May 28^th, 2025

A garage conversion is a cost-effective way to add extra living space without the hassle of a full extension. But the costs vary depending on the room’s purpose; for instance, converting to a living room or utility room is usually more straightforward, while a new kitchen is more expensive due to plumbing and electrics and the need to install multiple appliances.

 

In this guide, we’ll break down the typical costs of converting your garage and how the total can vary depending on what you’re turning the space into. We’ll look at the cost of converting a garage by region and review average costs per square metre to help you budget accurately.

Garage Conversion Cost Calculations

 

The calculations in this guide assume that the existing structure remains in place, with no additional extensions. In terms of build specification, BuildPartner gives you three broad options to choose from:

• Basic spec is a basic finish; e.g., Leyland, Everest, Wickes.
• Standard spec is a standard finish; e.g., Dulux, Hamilton, Slim Line.
• Premium spec is a high-spec finish; e.g., Farrow & Ball, Fine Line, Siemens.

 

In this article, we’ve provided a breakdown of the cost of converting a garage to a standard specification. In addition, we have provided three different benchmarks to show the range of pricing you can expect among different contractors. These are:

 

• Low benchmark – smaller companies are generally lower cost but less specialised and with low project management function; good for low/mid-spec projects and tight budgets.
• Mid benchmark – medium-sized companies offer a balanced mix of cost-effectiveness and specialisation; good for mid-range projects for effective execution within moderate budgets.
• High benchmark – larger companies generally have a higher cost base but can handle a wide variety of specialist tasks; good for mid/high-spec projects and project management.

 

The costs in this guide are based on converting a double garage measuring 32m².

Cost Of Converting A Garage Into A Living Room

The table below shows the average cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec living room:

Double Garage/Living Room (Standard Spec)	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£10,582	£11,833	£12,987	£331	£370	£406
Greater London	£11,528	£13,313	£14,372	£360	£416	£449
Inner London	£11,828	£13,259	£14,068	£370	£414	£440
Midlands	£10,227	£11,435	£12,551	£320	£357	£392
North England	£10,070	£11,260	£12,359	£315	£352	£386
Northern Ireland	£10,381	£11,203	£12,604	£321	£350	£394
Scotland	£10,492	£11,732	£12,876	£328	£367	£402
South East	£10,489	£11,636	£13,012	£356	£395	£437
South West	£10,378	£11,918	£13,081	£333	£372	£409
Wales	£10,098	£11,291	£12,222	£316	£353	£382
Average	£10,607	£11,888	£13,013	£335	£375	£410

All costs exclude VAT.        

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec living room:

 

• It costs 10% more to convert a garage in Inner London.
• The minimum cost is £10,070, and the maximum cost is £14,372.
• The total average cost is £11,836, or £373 per square metre.

 

The costs in this example do not include those associated with relocating the boiler or hot water cylinders.

 

Start your free trial with BuildPartner to get a bespoke estimate of your construction project within minutes.

 

Cost Of Converting A Garage Into A Kitchen

The table below shows the average cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec kitchen:

 

Double Garage/Kitchen (Standard Spec)	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£24,075	£26,920	£29,546	£752	£841	£923
Greater London	£25,259	£29,313	£31,742	£789	£916	£992
Inner London	£26,175	£29,202	£30,344	£818	£913	£948
Midlands	£23,565	£26,350	£28,921	£736	£823	£904
North England	£23,304	£26,058	£28,600	£728	£814	£894
Northern Ireland	£23,979	£25,923	£29,163	£743	£810	£911
Scotland	£24,196	£27,056	£29,695	£756	£845	£928
South East	£23,164	£25,794	£28,429	£787	£876	£966
South West	£23,743	£27,009	£29,644	£755	£844	£926
Wales	£23,332	£26,089	£27,957	£729	£815	£874
Average	£24,079	£26,971	£29,404	£759	£850	£927

 All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec kitchen:

 

• The minimum cost is £23,164, and the maximum cost is £31,742.
• The total average cost is £26,818, or £845 per square metre.

 

This includes appliances such as an electric hob, extractor fan, oven, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, tumble dryer, washing machine, worktops, and a sink. It doesn’t include costs associated with relocating the boiler or hot water cylinders.
 

Cost Of Converting A Garage Into A Utility Room

The table below shows the average cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec utility room:
 

Double Garage/Utility Room (Standard Spec)	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£12,199	£13,641	£14,972	£381	£426	£468
Greater London	£13,087	£15,170	£16,315	£409	£474	£510
Inner London	£13,487	£15,091	£15,923	£421	£472	£498
Midlands	£11,808	£13,203	£14,491	£369	£413	£453
North England	£11,621	£12,994	£14,262	£363	£406	£446
Northern Ireland	£11,388	£12,734	£13,977	£356	£398	£437
Scotland	£12,179	£13,619	£14,947	£381	£426	£467
South East	£11,965	£13,276	£14,844	£374	£415	£464
South West	£11,956	£13,697	£15,033	£374	£428	£470
Wales	£11,663	£13,042	£14,074	£364	£408	£440
Average	£12,135	£13,647	£14,884	£379	£426	£465

 All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of converting a double garage into a standard-spec utility room:

 

• The minimum cost is £11,388, and the maximum cost is £16,315.
• The total average cost is £13,555, or £424 per square metre.

 

This includes worktops, a sink, a tumble dryer, and a washing machine. It doesn’t include costs associated with relocating the boiler or hot water cylinders.

Average Cost Of Converting A Garage

So, how much does it cost to convert a garage in the UK? Based on the three types of garage conversions covered in this article, it costs on average (when using a mid-benchmark contractor):

• Double Garage to a Living Room: £11,888, or £375 per square metre.
• Double Garage to a Utility Room: £13,647, or £426 per square metre.
• Double Garage to a Kitchen: £26,971, or £850 per square metre.

If you’re converting a single garage, simply use the cost per square metre outlined for double garages and adjust based on the size of your space to get a ballpark figure.

Start your free trial with BuildPartner to get a bespoke estimate of your construction project within minutes.

Please remember that all costs exclude VAT.
 

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Conversions

Explore answers to frequently asked questions about garage conversions.

Will a garage conversion add value to my home?

A garage conversion can increase a property’s value, sometimes by 10–20%, particularly if it creates additional living space such as a bedroom or office. Due to the rise of working from home, many buyers are now looking for exclusive office space.

In areas where off-street parking is limited, some buyers appreciate the security a garage offers. But if the property already has a driveway, the garage may surplus to requirements.

So a conversion can make far better use of the existing space, turning what might otherwise become a dumping ground for old boxes into a functional room.

Do I need building regulations approval for a garage conversion?

Building control must inspect and sign off on the project, which is usually handled by your local authority to ensure that the work meets safety and structural standards.

To convert a garage into living space, you don’t need planning permission as long as the work is internal and doesn’t involve enlarging the structure.

What types of rooms can a garage be converted into?

You can turn a garage into all sorts of useful spaces, depending on what you need. Popular choices include an extra bedroom, home office, playroom, gym, utility room, living room, or even a kitchen or bathroom.

Some options are pretty straightforward, like a bedroom or office, but if you plan to put in a kitchen or bathroom, the costs will be higher, since you’ll need to factor in the cost of plumbing, electrical work, and appliances.