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ConservatoryCost.com

Conservatory vs Orangery: The Honest UK Cost and Use Comparison (2026)

The two most asked-about garden extensions, side by side. Which is right for your home, your budget, and your lifestyle?

Updated April 2026. Independent guide - not affiliated with any installer.

Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureConservatoryOrangery
StructureMostly glass walls and glass/poly roofBrick pillars + solid perimeter roof + glass lantern
Typical cost range£8,000 - £35,000£25,000 - £80,000+
Build time1-2 weeks on site3-6 weeks on site
Planning permissionUsually permitted developmentUsually permitted development
Building regulationsUsually exempt (if conditions met)Always required
Roof U-value1.0-2.8 W/m2K (glass to poly)0.15-0.18 W/m2K (insulated)
Winter temperature (no heating)8-14°C14-18°C
Year-round liveable?With investment (warm roof, UFH)Yes, naturally
Internal ceilingNo (glass above)Yes (plastered, lit)
Light penetrationExcellent (full glass roof)Good (lantern only)
Value uplift5-10%8-15%

When to Choose a Conservatory

A conservatory is the right choice when budget is the primary constraint and you want maximum light. A well-specified conservatory with a glass roof and solar-control glazing delivers genuine value. With a tiled warm roof upgrade, it becomes year-round usable - at a fraction of the cost of an orangery.

Choose a conservatory if...

  • Budget is below £25,000
  • You want maximum natural light (glass roof is brighter than a lantern)
  • The project is a quick win - 6-10 weeks total vs 12-20 for an orangery
  • You don't need a plastered ceiling or "proper room" feel
  • You want to keep planning and building regs simple (PD, usually exempt from BR)

When to Choose an Orangery

An orangery is worth the premium when you want a genuine room - not a garden room, but a proper extension of the house with a plasterboard ceiling, downlights, and thermal performance that means you never notice you are in what started as an outdoor space.

Choose an orangery if...

  • Budget is above £30,000
  • You want year-round use without retrofitting a warm roof later
  • You want a plastered, lit ceiling (feels like a real room)
  • The property is a period home that suits brick pillars aesthetically
  • You are planning to sell within 5-10 years (higher value uplift)

The Hybrid Option: Tiled-Roof Conservatory

There is a third path between a standard conservatory and a full orangery: a conservatory with a tiled warm roof and, optionally, a central Velux or roof lantern for light. This delivers most of the thermal benefit of an orangery (U-value 0.15 versus the orangery's 0.15-0.18) at roughly 50-60% of the orangery cost, because you retain the glazed walls (cheaper than brick pillars) and use a standard frame structure.

Standard conservatory

£11,000 - £25,000

Glass roof

Tiled-roof conservatory

£15,000 - £35,000

Best value for year-round use

Full orangery

£25,000 - £80,000+

Brick pillars + lantern

Conservatory vs Orangery Questions

Is an orangery worth twice the cost of a conservatory?
It depends on how you intend to use the space. An orangery at £30,000-£50,000 delivers a year-round usable room that requires no further thermal investment, adds 8-15% to property value, and functions as genuine additional habitable space. A conservatory at £12,000-£20,000 can achieve similar thermal performance with a tiled warm roof upgrade (add £4,000-£12,000), bringing the total to £16,000-£32,000. For most homeowners, the tiled-roof conservatory represents the best value proposition.
Which is warmer: a conservatory or an orangery?
An orangery is naturally warmer due to its solid insulated perimeter roof (U-value 0.15 W/m2K) and brick pillar mass, which stores and releases heat. A standard conservatory with a glass roof achieves 10-14 degrees Celsius on a cold winter day without heating; an orangery maintains 14-18 degrees. However, a conservatory with a tiled warm roof achieves 12-16 degrees - close to the orangery's baseline performance at substantially lower cost.
Which adds more value to a house: a conservatory or an orangery?
An orangery typically adds more value, primarily because estate agents count it as additional habitable space rather than a conservatory. A quality orangery with building regulations approval can add 8-15% to property value. A well-built conservatory with a warm roof adds 5-10%. The difference narrows when the conservatory is of high quality and genuinely year-round usable - which is why the warm roof upgrade is so important if resale value is a consideration.

Related Guides

Orangery Cost

Full orangery price guide

Materials

uPVC, aluminium, timber

Heating and Insulation

Year-round comfort

vs Extension

The full comparison