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myCost to Convert Garage to Bedroom
At a Glance
- The average cost to convert a garage into a bedroom is around £10,500 in the UK.
- The job will take approximately 7 to 14 days to complete.
- A complete pricing breakdown for converting a garage into a room and what to consider before starting your conversion project.
- How long it takes to convert your garage into a bedroom, and a general overview of the steps your conversion specialists will take.
- How to find and hire a local garage conversion specialist.
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Do you want to find out how much it costs to convert a garage to a bedroom?
The average cost of a bedroom garage conversion is around £10,500.
In this guide, we'll discuss all the costs included in bedroom garage conversions, such as labour fees and material prices, and list a few other jobs you might want to get done at the same time.
We also discuss the difference in costs between a single garage conversion and a double garage conversion to help you make an informed decision.
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Want to learn more about garage conversion costs first? Continue reading!
£10,500
Table of Contents
- How Much to Convert a Garage into a Bedroom?
- What Alternatives Are There to Bedroom Garage Conversion?
- Things to Consider When Converting a Garage Into a Bedroom
- Partial Garage to Bedroom Conversion
- Adding an En-Suite Bathroom
- Doing it Yourself
- Checklist: Converting a Garage Into a Bedroom in the UK
- FAQs
How Much to Convert a Garage into a Bedroom?
What's the cost to convert a garage?
The average cost to convert a garage into a bedroom is around £10,500 in the UK.
Converting a garage into a bedroom is one of the most popular home conversions most homeowners undertake. Traditionally, a garage would be used for storing cars. However, more and more homes aren’t really using the area for that purpose.
Homes with garages - especially family homes - use the room as extra storage space for bits and pieces but aren't making much practical use of this extra space.
Turning that space into an additional bedroom is becoming one of the most popular solutions to utilising this space.
Converting your garage into an extra room will give your home that extra bit of space if it is lacking. And, it will be a less costly solution for those who would probably be more willing to move properties just for that extra bit of legroom.
How long does it generally take an architect to complete plans/designs for a medium-sized garage conversion?
"It would typically be about a week or two for an initial draft depending on the complexity of the rest of the house (making the rooms work etc), including the time to survey the house and measure up."
Garage Conversion Prices
| Job Description | Duration | Material Cost | Labour Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Garage | 7 – 14 Days | £3,000 | £150 per day |
| Double Garage | 14 – 21 Days | £6,000 | £150 |
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Detailed Cost Breakdown for Converting a Garage into a Room
When planning your garage-to-bedroom conversion, understanding the individual cost components can help you budget more effectively. While the average basic conversion starts at around £10,500, the final price depends on factors such as the size of your garage, the quality of finishes, and any additional features you choose to include, like an en-suite bathroom.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the typical costs you can expect across the main elements of a conversion. This will give you a clearer picture of where your money goes and help you plan for optional extras.
| Item | Estimated Cost (UK Average) |
|---|---|
| Foundations & Subfloor | £1,000–£2,500 |
| Insulation | £500–£1,500 |
| Drywalling & Plastering | £700–£1,500 |
| Electrical Work | £800–£2,000 |
| New Window or Door | £600–£1,500 |
| Flooring | £20–£60 per m² (materials only; installation adds £500–£1,500) |
| Heating & Ventilation | £200–£800 |
| Adding an En-Suite Bathroom (Optional) |
Basic: £3,500–£5,000 Standard: £7,000–£10,000 High-Spec: £15,000+ |
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Optional Extras: Additional features such as built-in storage, high-end flooring or wall finishes, underfloor heating, or extra lighting can increase the overall cost of your conversion. Including these extras can enhance comfort and add value to your property.
For a complete breakdown of costs and processes to convert your garage into a room, see our comprehensive garage conversion cost guide.
What Alternatives Are There to Bedroom Garage Conversion?
Converting your garage into a bedroom is one of the most cost-effective ways to gain extra living space, but it isn’t the only option. Depending on your budget, property type, and how much disruption you’re willing to accept, you might also consider an extension or loft conversion.
All of these conversions have the potential to increase the value of your home by 8% to 15%, but not all offer the same return on investment (ROI).
Below, we’ve compared the typical costs, cost per m², and ROI potential for each option so you can weigh up which is best for your home.
It's worth noting, that unlike other conversions, such as an extension, a garage conversion won’t eat into your garden or any other areas - so you won't have to compromise.
| Conversion/Extension Type | Typical Cost Range | Approx. Cost per m² | Notes / ROI Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage to Bedroom Conversion | £10,000–£15,000 | £600–£1,000 | ROI 133% |
| Single-Storey Extension | £40,000+ | £1,200–£2,000 | ROI 50%. |
| Double-Storey Extension | £60,000+ | £1,000–£1,800 | ROI 42%. |
| Loft Conversion | £40,000+ | £1,200 – £1,600 | ROI 63%. |
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Note: All figures are estimates and can vary depending on location, design, materials, and contractor rates. ROI ranges are based on a £250,000 property. Prices may differ in your area.
House Extension Costs
An extension is a common home improvement project and can be enticing for potential house buyers, offering you a good return on investment. While garage conversions may be limited in what they can become, house extensions can be new kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, home offices - the list is practically endless.
The average house extension costs around £40,000, depending on the exact size and materials you choose.
Double Storey Extension Costs
You can optimise your space further by adding an extra storey onto your home with a double-storey extension. These come with higher costs than the single-storey option and can give you enough space for a new kitchen or living room as well as an additional bedroom or bathroom.
Understandably, there's a lot more disruption with a double-storey extension compared to a garage conversion, but the return on space is far higher.
Double-storey extensions cost upwards of £60,000, being the most expensive extension option out of our selection.
Loft Conversion Costs
If you don't want to give up any of your outdoor space to a "traditional" extension, you can opt for a loft conversion instead. This will still open up your home, but won't impact your garden and outdoor space.
Loft conversions are great for adding an extra bedroom to your home, but won't be suitable for open-plan living if that's what you want.
The typical cost of a loft extension starts at £40,000 but can rise depending on the size and scope of your design.
Things to Consider When Converting a Garage Into a Bedroom
Before starting your garage to bedroom conversion, think beyond the initial price. A few practical and regulatory factors can affect comfort, compliance, and the long-term value of your home:
- Natural light and ventilation: Garages often lack windows, so you may need to add glazing or a roof-light to meet building regulations and create a comfortable living space.
- Insulation and heating: Floors, walls, and ceilings will usually need upgrading, you may also need to extend or upgrade the heating system.
- Ceiling height: Some garages have low ceilings that may need raising or other adaptation to meet habitable room standards.
- Access and layout: Consider how the new bedroom will connect to the rest of the house and whether the layout will work for daily use.
- Plumbing and electrics: Additional sockets, lighting, heating controls, and plumbing are common requirements, especially if adding an en-suite.
- Parking and storage loss: Converting a garage removes a parking space and storage area, which may be a drawback for some buyers.
- Resale value: A new bedroom can increase the value of your home, but in some markets a usable garage is more desirable.
Planning Permissions and Building Regulations
Converting a garage shouldn’t be too much of a headache, especially compared to other conversions such as a basement, a loft, or even an extension. The conversion of your garage into a bedroom should be a rather cost-effective and relatively stress-free project.
While planning permission isn't typically needed for a project like this, as it should come under permitted development. However, you will need to inform your local building regulations authority of the work you plan to carry out. As you will likely change the garage door and fill it with matching brickwork, you may want to add some windows or a door.
This will need permission as any new windows or glazed doors will need to be certified under building regulations. You can either apply for this certification, or a registered window specialist will be able to self-certify. This is why, along with the handling of utilities, you may want to hire a trained specialist to carry out this job for you.
To learn more about planning permission, building regulations, and other requirements, check out our complete guide to garage conversion costs.
I want to do a DIY garage conversion. Our garage is detached, and we want to convert into two bedroomed accommodation. Looking for advice on planning and building regulations.
"If you want to convert your garage to a habitable dwelling, then you have to apply for change of use, so it will need building regulations approval. You've also got to take into account that services need to be run into the garage (water, waste, electrics). You don't need planning permission if you're not changing the the size or shape."
Additional Costs
Some costs you will need to be aware of include design fees if you hire a structural engineer. On top of your fees for the conversion, expect structural engineer costs to be in the region of £400 for a consultation. An architect will cost you at least £1,000 for design, although this would probably be unnecessary for your project.
You will also need to factor in costs for different stages of the project and may need to hire more than one specialist. A builder will be suitable to perform all-around structural and foundation work and the flooring. However, you may need to source electricians and window fitting specialists.
Partial Garage to Bedroom Conversion
A partial conversion lets you turn part of the garage into a habitable bedroom while keeping the front of the garage (usually behind the door) for storage.
This approach has two key benefits:
- Lower costs – Because you’re not removing or bricking up the garage door, you save on one of the most expensive elements of a full conversion. A stud wall can be built partway into the garage to create a new insulated bedroom space behind it.
- Retain storage – You keep a smaller garage area for bikes, tools, or general storage, which can be a strong selling point when it comes to resale.
Costs for a partial garage conversion into a bedroom typically range from £5,000–£8,000, depending on insulation, finishes, and whether plumbing or heating needs to be extended into the new room.
Garage Door Replacement
One of the key aspects of a partial conversion is keeping the garage door in place, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can continue to use your old door.
Many garage doors aren’t insulated. To meet building regulations for the new habitable space, You may need to replace the door with an insulated version (or adapt it with insulation panels on the inside).
The good news is that replacing your garage door, is typically cheaper and less labour intensive than bricking up the door opening.
Adding an En-Suite Bathroom
Adding an en-suite is a common upgrade when converting a garage into a bedroom, but it can significantly affect costs. Additional plumbing, fixtures, finishes and ventilation all need to be considered.
The cost of adding an en-suite varies, but you should budget for the following:
- Plumbing and Drainage: This is often the largest expense. If your garage is far from existing plumbing, new pipework will need to be laid, which can be disruptive and expensive.
- Fixtures and Fittings: Costs can range widely depending on whether you choose budget-friendly, mid-range, or high-end toilets, sinks, showers, and other fixtures.
- Ventilation: All bathrooms require proper ventilation, which may mean installing a new extractor fan.
- Tiling and Finishes: Tiling walls and floors, installing a shower screen, and other finishing touches will add to the material and labor costs.
- Water and Waste Connections: A professional will need to connect the new bathroom to the main water supply and waste disposal system.
Our guide to adding a new bathroom breaks down many of the costs involved when installing a new bathroom in your house. By including an en-suite to your bedroom garage conversion, you'll incur these costs in addition to the cost of converting the garage itself.
Doing it Yourself
Converting your garage into a bedroom is a project that many experienced and confident DIYers would gladly tackle. If your garage is of high-quality build already and doesn’t need any repairs, then most of the hard work is already complete.
However, we recommend hiring a specialist to carry out some parts of the job, such as any foundation, which will need to be done when replacing the garage door, installing new windows or doors, and anything to do with utilities.
You will need to plan the design and layout of your converted room. You will need to completely clear out the garage and strip out the main structure so that you can clearly gauge what kind of space you will be working. This should give you ideas on design, layout, and any possible problems.
Designing your new room is probably the first thing you want to do before starting any new renovations. You can either do this yourself, leave it to your hired specialist tradesman, or even hire an architect.
Inspecting and assessing the existing foundations and walls is essential, as this will give you or the tradesman an idea of the scale of work that will be needed for the job. Most modern homes with a garage should have existing solid foundations that won’t need much or any work doing.
The floor will likely be made of concrete and you may think it will still be solid enough to leave as is. However, some work will need to be done on the flooring, such as levelling it out, ensuring it is damp-proof by laying down a membrane, and ensuring there is sufficient insulation.
I have a tandem garage converted into a room, but the outside wall with a door and window is only single-skin. It makes the room both cold and damp, so I'd like some advice as it's used as a bedroom.
"There are lots of ways to do this, but the cheapest and most practical way is to build a stud wall internally with cavity insulation between the existing 4” brick wall, then plasterboard the stud wall and skim and place skirting boards for a warm seal."
The same can be said for the walls and ceiling. These will also have to be looked at to ensure that they are fully suitable for living conditions. If you have an attached garage, i.e. part of the main building, then the walls and ceiling shouldn’t be an issue as they should be up to the same standards as the rest of the house.
You will also have to check utilities, which would mainly involve electricity and heating for a bedroom. Most integrated garages already have electricity fed into the room, so that shouldn’t be a problem and will save you on extra costs.
A lot of the steps listed here can be quite a challenge for even some of the most experienced DIY enthusiasts. That’s why we would recommend hiring a specialist to carry out the bulk of the job, such as foundation and insulation work, flooring, windows and utilities. If anything is wrong with these, then the project will end up costing you a lot more than you had planned.
If you aren’t too confident in your abilities just yet and want to the job doing professionally, then the easiest way is to use MyJobQuote, enter your details and receive quotes from three tradesmen in your local area.
Checklist: Converting a Garage Into a Bedroom in the UK
- Check the foundations and structural quality of your garage before starting any work.
- Weigh up costs of different jobs that will need doing to fully convert your garage, such as flooring, windows and utilities.
- Be sure to apply for any planning permissions, or at least check with your local authority if any is needed.
- A garage conversion is a cheap alternative to an extension, but be sure you are comfortable with the loss of space for your vehicles.
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FAQs
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Garage Conversion?
In most cases, you will not need planning permission for this job if the garage is integral and part of the original structure of your home. However, if it is a detached building, you may need to apply or at least check with your local authority.
Will I Need to Obtain Building Regulations for My Conversion?
Yes, as with any conversion of any room into a living space, you will need to apply for building regulations. You can do this by contacting the Building Control office at your local council and requesting their approval.
Will I Need to Feed Utilities Such as Gas and Electricity into My Converted Garage?
You will need to have the appropriate utilities fed into your new space. Since this will be a bedroom, the only utilities you should need are electricity and gas for lighting and heating - you will not need water for this room.
Most integral garages will already have these utilities running through as part of the main house. However, you may need to hire an electrician and plumber to install appropriate lighting and radiators.
Most integral garages will already have these utilities running through as part of the main house. However, you may need to hire an electrician and plumber to install appropriate lighting and radiators.
Is It Better to Do a Conversion or an Extension on My Home?
The answer to this is entirely up to what you want and your budget. Both are options when homeowners are looking for a bit more space in their homes.
A conversion will always be the cheapest and easiest option in comparison to an extension. This is due to there already being an existing structure for you to create your new space in, rather than having to build something new from scratch.
A conversion will always be the cheapest and easiest option in comparison to an extension. This is due to there already being an existing structure for you to create your new space in, rather than having to build something new from scratch.
Is a Garage Conversion DIY-friendly?
This job could be quite a nice project for many DIY enthusiasts if they have the time and patience. Doing so will save you on the cost of materials and labour when hiring a tradesman.
However, when converting any part of the house, there are a few things that could go a bit wrong if not done properly, such as electrics, heating and insulation.
However, when converting any part of the house, there are a few things that could go a bit wrong if not done properly, such as electrics, heating and insulation.
