How much does a conservatory cost in the UK? (2026)
Verified UK conservatory costs in 2026 by style (lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian, orangery), how the roof and base choices move the price, when Building Regulations apply, and the upselling to watch for in a conservatory quote.
A conservatory in the UK in 2026 costs between roughly £10,000 for a simple lean-to and £20,000+ for a large orangery. Most homeowners sit in the £13,000–£16,500 range for a standard Victorian or Edwardian conservatory, supplied and fitted. The style, the roof, and the base are where the money goes.
Quick answer
A UK conservatory in 2026 typically costs £10,000–£15,250 for a lean-to, £13,000–£16,500 for a Victorian or Edwardian style, and £15,000–£20,000+ for an orangery or large gable design. The roof choice (polycarbonate, glass, or solid/tiled) and the base groundwork are the biggest cost drivers, and a solid roof usually brings the build under Building Regulations.
How to read this guide#
Two kinds of figures appear below:
- Headline price ranges (style bands): cross-referenced against MyJobQuote’s UK 2026 conservatory guide. Source listed at the bottom.
- Practical guidance (roof and base choices, Building Regs, scope gaps, upselling): standard UK practice, for context rather than figure-by-figure verification.
Where we could not verify a specific number, we have described the item qualitatively rather than publish a figure that does not trace to a source.
Headline ranges (verified)#
By style, supplied and fitted, UK 2026:
| Style | Range |
|---|---|
| Lean-to / sunroom | £10,000 – £15,250 |
| Victorian | £13,000 – £16,500 |
| Edwardian | £13,250 – £16,500 |
| Gable-end / orangery | £15,000 – £20,000+ |
These bands assume a standard base and glazing. The roof type and groundwork can move the figure significantly within and beyond them.
Practical guidance (industry standard)#
The roof is the biggest single choice#
- Polycarbonate is cheapest, but hot in summer, cold in winter, and noisy in rain. It is why older conservatories went unused half the year.
- Glass costs more and performs far better on temperature and noise, which is why most new conservatories use it.
- Solid or tiled costs the most, turns the conservatory into a usable year-round room, and usually brings the structure under Building Regulations.
Two quotes for "a conservatory" can specify three different roofs at three different prices. Make sure you are comparing the same roof.
The base and groundwork#
The base is sometimes quoted separately from the conservatory "kit", which is how a low headline price is reached. Groundwork on a sloping or poorly draining site adds excavation and base preparation. Confirm whether the base is in the price.
Building Regulations#
A conservatory is often exempt if it is under 30m², at ground level, separated from the house by external-quality doors, independently heated, and glazed to safety standards. Three things commonly remove the exemption:
- A solid or tiled roof
- Removing the separating doors to open it into the house
- Going over 30m²
A solid-roof or open-plan conservatory quote that says nothing about Building Regs is incomplete.
What is often excluded#
- Electrics and heating for the new room
- Flooring
- Removal of the existing structure or patio
- Making good where the conservatory meets the house
- The dwarf wall, where full-height glazing is priced instead
Regional variation#
- Inner London: ~15–25% above the national average
- Outer London / South-East: ~5–20% above
- Midlands and East: close to the national average
- North of England, Wales: ~5–10% below
- Northern Ireland, rural Scotland: ~8–12% below
Red flags in conservatory quotes#
- High-pressure "today only" pricing. Conservatory sales are known for it. A genuine quote is valid for at least 14 days.
- No roof specification. The roof is too big a cost to leave unstated.
- Base quoted separately and quietly. Check whether groundwork is included.
- Solid roof with no Building Regs mention. Usually notifiable; silence is a warning.
Comparing your quote#
The reliable way to judge a conservatory quote is to compare the style, roof, base, and glazing against the ranges above, and confirm what is included. The easier way is to paste or upload your quote into Check the Quote: we check every line against current UK rates for your postcode, flag anything above the fair range, and tell you what is missing. Your first check is free. For a full brick-built alternative, see the house extension cost guide.
Got a quote you want checked?
Paste any UK contractor quote and Check the Quote compares every line item against current market rates, flags missing scope, and runs a Companies House check on the contractor. Free on your first project.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a conservatory cost in the UK in 2026?
- A conservatory typically costs £10,000–£20,000 in 2026, supplied and fitted (MyJobQuote, 2026). A simple lean-to is the cheapest at roughly £10,000–£15,250; Victorian and Edwardian styles sit around £13,000–£16,500; orangeries and large gable-end designs run to £20,000 and beyond. The roof type, the base, and the glazing specification are the biggest cost drivers.
- What is the cheapest type of conservatory?
- A lean-to (sometimes called a sunroom or Mediterranean style) is the cheapest, because it has the simplest rectangular shape and a single-slope roof. Victorian and Edwardian styles cost more for their more complex roofs and shapes. Orangeries, with their solid roof elements, brick pillars, and lantern roofs, are the most expensive.
- Does a conservatory need Building Regulations approval?
- Often not, if it meets the exemption conditions: under 30m², at ground level, separated from the house by external-quality doors, with its own independent heating, and glazing that meets safety rules. But a solid or tiled roof, removing the separating doors to open it into the house, or going over 30m² typically brings it under Building Regulations. A quote for a solid-roof conservatory that is silent on Building Regs has missed something.
- Glass roof or solid roof: what is the cost difference?
- A polycarbonate roof is cheapest but performs poorly on temperature and noise. A glass roof costs more and performs much better. A solid or tiled roof costs the most, turns the conservatory into a year-round room, and usually brings the structure under Building Regulations. The roof is one of the largest single choices in a conservatory quote, so make sure quotes you compare specify the same one.
- What is often left out of a conservatory quote?
- Common gaps: the base and groundwork (a major cost, sometimes quoted separately), electrics and heating for the new room, flooring, building the dwarf wall versus full-height glazing, removal of the existing structure or patio, and making good where the conservatory meets the house. A headline price that covers only the frame-and-glass "kit" can be well short of the finished cost.
Last updated: 25 May 2026
Sources cross-referenced: