotes from vetted local builders
- ✅ Covers all 51 services in this index