Cladding vs render: which costs less?
Rendering and cladding cost about the same to do: render is roughly £40 to £65 per m² and cladding £40 to £90 per m². Render gives a smooth, painted finish and is usually the cheaper choice for a plain look, while cladding gives a timber or board appearance, is fitted dry so it is less weather-dependent, and can add insulation. The better value depends on the finish you want rather than a big price gap.
House cladding vs House rendering: the cost
| Option | Range | Typical | Priced |
|---|---|---|---|
| House cladding | £40 to £90 | £60 | per m² |
| House rendering | £40 to £100 | £65 | per m² |
Costwise guide prices, reviewed June 2026, not quotes.
House cladding vs House rendering: the difference
| Factor | How they compare |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Render about £40 to £65 per m²; cladding £40 to £90 per m² depending on the material. |
| Finish | Render is a smooth, painted surface; cladding gives a timber, composite or board look. |
| Fitting | Render is a wet trade needing dry weather to cure; cladding is fitted dry and can go up in most conditions. |
| Best for | Render: cheapest plain, seamless finish. Cladding: a board look, quicker dry fitting, and easy to add insulation behind. |
Common questions
They overlap, so it comes down to the finish. Render at £40 to £65 per m² is usually a little cheaper for a plain painted look, while cladding at £40 to £90 per m² buys a timber or board appearance. Neither is dramatically cheaper than the other, so choose on the look and maintenance you want.
Both can be fitted over an insulation layer, but cladding on battens leaves a natural cavity that makes adding insulation behind it straightforward. If warmth is the main goal, look at external wall insulation as the system, finished with either render or cladding as the outer skin.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.