UK cost guide · September 2026
How much does a garage conversion cost in 2026?
A mid-range conversion of an integral or attached single garage costs £14,400 to £20,500 including VAT in the UK. A detached single garage costs £21,500 to £30,000, because it needs its own services and more insulation. Allow £1,700 to £3,700 for drawings and building control.
Work out your garage conversion cost
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Garage conversion prices in 2026
Ranges are for a typical home outside London, including VAT, before fees and contingency. Use the calculator for your size, region and finish.
| Type | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integral or attached single garage | £10,800 to £14,400 | £14,400 to £20,500 | £20,500 to £30,000 |
| Detached single garage | £18,000 to £21,500 | £21,500 to £30,000 | £30,000 to £42,000 |
Garage conversion costs by region
Labour costs vary across the UK far more than materials. London runs about 35% above the UK average and Northern Ireland about 18% below.
| Region | Mid-range cost |
|---|---|
| UK average (outside London) | £14,400 to £20,500 |
| London | £19,400 to £27,500 |
| South East | £16,600 to £23,500 |
| East of England | £15,400 to £22,000 |
| South West | £15,000 to £21,000 |
| West Midlands | £14,000 to £19,800 |
| East Midlands | £13,700 to £19,400 |
| Scotland | £13,700 to £19,400 |
| North West | £13,400 to £19,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £13,200 to £18,800 |
| Wales | £13,000 to £18,400 |
| North East | £12,700 to £18,000 |
| Northern Ireland | £11,800 to £16,700 |
Want it for your area? See local prices and council building control fees for 92 council areas.
Fees and approvals
Design, engineering and approvals come on top of the building work. Building control figures are the middle half of fees charged by the councils we checked in September 2026.
| Fee | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building regulations drawings | £1,200 to £3,000 | |
| Building control (council, full plans) | £460 to £660 | Middle half of 77 councils in England and Wales for a garage conversion |
What's included in these prices
Included
- Filling the door opening with a wall and window
- Raising and insulating the floor
- Insulating walls and ceiling
- Electrics, heating and plastering
- Decoration to a finished room
Not included
- A kitchen or bathroom in the new room
- Underpinning or new foundations if the garage has poor footings
- Planning fees, if your permitted development rights have been removed
What drives the cost
- Condition of the garage. Weak foundations or damp walls add cost quickly.
- Insulation. Garages are cold; meeting building regulations means insulating the floor, walls and roof.
- Services. Detached garages need new electric and heating supplies run from the house.
- Use. A bedroom or office is simpler than a kitchen or bathroom, which need drainage.
Planning, regulations and VAT
Most garage conversions in England do not need planning permission unless your permitted development rights have been removed (common on newer estates). Check with your council. Every conversion needs building regulations approval.
Checklist: what to ask builders to confirm
Print this or save it as a PDF. Mark each line included, separate or not confirmed as quotes come in. An empty amount means unknown, not free.
| Item | What to confirm | Included? Amount? |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Foundations, walls, damp and roof condition. | |
| Permissions | Planning check and building control. | |
| Envelope | Door infill, window, floor, wall and roof insulation. | |
| Services | Electrics, heating, and any plumbing. | |
| Finishes | Plaster, flooring and decoration. |
Questions people ask
Do I need planning permission to convert my garage?
Usually not, unless your permitted development rights have been removed. You always need building regulations approval.
How much does a double garage conversion cost?
Expect well above the single-garage figure of £14,400 to £20,500; get a site-specific quote, because doubles often need extra structural work.
Sources and method
Our ranges combine published 2026 UK cost guides, industry data and our own survey of council fees. We check them every quarter. They are planning figures, not quotes: always get at least three detailed written quotes. Read how Estiquote estimates work, or download the full cost data.