Builders
Carpenters
Electricians
Flooring Specialists
Gardeners
Handymen
Heating Engineers
Painters & Decorators
Plasterers & Renderers
Plumbers
Roofers
Tilers
myGarden Room Cost
At a Glance
- The average cost of a garden room is £32,000.
- Most jobs take around 1 to 3 weeks to complete.
- A breakdown of how much garden rooms cost in 2026 by size and usage.
- How long it takes to build a garden room and what's involved.
- How to find a local builder with MyJobQuote.
Get free estimates
Are you a trade? Get more work today!
£32,000
Table of Contents
How Much Does a Garden Room Cost?
The average cost of a garden room ranges from £20,000 to £38,000 (based on a standalone 12m² to 15m² size build).
However, aside from the size, there are a number of other cost factors that could put your budget beyond either side of this price range.
What type of garden room are you planning to build?
Home office/workshop
6 votes - 50%50% of votes
Summerhouse
2 votes - 17%17% of votes
Home gym
0 votes - 0%0% of votes
Garden bar or entertainment room
2 votes - 17%17% of votes
Guest accommodation
2 votes - 17%17% of votes
12 votes
See results
Hide results
For example, premium materials such as oak and cedar wood cladding, or installing bifold doors or a skylight will put the cost up. Alternatively, investing in a much smaller, prefabricated flat-pack will cost far less.
Here is a quick look at typical prices per square metre by quality:
| Quality | Specification | Average price per square metre |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Standard cladding, simple doors, basic insulation | £1,700 |
| Mid | Timber cladding, good insulation, double glazing | £1,900 – £2,000 |
| Premium | Cedar or oak cladding, bifold doors or skylight, upgraded finishes | £2,200 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
It's also worth considering the desired use for your garden room, as should you require additional electrics and plumbing, to install added luxuries such as a games room or bathroom suite, this could substantially increase the final cost.
Therefore, it should be noted any prices mentioned within the guide are displayed as an average range for most garden rooms. It's also possible that, in some cases, smaller garden rooms can actually cost more than slightly larger options.
It is also recommended to request quotes from local builders near you, as labour fees can vary throughout the UK and this can also impact how much you need to budget for your project.
Garden Room Prices
As the previous section highlights, the cost of building an outbuilding (in terms of labour and supply costs alike) can vary significantly, with size being a key factor. As a rough guide you can expect average garden room costs between £1,700 and £2,200 per m², but here is a more detailed breakdown of how much a garden room costs based on size:
Garden Room Costs by Size
| Garden Room Size Range | Approximate Cost Range (£) |
|---|---|
| Small Garden Rooms (4.5m² to 7.5m²) | £12,000–£25,000 |
| Medium Garden Rooms (9m² to 15m²) | £16,000–£38,000 |
| Large Garden Rooms (18m² to 24m²) | £26,000–£50,000 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
Small Garden Rooms (4.5m² to 7.5m²)
While a small garden room can cost less, it's important to consider whether it would be well-suited to your needs or not. A small garden room may prove cosy, but if it's too small for your needs (such as if you wanted a home gym), it could end up feeling cramped and impractical and thus not a particularly great investment.
Medium Garden Rooms (9m² to 15m²)
Medium garden rooms may be well-suited in some cases and could be the ideal balance between cost and space. However, as with small garden rooms, the risk still exists of a medium garden room being not quite large enough for your needs.
Large Garden Rooms (18m² to 24m²)
A large garden room may be just what you need. Obviously, the key downside is that large garden rooms are costlier. It's important to carefully consider what size garden room you want to ensure either you don't spend more than you need or end up with a garden room that is too small.
If in doubt as to how to approach this and make a sure decision, consult with a designer, architect, or builder for advice.
Supply Cost of a Garden Room
When calculating how much a garden room costs, the total will be made up of the cost of labour and the cost of materials. Another part of the overall cost that may apply is waste removal expenses.
Looking at the supply-only costs, the table below gives you an estimate of the different supply-only costs for the main components required for a typical 12m² garden room:
| Supply Item | Typical Supply Cost | 12m² Garden Room Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation or deck base | £70–£160 per m² | £840–£1,900 |
| Structural timber frame | £350–£500 per m² | £4,200–£6,000 |
| External cladding | £170–£330 per m² | £2,000–£4,000 |
| Roof structure and covering | £80–£150 per m² | £960–£1,800 |
| Insulation | £100–£170 per m² | £1,200–£2,050 |
| Internal wall and ceiling lining | £80–£150 per m² | £960–£1,800 |
| Flooring | £80–£170 per m² | £960–£2,050 |
| Windows | £500–£700 each | £1,000–£1,400 (2) |
| Standard external door | £500–£700 each | £500–£700 |
| Bifold doors (instead of a standard door) | £1,800–£2,500 | £1,800–£2,500 |
| Membranes, fixings and trims | £65–£125 per m² | £800–£1,500 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
These estimated costs are just a guide based on a typical sized garden room, but supply costs can vary quite a bit depending on the type, size, and nature of the garden room you're having installed.
Labour Cost to Build a Garden Room
Labour is another major factor to consider when budgeting for a garden room.
While the typical day rates of £250 to £350 per installer may be common, most installations are usually quoted for on a project basis for all the combined costs.
Given that most garden rooms take approximately 1 to 3 weeks to complete, you can expect total labour costs of between £3,000 and £14,000.
The construction process involves more than just building the structure. Contractors will also spend time preparing the site before work begins and tidying up the area once the job is finished, although in most cases this is all within the 1 to 3 week timeline.
The table below gives you an estimate for the total labour costs for the different sized garden room projects.
| Garden Room Size | Typical Build Time | Typical Labour Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (4.5m²–7.5m²) | 1 to 2 weeks | £3,000–£5,000 |
| Medium (9m²–15m²) | 2 to 3 weeks | £5,000–£9,000 |
| Large (18m²–24m²) | 3 to 4 weeks | £8,000–£14,000 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
Factors That Impact Garden Room Costs
There are a range of factors that go towards creating the perfect garden room, some of which will also come with the need to hire separate tradesmen, such as an electrician or plumber, either during the build or once the bulk of the garden room project has been completed.
Below we look at some of the most notable examples that can affect the overall price of your own garden room:
- Garden Room Size — Larger rooms require more in terms of materials and often longer labour or additional tradespeople, making size a major cost factor for your garden room project.
- Design and Use — Having a complex or bespoke design with additional features may sometimes be for purely aesthetic reasons, however, they can also help create a more functional garden room.
- Foundation and Site Preparation — The type of foundation, soil conditions, location, and any permits that are required can increase costs by £500 to £2,500 and can impact how long the project takes.
- Materials and Insulation — Whether you're building a prefab garden room kit, log cabin, or bricks and mortar, the material cost along with how you insulate your build will impact the price and energy-efficiency. A well-insulated garden room can cost £1,500 to £4,000 more than one with less or no insulation.
- Electrical and Plumbing Work — Costs vary depending on the extent of wiring, plumbing, heating, or cooling systems required. For example, most garden rooms at least require lighting (£300 to £800), while central heating and air conditioning will create further expense, £1,000+.
- Bathroom and Toilet — Following on from the above, if you're adding facilities such as an outside toilet for a garden room bar or an en suite for a guest room, this can increase the cost significantly. The cost of a garden room with a shower and toilet might be £2,000 to £6,000 more than one without any plumbing.
- Windows, Doors, and Finishes — The type, size, and quality of windows, doors, and interior finishes (such as flooring, decor and furniture) will all add to the overall cost.
- Internal Features — If you want to use your room as a fully-fitted guest space or a well-equipped gym, the cost of additional equipment and furniture can be substantial. You will also have to factor in additional lighting, air conditioning, or bespoke finishes, all of which can drive up costs.
I have a garden shed with its own electrical circuit from the main consumer unit, supplied by a buried 50mm armoured cable. I’m replacing the shed with a garden room. Can I reuse the existing electrical supply for the new building, with a secondary consumer unit in the garden room?
"Yes, the existing supply should be suitable for reuse. Have a qualified electrician safely isolate the shed supply before work begins, then they can modify the installation for the new garden room. For a couple of sockets and a light, a 16/20A supply should be sufficient, assuming the existing cable is suitably sized."
Cost of Garden Rooms by Type
There are many garden room ideas and uses to consider. Below is a table that summarises the typical costs for different types of garden room installations, followed by a breakdown of the estimated build cost of each type.
| Garden Room Type | Typical Size | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Home office | 9m²–12m² | £16,000–£32,000 |
| Summerhouse | 7.5m²–12m² | £15,000–£32,000 |
| Home gym | 12m²–18m² | £20,000–£37,000 |
| Workshop | 9m²–15m² | £16,000–£38,000 |
| Garden bar | 9m²–15m² | £16,000–£38,000 |
| Guest accommodation | 15m²–24m² | £24,000–£50,000 |
Want a custom price?
Post your job
Home Office Cost
- Best for: Remote work.
- Typical size — 9 to 12m².
One of the more common uses for a garden room comes in the form of a home office. This can act as the perfect space to do some additional work or planning in relation to your job or even as a creative workspace.
A creative workspace might mean arts and crafts (although then you may prefer a hobby room) or creative works that are more office-oriented, such as novel writing or working on graphic design on your laptop or PC.
A home office may prove less expensive than most types of garden rooms, particularly since you can add basics such as a desk and office chair on a budget, although you may still have to consider hidden costs such as adding electrics and a stable internet connection.
Home Office: £16,000 to £32,000
- Remote Working — Ideal for remote workers to keep work separated from home life.
- Cost-Effective — Can be customised to your personal requirements without becoming expensive.
- Creative Space — Whether professional or recreational, garden offices provide somewhere to focus.
Summerhouse Cost
- Best for: Relaxing on summer days.
- Typical size — 7.5 to 12m².
A lot of households would love to have a garden room built to create a summerhouse. This can act as a wonderful space for you, other members of your household and visitors alike to enjoy on sunny summer days.
Summerhouses usually come with tiled or felt roofs along with various windows and glazed doors to let in plenty of sunlight.
Summerhouse: £15,000 to £32,000
- Garden Enjoyment — Make the most of the summer with a bespoke design suited to entertaining within an outdoor space.
- Cosy Evenings — Stay outside longer but in the warmth and comfort of your own perfect garden room.
- Usage — Traditional designs aren't always well-insulated, but contemporary, fully insulated garden rooms can be designed for year-round use even during the colder months.
Home Gym Cost
- Best for: Training at home.
- Typical size — 12 to 18m².
Some households may prefer to use their garden room as a home gym to help keep fit. A garden room can act as the ideal installation to make space for your own gym with the equipment and fixtures you want.
As previously mentioned, a home gym may prove relatively more expensive, given all the equipment you may choose to have installed.
Home Gym: £20,000 to £37,000
- Initial Outlay — Added expenses not only include the equipment, but could include the likes of reinforced flooring.
- Long-Term Investment — Over time it can become a money saver, proving less expensive than paying for a gym membership.
- Health and Wellbeing — With a bespoke design, having your own garden room can soon become your keep-fit incentive.
Workshop Cost
- Best for: DIY and storing tools.
- Typical size — 9 to 15m².
Another common reason to have a garden room constructed is for the purpose of creating a workshop. Rather than having an entire garage extension built, garden buildings can prove more than sufficient to create a space to work or store tools, equipment, and more.
Workshop: £16,000 to £38,000
- Straightforward — A home workshop in the garden can prove relatively cheap and quicker to have built than a garage.
- Practical — A great way to make the best of outdoor space away from your property and more versatile than a basic shed.
- Limited Options — The potential downside is if you need to re-purpose the room at a later date.
Garden Bar Cost
- Best for: Entertaining guests.
- Typical size — 9 to 15m².
A garden bar/pub or entertainment room offers a dedicated space for socialising without taking over the main house. It can be arranged with a small bar area, seating, and speakers to suit your needs.
Garden Bar: £16,000 to £38,000
- Hosting and Entertaining — Perfect for making any get-together fun and easier to accommodate, away from the main property.
- Noise Control — Although it creates less mess around the house, you may wish to consider adding extra soundproofing.
- Connecting Utilities — Installing beer pumps, wine fridges and lighting can increase the installation and running costs.
Guest Accommodation Cost
- Best for: Hosting visitors if you have no guest room.
- Typical size — 15 to 24m².
Rather than transforming a spare room, many households have a garden room built to provide separate space to accommodate guests.
Since garden rooms are often less expensive than say a loft conversion, it could prove the most cost-efficient and feasible way to add space to your property for guest accommodation if you lack enough room as is.
Guest Accommodation: £24,000 to £50,000
- Private and Inviting — Allows your guests to relax in their own private accommodation away from the main property.
- Home Comforts — Whether it's a television, internet connection, or en suite bathroom, there are plenty of options.
- Additional Expense — Installing lights, electrics, plumbing, and heating can soon add to the overall cost. These will also need to be well-insulated garden rooms if you want to accommodate guests during the colder months.
What's a good option for affordably heating my garden room? There is an electricity supply but no gas.
"Air conditioner can cool in summer and heat in winter. You can enjoy all year and it's cheaper than electrical heating."
Cost of Garden Rooms by Material
Garden rooms and other garden buildings can be categorised based on the type of material they are made from. Here we'll look at the pros and cons of various materials that can be used in the process of creating a garden room.
Glass Garden Room Cost
- Best for: Maximum light and views.
- Cost per m² — £2,100 to £2,200.
Along with there being distinct options from an insulation perspective (single, double, and triple-glazed), glass is sustainable and 100% recyclable, as well as offering a high quality and durability. What's more, glass is transparent, as well as dust- and water-proof (as long as everything is correctly installed and sealed).
Pros
- ✔ Sustainable and 100% recyclable.
- ✔ High quality and durability.
- ✔ Transparent, dust and water-proof when correctly installed and sealed.
Cons
- ✖ Brittle (a stray football or cricket ball could easily damage it).
- ✖ Relatively expensive and requires more maintenance than many other building materials.
- ✖ Issues of glare and heat absorbent properties, so it could heat up too much on sunny days like a greenhouse.
Composite Garden Room Cost
- Best for: Low maintenance and a modern look.
- Cost per m² — £1,700 to £1,900.
Composite material consists of two or more materials being added together and is ideal for building low-cost garden rooms. Although cheaper, it's still a solid insulator. Also, thanks to these other beneficial properties, composite garden rooms are generally fairly strong and durable.
Pros
- ✔ Relatively low-costing material.
- ✔ A solid insulator.
- ✔ Generally fairly strong and durable.
Cons
- ✖ Can be relatively brittle depending on the product.
- ✖ May be at a greater risk of fire at certain temperatures, so check with the manufacturer for fire rating and impact strength.
Wood Garden Room Cost
- Best for: Natural appearance and warmth.
- Cost per m² — £1,900 to £2,000 (cedar or oak up to £2,200).
Timber is a commonly used building material. Many prefer wood for the natural look and feel it offers. Top advantages of wood as a building material include its versatility, ease of maintenance and repair, and the warmth it can provide to occupants with a structure made using wood.
Pros
- ✔ Versatile
- ✔ Easy to maintain and repair
- ✔ Provides warmth for occupants
Cons
- ✖ Higher fire hazard.
- ✖ Prone to rot, shrinkage, and swelling.
- ✖ Can suffer damage from pests and fungi.
uPVC Garden Room Cost
- Best for: Simplicity and less upkeep.
- Cost per m² — £1,700 to £1,900.
Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride or uPVC is another standout building material. Some of the core upsides of uPVC are its durability, sound and heat insulation attributes, cost-efficiency, and the fact it can be recycled and is relatively low maintenance.
Pros
- ✔ Durable
- ✔ Offers sound and heat insulation
- ✔ Cost-efficient and relatively low maintenance
- ✔ Can be recycled
Cons
- ✖ Limited design options
- ✖ Temperature sensitivity
- ✖ Upfront cost
- ✖ For some households, the appearance will not be their cup of tea
Checklist: Hiring a Garden Room Builder in the UK
When seeking a garden room contractor or building company to hire, it's important you opt for the right tradesmen for the job.
To create the perfect garden room, during the final stages of the project it's also likely you'll need to hire additional contractors for some specific tasks (such as an electrician or painters and decorators).
As such, here are some key pointers to keep in mind:
- Are they suitably qualified and officially registered? Check that they hold the necessary trade qualifications, certifications, or licences required for the work, and ask how long they've been in business.
- Are they fully insured? Although not always a legal requirement, check for Public Liability, Contractors All Risk, Employers' Liability, and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Check what guarantees they offer and if they offer insurance-backed guarantees for their work.
- Are they a member of any trade associations? Find out if they belong to a recognised scheme or government-approved body, and verify with the trade association if necessary.
- Can they self-certify their work? Ask if they can self-certify to confirm compliance with building regulations, and if they will be requesting the relevant documentation to ensure your build meets legal standards.
- Do they have examples of their work? Reviewing their portfolio or customer photographs gives a clear sense of their professionalism and quality, as well as providing you with inspiration. Check for positive feedback on their MyJobQuote profile, ask friends and family for recommendations, and review their online presence.
- Have you received more than one quote? With MyJobQuote, you can request several quotes from local builders specialising in garden buildings without any further commitment to go ahead.
Ask a Trade
Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.
Ask your question
FAQs
How Much Value Does a Garden Room Add to Your Home?
A well-built garden room can increase your property's value by up to 15%, but the uplift varies by location, as well as specifications and usage.
Do I Need To Tell My Insurance About a Garden Room?
Yes, most garden rooms should be declared to your insurer so that the building is listed on your policy. Outbuildings often have separate or lower contents limits, so items may need to be specified. Business usage, storing tools, or regular guest stays can change the risk.
What VAT Applies and Can a Business Reclaim It on a Garden Office?
Most domestic projects are charged at the standard VAT rate. If you are VAT-registered and buying through a business for genuine business use, you may be able to reclaim VAT under the usual rules. Mixed personal and business use can restrict what is reclaimable, so speak to your accountant beforehand.
How Do I Get Power and Internet to a Garden Room?
Power usually runs in armoured cable from your house and must be installed by a qualified electrician in line with Part P. For internet, you can run a weatherproof CAT6 or CAT6a cable from your main router to the garden room, use WiFi, or bury the cable underground.
How Much Does a Garden Room With a Toilet or Bathroom Cost?
Garden rooms with bathrooms are usually at the higher end of the cost scale, due to the additional plumbing, drainage, and bathroom installation required. As a rough estimate, adding a bathroom to your garden room installation could add £2,000 to £6,000 to the cost.
Can I Use a Garden Room Year-Round?
A well-built garden room can be used all year round, as long as it is properly insulated, well sealed, with good ventilation.
To heat your garden room, a straightforward electric panel heater or electric underfloor heating usually does the job.
Is a Garden Room Cheaper Than a Conservatory?
The costs for each will depend on the specification you choose. Basic conservatory builds could cost less than insulated garden rooms, but a high-spec conservatory could cost the same as a garden room, which has the added benefit of generally being better-suited to year-round use.
Do Garden Rooms Affect Council Tax?
Your garden room will only affect your council tax if it is used as a living space, such as being fully equipped with a kitchen and bathroom and rented out as a separate dwelling.
Do You Need Planning Permission to Build a Garden Room?
Planning permission isn't usually required to build a garden room unless you are building on the grounds of a listed building or conservation area. Permission might also be required if your garden room project is situated at the front of your property, takes up more than half the total area surrounding your house, or will be used as self-contained living accommodation. Its overall height cannot exceed 2.5m if within 2m of a boundary, or 3m if elsewhere.
Is It Cheaper to Build a Garden Room or Buy One?
Buying a flat-pack self-build kit is usually a cheaper option than a professional install, which typically has higher costs due to the labour costs and often higher specification for the build. Self-build is a good budget option, but if you're looking for a higher level of finish, this typically requires a professional build.
How Much Does a DIY Garden Room Cost?
A DIY garden room typically costs between £3,000 and £10,000, depending on the size, materials, and level of insulation. By building it yourself, you could save around 30–40% compared to hiring a professional installer, although this comes at the cost of additional time, tools, and labour, so it's not always the best value option overall. By using MyJobQuote you can find a local builder who can provide you with a bespoke garden room quote.
