The UK Home Improvement Cost Report 2026
What home improvements really cost across the UK in 2026, taken from Costwise's independent price guides for 51 of the most-searched jobs. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this report with a link to https://costwiseuk.co.uk.
Key statistics
- According to Costwise, reviewed June 2026, the most expensive UK home improvement is a loft conversion, at about £45,000.
- Costwise data (2026) puts the cost of fully renovating a typical UK three-bed home at about £35,650 before decorating.
- Costwise figures (2026) show London homeowners pay about 30% more than the UK average for the same jobs, and about 41% more than the cheapest regions.
- A new UK extension costs about £2,000 to £3,200 per square metre before the fit-out inside (Costwise, reviewed June 2026).
- A new UK driveway costs about £35 to £130 per square metre depending on the surface (Costwise, reviewed June 2026).
Key findings for 2026
- The most expensive whole project is a loft conversion, typically £45,000 supplied and fitted.
- The cheapest whole-project job in the index is a loft insulation, around £900.
- A new driveway runs from about £35 to £130 per m² depending on the surface, with gravel and tarmac at the low end and block paving or imprinted concrete at the top.
- An extension is priced by floor area at roughly £2,000 to £3,200 per m², before the kitchen or bathroom fit-out inside.
- Location matters: London homeowners pay around 30% more than the UK average, and about 41% more than the cheapest regions (the North, Scotland and Wales).
- Fully refreshing a typical three-bed home, a new kitchen, bathroom, rewire, boiler, windows and driveway, comes to about £35,650 before decorating.
The cost of renovating a whole home
A realistic 2026 bill for a typical three-bed, using our guide prices:
| New kitchen | £12,000 |
| Bathroom renovation | £8,000 |
| Full house rewire | £5,500 |
| New boiler | £3,000 |
| Double glazing, 9 windows | £4,950 |
| Resin driveway, 40 m² | £2,200 |
| Total, before decorating | £35,650 |
A guide total, not a quote. It assumes nine windows and a 40 m² driveway, and excludes decorating, flooring and structural work. Change the figures for your own home in the cost calculator.
What you pay by region
Materials cost much the same everywhere, but labour does not. Against the UK average, London adds around 30% and the South East and South West around 15%, while the North, Scotland and Wales sit a little below average. The same job can therefore vary by 41% or more depending on the postcode.
Cost per square metre
- Driveways: £35 to £130 per m², with gravel and tarmac cheapest and block paving or imprinted concrete dearest.
- Extensions: £2,000 to £3,200 per m², before the fit-out inside.
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. These are independent Costwise guide prices, reviewed June 2026. Free to cite with a link to https://costwiseuk.co.uk. For the full job-by-job figures, see the cost index.