Conservatory vs Orangery: What Is the Difference?
The real differences between a conservatory and an orangery, what each costs in 2026, and which one actually gives you a room you can use all year.
Key takeaways
- A conservatory is at least 75% glazed with a glass or polycarbonate roof; an orangery is mostly solid build with a glazed roof lantern.
- Conservatories typically cost £10,000 to £30,000; orangeries usually run from £18,000 to £45,000.
- Orangeries hold heat better and feel like part of the house, so they get used more in winter.
- Conservatories are far more likely to fall within permitted development; orangeries often need planning permission.
The names get used loosely by installers, but the difference is structural and it affects cost, comfort and whether you need planning permission. Here is what actually separates the two.
The structural difference
| Conservatory | Orangery | |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Mostly glazed, at least 75% | Mostly solid, brick or render |
| Roof | Glass or polycarbonate, pitched | Solid roof with a glazed lantern |
| Feel | A garden room flooded with light | An extension that happens to have a lantern |
| Typical footprint | 3 x 3m to 5 x 4m | 4 x 4m upwards |
| Build time | 1 to 3 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Planning | Often permitted development | Usually needs permission |
What each costs in 2026
| Project | Size | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC conservatory, glass roof | 3 x 3m | £10,000 – £17,000 |
| uPVC conservatory, glass roof | 4 x 3m | £14,000 – £22,000 |
| Aluminium conservatory | 4 x 3m | £18,000 – £28,000 |
| Solid roof replacement on existing conservatory | Typical 3 x 4m | £7,000 – £14,000 |
| Brick orangery with lantern roof | 4 x 4m | £18,000 – £32,000 |
| Brick orangery with lantern roof | 6 x 4m | £28,000 – £45,000 |
Comfort through the year
This is the practical reason orangeries cost more, and it matters more than the aesthetics for most families.
A conservatory is mostly glass, so it gains heat quickly on a sunny day and loses it quickly after dark. Modern solar-control glass and a proper heating run make a big difference, but a conservatory will always swing more in temperature than a built room. An orangery has solid, insulated walls and a smaller glazed area in the roof, so it behaves like the rest of the house. If you want a room you use in January, that is the trade you are paying for.
Planning permission
Conservatories often fall within permitted development, subject to limits on height, depth and how much of the garden they cover. Orangeries are more likely to be treated as a full extension and need planning permission, because of their solid walls and roof. Rules also tighten for flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 directions. Check with your local planning authority before ordering anything, and ask the installer whether they will handle the application.
Which adds more value?
Neither reliably pays for itself, and anyone promising a fixed return is guessing. What matters to buyers is usable space. A well-insulated orangery that works as a kitchen or living area tends to be valued as part of the house. A conservatory that is too hot in summer and too cold in winter is often viewed as something to be replaced. If your conservatory is already in that position, a solid roof conversion at £7,000 to £14,000 is usually far cheaper than knocking down and starting again.
How to decide
- Want the cheapest way to add a bright garden room for spring and autumn use? A conservatory with a glass roof and solar-control glazing.
- Want a room that feels like the house and is used daily? An orangery, or a solid roof conversion if the footprint already exists.
- Small garden, tight budget, planning uncertainty? Conservatory.
- Planning to extend the kitchen into the space? Orangery, and involve a builder early.
- Existing conservatory that is unusable in winter? Price a solid roof before anything else.
Whichever you choose, get three itemised quotes covering the same specification, including groundworks, electrics, building regulations and finishing. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive quote on this kind of project is routinely tens of thousands of pounds, and it is almost never explained by the quality of the materials alone.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Orangeries typically start around £18,000 against £10,000 for a comparable conservatory, because of the solid walls, insulated roof structure and lantern, plus the groundworks and planning involved.
Often not, if it stays within permitted development limits on height, depth and garden coverage. Flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 directions usually need permission, so confirm with your local authority first.
Effectively yes, and a solid roof conversion is the usual route. Replacing a glass or polycarbonate roof with an insulated solid roof and lantern costs £7,000 to £14,000 and transforms how usable the room is.
An orangery usually fares better because buyers see it as usable living space rather than a seasonal add-on. That said, no glazed extension reliably returns its full cost, so choose the one you will actually use.
Compare quotes from trusted local installers
Answer a few quick questions about your project and we will match you with up to three vetted installers covering your area.
Related guides
How Much Do New Windows Cost in the UK?
Indicative 2026 prices for uPVC, aluminium, sash and bay windows, what actually drives the cost of a quote, and how to compare installers fairly.
7 min readRead guide MaterialsuPVC vs Aluminium Windows: Which Should You Choose?
The honest differences between uPVC and aluminium windows, where each wins, and how to decide without overpaying for the wrong frame.
6 min readRead guide