September 30, 2024

If you’re looking to add some extra space and value to your property, a conservatory is often cheaper than building an extension. But how much does it cost to build a conservatory in the UK?

In this article, we’ve covered the costs of building three types of conservatories across multiple regions in the UK, and we’ve also provided a breakdown of the construction costs by stage as well as the costs per square metre.

Start your free trial with BuildPartner today to get the most accurate estimate of building a conservatory based on your own dimensions and specifications.

Conservatory Cost Considerations 

Our calculations are based on a 4 x 3m conservatory (12m2). The three main types of conservatory covered in this article include:

• Conservatory with a reinforced glass roof.
• Conservatory with slate roof tiles – including roof structure, insulation, plasterboard, decoration, light fittings, etc.
• Orangery with glass roof – including brick wall, cavity insulation, plasterboard, decoration, etc.

The costs do not include additional heating, such as radiators or underfloor heating.

Build Specifications and Supplier Benchmarks 

In terms of build specification, our BuildPartner pricing tool gives you three options (which can be revised by item at a later point):

• 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.

For this particular cost breakdown, we have selected standard spec. In addition, for each specification, we’ve provided a range of prices to reflect the varying types of contractors:

• 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.

 

Cost Of Building A Glass Roof Conservatory

Here’s a table showing the average cost of building a conservatory for a standard-spec project in the UK:

Conservatory – Structural Glass Roof	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£32,707	£35,680	£38,653	£2,726	£2,973	£3,221
London	£34,690	£38,790	£42,574	£2,891	£3,232	£3,548
Midlands	£32,404	£35,350	£38,295	£2,700	£2,946	£3,191
North England	£32,150	£35,203	£38,136	£2,679	£2,934	£3,178
Northern Ireland	£31,974	£34,660	£37,548	£2,648	£2,888	£3,129
Scotland	£32,175	£35,101	£38,026	£2,681	£2,925	£3,169
South East	£31,915	£35,686	£39,594	£2,891	£3,232	£3,548
South West	£32,557	£36,572	£40,140	£2,726	£3,048	£3,345
Wales	£32,407	£36,236	£38,531	£2,701	£3,020	£3,211
Average	£32,553	£35,920	£39,055	£2,738	£3,022	£3,282

All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a glass roof conservatory to a standard spec:

 

• The minimum cost is £31,915, and the maximum cost is £42,574.
• The total average cost is £35,843, or £3,014 per square metre.

 

Building Cost Breakdown By Project Stage – London

Here’s an example of the associated costs for the different stages of building a glass roof conservatory for a standard-spec project – when using a mid-benchmark contractor in London:

 

Total	£38,790	100%
Roof structure and coverings	£17,174	44.3%
External windows and doors	£9,945	25.6%
Preliminaries	£5,302	13.7%
Foundations and substructure	£3,342	8.6%
Floor structure and lining	£1,581	4.1%
Drainage and pipework	£693	1.8%
Demolitions	£310	0.8%
External wall structure and lining	£225	0.6%
Wiring and fuseboards	£218	0.6%

 

The cost of the roof structure for a reinforced glass roof is much higher when compared to a standard roof structure with slate tiles – due mainly to the high cost of reinforced glass.

Cost Of Building A Tiled Roof Conservatory

Here’s a table showing the average cost of building a tiled roof conservatory for a standard-spec project in the UK:

 

Conservatory – Slate Roof Tiles	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£19,709	£21,500	£23,292	£1,642	£1,792	£1,941
London	£21,750	£24,321	£26,693	£1,813	£2,027	£2,224
Midlands	£19,399	£21,162	£22,926	£1,617	£1,764	£1,910
North England	£19,142	£21,012	£22,763	£1,595	£1,751	£1,897
Northern Ireland	£18,957	£20,456	£22,160	£1,563	£1,705	£1,847
Scotland	£19,164	£20,906	£22,648	£1,597	£1,742	£1,887
South East	£20,010	£22,375	£24,558	£1,813	£2,027	£2,224
South West	£19,555	£22,038	£24,188	£1,642	£1,836	£2,016
Wales	£19,402	£21,694	£23,167	£1,617	£1,808	£1,931
Average	£19,676	£21,718	£23,599	£1,655	£1,828	£1,986

All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a tiled roof conservatory to a standard spec:

 

• The minimum cost is £18,957, and the maximum cost is £26,693.
• The total average cost is £21,665, or £1,823 per square metre.

 

Building Cost Breakdown By Project Stage – London

Here’s an example of the associated costs for the different stages of building a tiled roof conservatory for a standard-spec project – when using a mid-benchmark contractor in London:

Total	£24,321	100%
External windows and doors	£9,945	40.9%
Preliminaries	£5,302	21.8%
Foundations and substructure	£3,342	13.7%
Roof structure and coverings	£2,242	9.2%
Floor structure and lining	£1,581	6.5%
Drainage and pipework	£693	2.8%
Ceiling structure and lining	£464	1.9%
Demolitions	£310	1.3%
External wall structure and lining	£225	0.9%
Wiring and fuseboards	£218	0.9%

 

Cost Of Building An Orangery

Here’s a table showing the average cost of building an orangery for a standard-spec project in the UK:

 

Orangery – Structural Glass Roof	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£35,866	£39,126	£42,387	£2,989	£3,261	£3,532
London	£38,473	£43,020	£47,217	£3,206	£3,585	£3,935
Midlands	£35,483	£38,709	£41,934	£2,957	£3,226	£3,495
North England	£35,194	£38,523	£41,734	£2,933	£3,210	£3,478
Northern Ireland	£34,490	£37,753	£40,899	£2,874	£3,146	£3,408
Scotland	£35,175	£38,373	£41,571	£2,931	£3,198	£3,464
South East	£35,396	£39,579	£43,912	£2,950	£3,298	£3,659
South West	£35,676	£40,104	£44,017	£2,973	£3,342	£3,668
Wales	£35,486	£39,679	£42,234	£2,957	£3,307	£3,519
Average	£35,693	£39,430	£42,878	£2,974	£3,286	£3,573

 

All costs exclude VAT.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building an orangery to a standard spec:

 

• The minimum cost is £34,490, and the maximum cost is £47,217.
• The total average cost is £39,334, or £3,278 per square metre.

 

Building Cost Breakdown By Project Stage – London

Here’s an example of the associated costs for the different stages of building an orangery for a standard-spec project – when using a mid-benchmark contractor in London:

Total	£43,020	100%
Roof structure and coverings	£17,174	39.9%
External windows and doors	£9,945	23.1%
Preliminaries	£5,487	12.8%
External wall structure and lining	£3,785	8.8%
Foundations and substructure	£3,342	7.8%
Floor structure and lining	£1,581	3.7%
Drainage and pipework	£693	1.6%
Decoration	£486	1.1%
Demolitions	£310	0.7%
Wiring and fuseboards	£218	0.5%

 

Summary Of The Average Cost To Build A Conservatory

So, how much does it cost to build a conservatory in the UK? Based on the two types covered in this article, you can expect it to cost on average (when using a mid-benchmark contractor):

• Conservatory with structural glass roof – £35,920, or £3,022 per sq metre.
• Conservatory with slate roof tiles – £21,718, or £1,828 per sq metre. 
• Orangery with structural glass roof – £39,430, or £3,286 per sq metre.

 

Depending on the specifications, the cost of the work for a conservatory build would range between £18,957 and £47,217.

Please remember that these costs do not include VAT, and there may be other additional costs, such as obtaining planning permission, conducting structural surveys, making unexpected repairs, and completing custom finishes.

Start your free trial with BuildPartner today to get the most accurate estimate of building a conservatory based on your own dimensions and specifications.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Conservatories

Here are a few questions about building conservatories in the UK.

What’s the difference between a conservatory and an orangery?

An orangery is fundamentally a brick structure with large glass windows and roofing, which provides more insulation than a fully glazed conservatory.

How can I make a conservatory more energy-efficient?

To make a conservatory more energy efficient, use triple glazing, install a tiled roof, and consider underfloor heating or energy-efficient radiators. Using blinds also regulates temperature.

Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?

Planning permission is generally not required for a conservatory if it meets permitted development rights. Your conservatory must be at the rear of the house, less than four metres high, less than 50% of the area of the land around the house, and its walls must run within the length of the property’s walls.