Update for 2022: As has been widely reported in the media and confirmed by us, the cost of materials, labour and most home improvement projects have skyrocketed over the last 18 months. The conservatory installation prices on this page were updated in 2022 but if you would like a custom price, please fill in this form with details of your project.

An Overview of Costs

The table below displays prices for popular conservatories and includes materials, labour and VAT for a basic build:

These prices include: Foundations, dwarf wall construction, erecting the conservatory, 1 x power socket and 1 x light, waste removal.

These prices exclude: The figures above do not include opening the wall into the existing property, nor do they include the cost of deep ground excavations or other non-standard building work. They also exclude landscaping and garden remodelling costs.

Extra Conservatory Costs to Consider

No two conservatory builds are ever the same and in addition to the cost of the main build, there are additional costs to consider:

Radiators

One of the biggest complaints conservatory owners have is that their new space is far too cold in the winter and just isn’t practical during the cold months.

Running some pipework and installing a radiator or two will add a few hundred pounds to the build, but only if your existing boiler can cope with the extra load, overwise a boiler upgrade may add another £1750 or so.

Air conditioning

Whether you choose glass, plastic or even tiles for your roof, a conservatory will get hot during the summer. Thermally reflective glass can help but it’s costly and we’d still recommend an air conditioning unit.

At the lower end are free-standing units that cost around £350 while for a larger conservatory, expect to pay £1300 and upwards for a fully fitted wall-mounted system.

Also, consider a ceiling fan which can help to circulate the air in the room.

This page contains prices for home air conditioning.

Blinds

Depending on the size of your conservatory and your preferences, you could end up paying more for window and ceiling blinds than any other item in the entire conservatory.

We can’t suggest a guide price without knowing more details about the customer’s choice, conservatory shape and size etc.

Don’t be surprised if the cost of blinds runs into the thousands, especially if you want ceiling blinds that will almost certainly need to be custom made.

This page is all about conservatory blind prices in the UK.

Flooring

This can be as cheap or expensive as you want as the choices are limitless. Most homeowners tend to avoid carpets (see carpet fitter’s rates here) and go with either tiles or wooden flooring (wooden flooring prices are here).

Lighting

Most conservatory installers will include the cost of basic lighting, usually in the centre of the ceiling. Do consider having floor or wall lights to create a softer ambience.

Lighting can really make or break a conservatory that is used in the evening, so a little thought, planning and creativeness can reap rewards.

Bifolding Doors

Photo sourced from: Hazlemere Group

These types of doors have become very popular in recent years and what was once seen as a premium product for the rich and wealthy are now much more affordable.

There are two places to install these doors; between the house and the conservatory and between the conservatory and the garden.

Unfortunately, these doors do take up some space so you may wish to consider a sliding door or a space-saving bifolding door.

Prices vary as they depend on the size, type and style of the conservatory. We have a bifolding door price guide for standard installations.

Remodelling the garden

This cost is often overlooked by homeowners when budgeting for a conservatory. Any patios, decking, flower beds, lawns and paths may need to either be constructed or if they already exist, be altered to accommodate the conservatory.

For garden projects, go check out our recently updated price list page for guide prices

Conservatory Styles and Your Options

Below are the most popular styles seen in the United Kingdom.

This list isn’t exhaustive as conservatories can be custom made to match almost any desired shape or size.

These are just the most commonly seen styles and profiles:

The Lean-To

Woodgrain effect lean-to style.

Lean-To conservatories are the cheapest to purchase and install.

That doesn’t mean that this style is at the low end of the quality scale. Even a small lean-to can be made to feel like a premium installation with good quality doors, a decent sturdy roof and attention to detail with the type and quality of the finishing touches.

Victorian

Victorian style with white frames.

This style is the most popular in the UK and also the most versatile.

The conservatory usually has between 5 and 7 sides and the door can be located on any facet.

Also, this style sits well alongside older period properties.

Edwardian Style

Georgian/Edwardian style.

This conservatory is similar in price and design to the Victorian variant.

The roof on an Edwardian conservatory maximises the amount of light that can enter the room. Up to four large roof facets ensure that whatever time of the day it is, you’ll be getting the best light into your conservatory.

The Gable Conservatory

Gable style.

This is my favourite type of conservatory style.

But it does come at a premium.

The front of the design has a gable (apex) which blends in perfectly with the angled rooflines on most houses.

This design is best suited to larger houses with a high roofline and where the homeowner wants to match elegance with open space.

“P” and “T” Shapes

“P” style.

These types of conservatory often incorporate a gable/apex along with extra internal space.

They are best suited to houses that have long straight walls in the garden.

The size of these buildings means you really can maximise the floor space by creating two separate living areas inside the same frame.

Do Conservatories Require Planning Permission?

The good news is that with the recent housing crisis in the UK, the government has taken steps to streamline the planning permission process.

For most loft extensions, some rear extensions and almost all conservatories, you won’t need to obtain planning permission for the work.

Such projects are deemed to be “permitted developments” provided that:

• the structure is not higher than the original building and not higher than 4 metres
• no more than 50% of the original land is occupied by extensions and other buildings
• must not project more than 3 metres (attached house) and 4 metres (detached house) past the rear wall
• special conditions regarding builds to the side or front of dwellings fronting a highway
• no raised platforms, verandas or balconies

The list above isn’t exhaustive and there are other conditions, should you wish to construct a conservatory under “permitted planning” rules and avoid the regular planning permission route.

Most of the conditions are related to the size and location of the structure but you can see a full list of the requirements on the Planning Portal website – a site we recommend for anyone considering an extension or conversion of any kind:

Planning Portal website

Timescale: How Long Does it Take to Build a Conservatory?

According to the Quotation Check website, there are several steps to consider:

• site survey and measure up – 1-3 hours
• planning application approval (if you’re not going down the permitted development route) – up to 4 weeks
• waiting for the manufacturer to build the structure in their warehouse – 3 weeks to 2 months
• groundwork, including dig out, laying foundations and brick wall construction – 2 – 3 days for an average size conservatory
• installation of conservatory including walls, doors and roof – 1-1.5 days
• electrics, plastering, flooring, blinds, knocking through a wall etc will all add extra time to the project as the work will be done by different trades at different times – 1-3 days

Once all the preparation work is done, the conservatory build could be fully completed in as little as a week, assuming that the project is managed efficiently and tradespeople arrive on time.

What About House Value? Will it Increase?

The consensus is that yes, the value of a typical house will increase if a conservatory is added.

However, there are some caveats:

If the build takes up too much space in a small garden then it could be less appealing to buyers. Also, conservatories with cheap plastic roof panels are the least desirable as they look low-budget and don’t let in as much light.

According to this article in the Telegraph newspaper:

These glass houses are becoming cool again – so long as they are actually made of glass. Conservatories built on the cheap with uPVC can actually deter buyers, and can feel very dated.

and This is Money state:

Remember that gardens also add significant value, so strike a balance between adding the extra room and minimising outdoor space. The idea is to have a conservatory or orangery which acts as a segue between indoors and outdoors.

Constructed to a good standard, you can expect a conservatory to add around 5% to the value of the property.

The Glass Vs Plastic Debate

It’s not much of a debate anymore, the facts speak for themselves:

All white plastic, including frames and roof panels: The cheapest option and the least desirable

Plastic white frames with glass panels: Popular and a good option if the white plastic frame matches the window frames

Plastic woodgrain effect coloured frames and glass panels: More desirable and a very good option if you have brown window frames

Timber or aluminium frame with glass panels: Very desirable and will certainly add value to the property but costs the most

The roof panels are the key area, even with a plastic frame, the conservatory will look much more desirable with glass panels.

The Double Glazing Blogger is a great website with a wealth of insightful tips and advice, below are just two pages worth exploring:

Surely the plastic Polycarbonate roof is dead?

Which conservatory roof glass is best?

Have You Considered a Tiled Roof?

Tiled Roof. Image sourced from Everest

Conservatory roofs are usually made from either plastic or glass but many people feel that this results in a room that either too hot, too cold or too bright.

One option that is becoming very popular is to replace that material with a tiled roof and optional Velux windows.

The result is a bright and airy space that feels more like part of the house rather than a bolted-on structure.

The photo above is just one option and as you can see from the windows, there is plenty of light entering the room, but the build doesn’t look like a conservatory.

The price for a tiled roof will vary from installer to installer, it won’t be cheap but neither is glass. So swapping thermal reflective glass for a tiled roof is a viable option.

Where Did The Conservatory Prices Come From?

We contacted 6 conservatory installers in 2022 and provided them with details of our proposed conservatory build and asked them to provide us with prices.

We then calculated an average figure.

We made some minor adjustments to the conservatory sizes as each business published slightly different size charts.

We are not responsible for any errors by others and these prices are not in any way an offer, contract or binding agreement.

Conclusion and a Warning About Salespeople

We know from experience that conservatory prices vary from supplier to supplier and are also based on your locations and the build specifics.

• The type, size, style, colour and finish you choose.
• How much you spend on extras such as blinds, lighting, heating and air conditioning.
• Where you live – Residents of London and the South typically experience far higher prices.
• The type of company you choose to do this work – smaller local firms are generally more affordable than the big national companies.

Salespeople in the double glazing and conservatory industry typically earn a basic wage even if they don’t sell any products. When they do sell, they earn between 10% and 15% commission.

Here’s a quote from a former double-glazing salesman:

In the mid 1990’s I was on £40,000 pa commission only. As a manager my over ride gained me another £10k or so. I would say the top managers with the best team could be on £100,000 but it would be one or two, certainly not the norm. Maximum commission in my day was 17.5% for a self generated sale and 10% for company generated. This reduced the further through the discount structure you went. 20% discount would equate to halving your commission.

Some businesses don’t employ any commission-based sales staff at all, to keep their costs down. Instead, they send paid employees and installers to answer any questions the customer may have and take all the necessary measurements.

For more information about sales staff commission rates and tradespeople earnings, go explore our insightful salary checker page.

Get Ideas and Inspiration

As regular visitors to our site will know, we absolutely love Pinterest and feel it’s one of the best places on the web to get ideas and inspiration for almost any home or garden project.

So before you plough ahead with your conservatory project, go check out these image collections from around the world:

Pinterest – 25+ conservatory ideas

Pinterest – conservatory interior ideas and inspiration

Get a Conservatory Price Online

Let us help you get a great price for your dream conservatory.

Hit the link below and fill out the form with details of your project and you’ll be able to compare prices for a new conservatory:

This guide was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.

Don’t forget; we have price guides for hundreds of home improvement projects.

Explore our full list of detailed price guides here.