Update 2022: The cost of major improvements in the UK has soared during the last 18 months with some materials now being sold at 80% more than they were pre-pandemic. The loft conversion prices on this page were updated in 2022 but due to pricing volatility, they are subject to change at any time. If you would like a custom quote, fill out this form with details of your project.
Most lofts in the UK are wasted space; the roof structure is there, the floor is there, the walls are there but the area is empty or at best, used for storing a few boxes.
A loft conversion has historically been seen as an “easy win”. If you could afford to convert the space, your home’s value would usually go by enough to cover the cost of the project.
But in 2022 is that still the case?
Yes, it is.
While the cost of major home improvement projects has skyrocketed, so have house prices.
On This Page You’ll Discover:
- 1 – A poll – we are conducting research
- 2 – Our loft conversion price list for 2022
- 3 – What’s included in the loft conversion prices?
- 4 – Is your loft suitable for converting?
- 5 – How much others are paying for loft conversions
- 6 – How long it takes to convert a loft
- 7 – Inspiration and ideas
- 8 – Get a quote online
Answer Our Poll (optional)
The question below is entirely optional but we would like to know your answer as we are conducting research into loft conversion prices and how much people think they cost.
It’s free and no signup is required but answer it and you can see how others voted:
In a Hurry?
This is how much loft conversions currently cost in the UK.
The cost is substantially higher than it was pre-pandemic due to a number of factors.
We’ve included prices for the most common types of loft conversion:
Velux-style loft conversion:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Single room, roof windows but no dormer | £32,000 |
| Single room, roof windows but no dormer + ensuite | £36,000 |
| Double room, roof windows but no dormer | £35,000 |
| Double room, roof windows but no dormer +ensuite | £39,000 |
| Get a Custom Price Here | Get a Custom Price Here |
Velux window to the front and dormer construction to the rear:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Single room, roof windows to front and dormer to rear | £38,000 |
| Single room, roof windows to rear and dormer to rear + ensuite | £43,000 |
| Double room, roof windows to front and dormer to rear | £42,000 |
| Double room, roof windows to front and dormer to rear +ensuite | £47,000 |
| Want a Custom Price? | Fill in This Form |
Less popular and far more difficult to estimate are hip-to-gable and mansard loft conversions:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Mansard loft conversion | £52,500 - £62,500 |
| Hip to gable conversion | £50,000 - £60,000 |
| Want a Custom Price? | Fill in This Form |
What’s Included in the Loft Conversion Prices?
The prices above include the following:
- Building control fees
- Scaffolding/access equipment
- Timber work including floorboards
- Insulation
- Plasterboards
- Dormer construction (if specified)
- Roofing felt, leadwork, tiles and vents
- Windows/roof windows
- Staircase construction and installation
- Electrics, sockets and switches
- Plumbing for hot and cold water for radiators and a shower/bathroom if specified
- En suite items and installation (if specified)
- Wall tiles, papering and flooring
- Doors and trims
- Sealants and finishing off
- Painting/decorating
They don’t include these items which aren’t always needed:
- Architect or structural engineer fees
- Party wall agreement fees
- Blinds or curtains
Can Your Loft Be Converted?
We can sum this section up in one word: Headroom.
If your loft doesn’t have enough headroom then the roof will need to be raised or in some cases, the floor below lowered. The cost for these types of conversions is not covered by our price guide.
For more complex loft conversions such as these, you will almost certainly need planning permission and a customised price after a full survey.
About 75% of all loft conversions are covered by “permitted development” rules which allow for work without going down the arduous planning permission route.
Measure the Headroom Yourself
If you haven’t done so already, measure the space between the bottom of the ridge timber in the centre of the loft ceiling and the top of the loft floor joist.
The bare minimum for a conversion constructed with a dormer should be 2.3 metres and ideally more.
For a loft without dormers, just roof windows, you really need 2.5 metres as a minimum.
The Homeowners Alliance has more detailed information about lofts that are suitable for conversion.
See What Others Are Being Quoted For a Loft Conversion
In this table we show you how much others are paying for loft conversions, some of the entries may be outdated by now.
| Name: | Desc: | Price: |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe (S Wales) | Velux loft conversion, one radiator and staircase (2022) | £21,000 |
| Paul Foley (Liverpool) | double bedroom and ensuite shower, loo and sink (2021) | £28500 |
| P Jones (Hants) | Basic loft conversion with 2 large roof velux windows, no en-suite, just the double room and staircase. (2020) | £25,000 |
| Jane Clark (Hertfordshire) | 1 bedroom with 2 Velux windows, no ensuite or dormer. Truss roof. Additional stud work to open plan living room downstairs to create protected stairway. Price quoted excludes fees, planning permission (required), building regs, decoration and carpeting. Also had to pay for change to combi boiler (cost excluded). (2019) | £35000 |
| Simone Reilly (Richmond) | My husband and I converted the loft of our previous house in Richmond. We had an extra bedroom with en suite and some additional work downstairs which included moving a water tank. (2017) | £33000 |
| Paul Heseltine (Kettering) | I recently purchased a house where the third bedroom is little more than a cupboard, the best price I have been so far for a loft conversion with an en suite is £31,000 (2017) | £31,000 |
| John (Kensington) | Double bedroom with shower room, we need to raise the height of the existing roof so planning permission is required. Partial re-slating of the roof is also needed. We've received two prices so far that are far higher than the figures suggested on your site, most likely due to the extra work we need. (2017) | £64,000 and £59,000 |
| Michael Eddington (N Wales) | 1 bed loft convert with 4 roof windows. (2017) | £27,000 inc VAT |
You can add your own prices and details via the form on this page.
Expect the Loft to Cost More if:
We’ve made some assumptions when publishing our loft conversion price guide and as no two projects are ever the same, you can expect to pay more if:
- Your roof is a slate roof as these cost more to convert than roofs made from concrete tiles.
- Your property is a townhouse as extra scaffold will be needed.
- You want other parts of the property redesigned. For example; constructing new partition walls, completely redesigning the layout of the floor below or relocating water tanks or boiler etc to make room for a staircase.
- You need a new consumer unit because the existing one is really old.
- The property needs a new more powerful boiler to cope with the extra radiators.
The Two Most Common Types of Loft Conversion
- A loft constructed without dormers and only roof windows within the constraints of the existing building.
- A loft with a rear aspect dormer and front aspect roof windows.
These sites are worth exploring if you need more information about loft styles and options:
Up Another Level’s guide to loft conversion styles
Harvey Norman Architect’s in-depth guide to loft conversions is a great read too
Our Beginners Guide to Loft Conversions is also a great read
How Long Does it Take to Convert a Loft?
This depends on the size of the project but 6-9 weeks is a good estimate.
Don’t forget that different trades, such as roofers, electricians, plumbers and plasterers will need to come at different times and there’s almost always a slight delay between each part of the project.
Our week-by-week guide goes into more detail.
Week 1 – Scaffold erected, materials delivered to site and roof opening made.
Week 2 – Change the structure of the roof and add extra supports if required, construct the dormer and begin internal work.
Week 3 – Complete dormer construction and most of the external work including insulation. Begin plumbing and electrical work.
Week 4 – Install windows, vents, floor and plaster-boarding.
Week 5 to 7 – Bathroom installation, staircase installation, finish electrics and plumbing, door hanging, trims and skirting.
Week 8 to 9 – Decoration and finishing off work. Lower scaffold/access equipment.
Get Ideas and Inspiration
As regular visitors to our site will attest, we are huge fans of Pinterest.
If you are in need of some inspiration for your loft or just looking at ideas and options, go check out the many thousands of images you’ll find on Pinterest.
You could start with these 25+ loft conversion ideas on Pinterest.
Get a Quote Online
We have done our best to research the cost of a loft conversion but our prices are guides and nothing more.
To get a firm, fixed quote in writing, tap the link below to see how we can help:
More:
We suggest you explore the following websites for official guidance regarding loft conversions:
We feel these websites are worth exploring if you are planning a loft conversion:
When we first published this page in 2017, we found a loft conversion business claiming that they could convert a loft for £18,000. We feel that this price is not realistic for a complete loft conversion but could apply to the structural aspect of a small conversion.
Some homeowners use a professional firm to carry out the structural work and then complete the remaining work either themselves or by arranging for other tradespeople to do it.
We can only conclude that a price of £18000 is for this type of conversion.
With recent inflation, consumers should aim to get at least three quotes for their loft conversion project.
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.
