How much does a conservatory cost in the UK?
A conservatory costs £14,000 on average in the UK. Most jobs fall between £5,000 and £35,000 installed. Footprint and style: Up to 3m x 2m lean-to £5,000 to £8,000; 3m x 3m lean-to £8,000 to £12,000; 4m x 3m or 3m x 4m Victorian or Edwardian £10,000 to £15,000. Prices reviewed September 2026.
A conservatory is priced by its size and style, then by the roof you choose. A small lean-to is the cheapest way in, and a tiled or solid roof adds the most.
Conservatory cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your conservatory in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
To price the whole job, use the conservatory cost calculator or conservatory roof replacement cost calculator.
Conservatory cost breakdown
Typical conservatory costs, by option:
| Style and size | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Lean-to / small | £5,000 to £12,000 |
| Victorian / Edwardian | £10,000 to £20,000 |
| Orangery / large | £20,000 to £35,000 |
| + Solid / tiled roof instead of glass | add £5,000 to £9,000 |
Conservatory cost by footprint and style
Conservatories are quoted by footprint first and style second. These are supplied-and-fitted uPVC prices including the base and dwarf walls, with a glass roof unless the row says otherwise. Polycarbonate sits at the bottom of each band and a solid or tiled roof adds £5,000 to £9,000 on top.
| Footprint and style | Cost installed, uPVC, glass roof unless stated | What that buys |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3m x 2m lean-to, polycarbonate roof, on an existing base | £5,000 to £8,000 | The cheapest way in: glazed to the floor, no dwarf wall, no new base |
| 3m x 3m lean-to (9 m²) | £8,000 to £12,000 | The size most quotes are for, with dwarf walls and a new base |
| 4m x 3m or 3m x 4m Victorian or Edwardian (12 m²) | £10,000 to £15,000 | The same footprint either way round; only the roof line and door position change |
| 4m x 4m Victorian or Edwardian (16 m²) | £10,500 to £19,000 | A square footprint suits a Victorian bay end |
| 5m x 3m Victorian or Edwardian (15 m²) | £10,000 to £17,000 | Long and narrow along a rear wall, often with two sets of doors |
| 6m x 4m Edwardian (24 m²) | £14,000 to £20,000 | Room-sized; above this, or with a solid roof, most firms quote it as an orangery |
| Orangery, 12 to 20 m² | £20,000 to £35,000 | Brick piers and a flat roof with a lantern rather than a glazed pitch |
Supplied and fitted, installed, uPVC, glass roof unless stated. UK guide prices reviewed September 2026, not quotes.
What's included in the price?
Typical conservatory prices include:
- The frames, glazing and roof
- Base and dwarf walls
- Doors and standard glazing
- Fitting and building control where it applies
What changes the price?
The things that move conservatory prices most:
Floor size and the style: lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian or orangery
Glass roof versus a solid or tiled roof
Dwarf walls and the amount of groundwork
Frame material and glazing spec
How the price is built up
Most of what you pay covers the base and dwarf walls, the frames and glazing, the roof and the fitting labour, so a like-for-like quote can swing by several thousand pounds depending on those choices alone. A small uPVC lean-to or Edwardian build on a dwarf wall often starts nearer £7,000 to £9,000, while a typical mid-range conservatory lands around £14,000 once a decent roof and groundwork are included. The jump towards £25,000 to £35,000 usually comes from a larger footprint, a solid or tiled roof in place of glass, aluminium frames, or a sloping site that needs extra groundwork before building can start. Materials (frames, glazing, roof and the dwarf wall) make up the larger share, with labour for groundwork, building the base and fitting usually working out at roughly a third to 40 per cent of the total.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Choose a standard size and shape (lean-to or Edwardian) over a bespoke design, as off-the-shelf templates are cheaper to make and fit.
- Stick with a glass roof rather than a solid or tiled one if budget is tight, as glass keeps you nearer the lower end while a tiled roof can add several thousand.
- Use uPVC frames instead of aluminium or timber unless you have a specific reason, as uPVC is the most affordable option and still performs well.
- Get three quotes from local fitters and check each is itemised for the base, frames, glazing and roof separately, so you can compare like for like and spot padding.
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a conservatory typically costs around £17,000 installed, about 20% above the UK average of £14,000. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £13,500.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £5,000 | £14,000 | £35,000 |
| London | £6,000 | £17,000 | £42,000 |
| South East / South West | £5,300 | £14,500 | £37,000 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
Guide prices installed, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Conservatory cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £4,800 | £13,500 | £33,500 |
| Birmingham | £5,000 | £14,000 | £35,000 |
| Bristol | £5,300 | £14,500 | £37,000 |
| Cardiff | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Edinburgh | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Glasgow | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Leeds | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Liverpool | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| London | £6,000 | £17,000 | £42,000 |
| Manchester | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Newcastle | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
| Sheffield | £4,900 | £13,500 | £34,000 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for conservatory, not quotes.
Most of the regional difference is in the labour and groundwork rather than the frames and glass.
Compare this with a real quote
The figures above are guide prices. Two or three quotes for your conservatory tell you what it costs where you live.
Common questions
How much is a small conservatory?
A small lean-to is the cheapest way in, from about £5,000 installed. That £5,000 end means a compact footprint on an existing level base, glazed to the floor rather than built on a dwarf wall, and a polycarbonate roof. A 3 by 3 metre build with dwarf walls, a new base and a glass roof is £8,000 to £12,000. A solid or tiled roof adds £5,000 to £9,000.
Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?
Most conservatories are permitted development within size and height limits, but larger ones, those on the front of a house, and homes in conservation areas may need planning permission.
Is an orangery more expensive than a conservatory?
Yes. An orangery has more brickwork and usually a flat or lantern roof, so it costs more than a glazed conservatory of the same size, often £20,000 and up.
How much does a uPVC conservatory cost compared to aluminium?
A standard uPVC conservatory is the most affordable mainstream option, with dwarf-wall builds often starting around £7,000 to £9,000 and a typical mid-range build near £14,000 installed. Aluminium frames are slimmer and more rigid but cost more, commonly adding several thousand pounds and pushing a comparable build towards £18,000 to £25,000 or beyond. Timber sits at the top end. For most homeowners uPVC offers the lowest price for similar insulation, so the gap only narrows if you specifically want aluminium's thinner sightlines.
Does a solid or tiled roof add much to the cost of a conservatory?
A solid or tiled roof is one of the bigger price drivers, typically costing more per square metre than glass and adding several thousand pounds over a glazed equivalent. On a new build this can lift a conservatory from the typical £14,000 towards £20,000 to £25,000, depending on size. The trade-off is a room that holds heat better and stays usable year-round, and it usually needs Building Regulations sign-off because of the extra structural weight on the frames.
How much does the dwarf wall and groundwork add to a conservatory?
The base, dwarf walls and any groundwork are a significant slice of the total, generally costing a few thousand pounds before the frames and roof go on. A flat, straightforward site keeps this modest, but a sloping garden, soft ground, or the need to divert drains can add noticeably more. Dwarf walls (low brick walls under the glazing) cost more than fully glazed sides but improve insulation and looks, which is why they feature in most builds landing around the £14,000 typical figure rather than the £5,000 lower end.
How much is a 3m x 3m conservatory?
A 3m x 3m conservatory (9 square metres) costs about £8,000 to £12,000 installed as a lean-to in uPVC with a glass roof, which is how this size is usually built. Polycarbonate instead of glass sits nearer the bottom of that, and fitting it on an existing level base keeps the price down. An Edwardian or Victorian shape, a solid roof, or groundwork on a sloping site push it higher, and London and the South East cost more than these UK-average figures.
Can I build a conservatory myself?
You can take on parts, but it is a big job. Labour for the groundwork, base and fitting is roughly a third to 40 per cent of the total, so laying the base yourself saves a share of a £5,000 to £35,000 build. The frames and glazing usually come as a kit that suits self-assembly. The base and levels are the hard part, and a poor base causes leaks, so only attempt it if you are confident with groundwork.
How long does a conservatory last?
A well-built uPVC conservatory structure lasts around 20 to 30 years, and often longer with sensible maintenance. The part that dates and fails first is nearly always the roof rather than the frame or the base: polycarbonate is good for roughly 10 to 15 years before it discolours and stops controlling temperature, and glass sealed units are usually quoted at 20 to 25. That matters for budgeting, because it means the realistic sequence is one conservatory and one or two roof replacements over its life, rather than replacing the whole thing. If you expect to be in the house long term, specifying a solid insulated roof from the start avoids paying for the roof twice.
Does a conservatory add value to your home?
Sometimes, but rarely pound for pound. A well-built conservatory can help a sale by adding usable space, yet buyers often value it below the £5,000 to £35,000 it cost, and a cheap or dated one can even put people off. It adds most when it is warm year-round and fits the house. Build it for the extra room you will use rather than as an investment.
How much does a 4m x 3m conservatory cost?
A 4m x 3m conservatory costs £10,000 to £15,000 installed as a Victorian or Edwardian in uPVC with a glass roof, including the base and dwarf walls. The same 12 square metres as a lean-to is cheaper, from around £8,000 with a polycarbonate roof, and a solid or tiled roof adds £5,000 to £9,000 whichever style you choose. A 4m x 3m and a 3m x 4m are the same footprint and the same price; only the roof line and where the doors go change.
How much does a 5m x 3m conservatory cost?
A 5m x 3m conservatory costs £10,000 to £17,000 installed as a Victorian or Edwardian in uPVC with a glass roof, for 15 square metres including the base and dwarf walls. The long, narrow shape runs along a rear wall and often takes two sets of doors, which is part of what moves the price inside that band. A solid or tiled roof adds £5,000 to £9,000, and at this size it is worth pricing, because a glass roof over 15 square metres is a lot of glass to heat and cool.
Official guidance and sources
The rules and schemes referenced on this page come from these official UK sources. The price figures are Costwise's own; see how we price.
- Planning permission: common projects Planning Portal · A conservatory is often permitted development within limits and may be exempt from building regs.
- When you need planning permission GOV.UK · When a conservatory needs planning permission.
Cite this data
These figures are free to use in articles, reports and research under a CC BY 4.0 licence. All we ask is a credit to Costwise, and online a link. Where your style allows, please make "Costwise" the linked word so readers can check the figure for their own region.
Costwise (2026): A conservatory typically costs £14,000 in the UK, ranging from £5,000 to £35,000 installed. Reviewed September 2026. costwiseuk.co.ukSource: Costwise (costwiseuk.co.uk)Costwise (2026). Conservatory cost. Costwise UK cost data, version 2026-09-28. https://costwiseuk.co.uk/conservatory-cost/2026-09-28 (156 jobs)Dataset DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21159943 · also on Kaggle, Hugging Face and Figshare. Method: how we price. Downloadable CSV.
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.