A greenhouse extends your growing season, gives tender plants a frost-free environment over winter, and lets you grow vegetables, herbs, and exotics that would not survive the UK climate outdoors. Greenhouse prices range from under £300 for a basic polycarbonate tunnel to over £10,000 for a full-sized traditional greenhouse with heating.
Average Greenhouse Costs in the UK
Type
Size
Cost (supply only)
Polycarbonate/PVC mini
1.5m x 1m
£100 – £250
Aluminium framed, polycarbonate
1.8m x 1.2m
£300 – £600
Aluminium framed, toughened glass
1.8m x 2.4m (6x8ft)
£500 – £1,000
Aluminium framed, toughened glass
2.4m x 3.6m (8x12ft)
£1,000 – £2,000
Hardwood (cedar/oak) greenhouse
1.8m x 2.4m
£1,500 – £3,500
Hardwood greenhouse
2.4m x 4.8m
£3,500 – £8,000
Commercial-spec greenhouse
3m x 6m+
£5,000 – £20,000+
Glazing Options
Horticultural glass (3mm): Standard for budget greenhouses. Clear, good light transmission. Heavy and can shatter into sharp shards.
Toughened glass: Stronger, safer (breaks into small rounded fragments rather than dangerous shards). Essential if children have access. About 30-50% more expensive than horticultural glass.
Twin-wall polycarbonate (16mm): Better insulation than single glazing (2x thermal efficiency), lighter, virtually unbreakable, and cheaper. Light transmission is slightly lower than glass. The choice for heating efficiency and safety.
Single-layer polycarbonate: Used in budget kits. Very low insulation value and tends to discolour over time. Fine for an unheated summer growing space; not ideal for year-round use.
Base Costs
Greenhouses need a solid, level base. Options:
Concrete slab: Most stable, £200 – £600 depending on size. Best for permanence.
Concrete block perimeter: The greenhouse sits on a course of concrete blocks around the perimeter. £150 – £400.
Slabs on compacted hardcore: Less formal but adequate for smaller aluminium greenhouses. £100 – £300.
Timber frame base: Some wooden greenhouses have an integral timber sill/base frame.
Never install a greenhouse directly on bare soil — settling and differential movement will cause the structure to rack and may break glazing.
Professional Installation Costs
Many suppliers offer installation as an add-on:
Small greenhouse (up to 6x8ft): £200 – £500
Medium greenhouse (8x12ft): £400 – £900
Large greenhouse (10x16ft+): £600 – £1,500
Assembly is typically straightforward for aluminium kit greenhouses with DIY skills. Hardwood greenhouses are more complex to assemble and professional installation is recommended.
Greenhouse Heating Costs
An unheated greenhouse in the UK provides frost protection (minimum temperature typically 2-5°C above outside temperature). To keep a greenhouse frost-free through winter, you typically need supplementary heating.
Electric fan heater (1-2kW): £40 – £120 to purchase; running cost approximately £150 – £400 per winter for a small to medium greenhouse
Paraffin heater: £30 – £80 to purchase; fuel cost £100 – £300 per winter
Electric soil warming cables: £50 – £150 for a small propagation bench
Mains gas extension: Expensive to install (£500 – £2,000) but cheapest to run for large heated greenhouses
Does a Greenhouse Need Planning Permission?
Most greenhouses fall under permitted development in England. Key conditions:
Positioned in the rear garden (not forward of the principal elevation of the house)
Total area of extensions and outbuildings does not exceed 50% of the garden area
Height under 2.5m within 2m of a boundary; under 4m (dual pitched) elsewhere
Check with your local planning authority if you are in a conservation area or national park.
Popular Greenhouse Brands in the UK
Halls: Longstanding UK brand, good value aluminium greenhouses
Elite: Solid mid-range aluminium range
Juliana: Scandinavian brand with well-engineered aluminium greenhouses
Hartley Botanic: Premium UK-made aluminium and hardwood greenhouses
Alton: Heritage brand, high-quality traditional greenhouses
Buying Second-Hand
Greenhouses are frequently advertised second-hand on Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and freecycle. A second-hand greenhouse in good condition can represent excellent value — aluminium frames last decades. Key checks:
That all glass or glazing panes are present and uncracked
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