A garage conversion turns an integral or attached garage into a warm, habitable room by insulating the floor, walls and ceiling, replacing the garage door with a wall and window, and adding heating, lighting and finishes.
We convert integral, attached and detached garages into bedrooms, home offices, playrooms, utility rooms and annexes. Our free site survey and written quote checks the garage floor and walls, the foundations under the door opening, damp, ceiling height and how the room will connect to the house. We also look at heating, ventilation and whether you lose parking that matters for your street or deeds. Garage conversions suit people who want a usable room for far less than an extension, often without any planning permission. We handle the building work from start to finish, including insulation, the new front wall and window, electrics, plastering and building control sign-off.
What’s included?
- Infilling the garage door opening with insulated wall and new window
- Foundation checks under the door opening and footings where needed
- Damp-proof membrane, insulated floor and screed or raised timber floor
- Insulated walls and ceiling built to building regulations
- New internal door or opening into the house
- Electrics, heating and ventilation by qualified trades, with certificates
- Plastering, skirting and decoration-ready finish
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
Which options can you choose from?
How much does a garage conversion cost?
Most jobs fall between £12,000–£28,000 for a typical single integral or attached garage of about 15–18m², including VAT at 20%. The table shows three typical levels of work; the figures are national guides, confirmed in writing after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Integral single garage | A garage within the house footprint, with sound walls and a roof already in place. | £10,000–£18,000 |
| Attached single garage | A garage beside the house that may need roof, wall or floor upgrades. | £14,000–£25,000 |
| Double or detached garage | A larger or separate building, often with a shower room or kitchenette. | £22,000–£45,000 |
What affects the price?
- Garage type: integral, attached or detached
- Condition of the floor, walls, roof and foundations
- Whether a shower room or kitchenette is included
- Heating method and ventilation for the new room
- Window and door choices and the level of finishes
How do prices vary across the UK?
| Region | Guide price |
|---|---|
| London | £15,500–£36,500 |
| The South East | £13,500–£31,500 |
| The East of England | £12,500–£29,500 |
| The South West | £12,000–£28,500 |
| The West Midlands | £12,000–£27,500 |
| The East Midlands | £11,500–£27,000 |
| The North West | £11,500–£26,500 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £11,500–£26,500 |
| The North East | £11,000–£25,000 |
| Wales | £11,000–£26,000 |
| Scotland | £11,500–£27,000 |
| Northern Ireland | £10,500–£24,000 |
Regional figures apply typical labour and material cost differences to the national guide. They are not quotes.
Do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?
Building regulations approval is needed to convert a garage into a habitable room anywhere in the UK, covering foundations under the new wall, damp proofing, insulation, ventilation and fire safety. In Scotland a building warrant is normally needed before work starts.
England
In England, converting an attached or integral garage into a room usually needs no planning permission, unless a planning condition on your estate has removed permitted development rights (common on newer houses). Changing the garage door to a wall and window is generally fine.
Building Regulations approval is needed: foundations for the infill wall, a damp-proof course, insulation, ventilation and fire safety.
Wales
In Wales, an internal garage conversion usually needs no planning permission unless your planning history removed those rights.
Building Regulations approval in Wales is needed for the infill wall, insulation, ventilation and fire safety.
Scotland
In Scotland, converting an attached or integral garage usually needs no planning permission unless a condition restricts it.
A building warrant is normally needed, because the work changes the use of the space and alters the walls and insulation.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, converting a garage into living space usually needs no planning permission unless rights were removed by condition.
Building control approval is needed under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland).
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 2–6 weeks on site. Lead times for materials, drawings and approvals come before that and are set out in your written quote.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
We visit, measure up, look at access and the condition of what’s there, and talk through options and budget with you.
Written quote
You get a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification, what’s included, the payment stages and a likely start window.
Plan and prepare
We sort drawings, approvals and materials, agree dates with you and explain what to expect each week before work starts.
Build and hand over
The work is carried out, checked and cleared away. We walk round it with you and pass on certificates and product details.
Garage conversions: frequently asked questions
How much does a garage conversion cost?
A typical single garage conversion costs £12,000–£28,000, depending on whether the garage is integral, attached or detached and what the room is for. Integral garages usually cost least because the walls and roof are already sound. Adding a shower room, upgrading a flat roof or levelling a sloping floor adds cost. As a guide, allow roughly £550–£1,100 per square metre plus fixed costs. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a garage conversion?
Whether a garage conversion needs planning permission depends on the works, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. In England, converting an integral or attached garage is often permitted development where changes are mostly internal, unless a planning condition has removed those rights, which is common on newer estates. We check what applies before quoting.
Will I need building regulations approval?
A garage conversion needs building regulations approval because the space becomes a habitable room. Building control checks that the new wall in the door opening has proper foundations, that the floor has a damp-proof membrane and insulation, and that walls and ceiling meet insulation standards. Ventilation, fire safety and escape routes are also checked. In Scotland a building warrant is normally needed before work starts.
How long does a garage conversion take?
A straightforward integral garage conversion usually takes two to four weeks on site. Attached garages that need roof or wall upgrades, and conversions with a shower room, typically take four to six weeks. Detached garages turned into annexes can take longer. Before work starts, allow time for drawings and building control approval. We give you a clear programme with your written quote.
Will the new room be warm enough?
A converted garage can be as warm as any other room in the house, provided the floor, walls and ceiling are insulated to current standards. Garages are usually built with single-skin walls and no insulation, so this work matters. Heating can come from a new radiator on your existing system, underfloor heating or an electric heater, depending on your boiler capacity. We advise on the most suitable option.
Does the floor need raising?
Garage floors are usually lower than the house floor and slope towards the door for drainage. Most conversions raise the floor with a damp-proof membrane, insulation and either a screed or a timber floor, so it lines up with the house and removes the step. The final level depends on ceiling height and the door into the house. We measure both during the survey.
Can I keep some storage space?
Many people keep part of the garage for storage by building a dividing wall, leaving a smaller store at the front behind the existing door and converting the area behind into a room or utility. This keeps the look of the house unchanged and gives you somewhere for bikes and tools. The converted part still needs the same insulation, ventilation and fire separation.
Will losing the garage affect parking?
Losing a garage can matter if your street has parking pressure or your property deeds or planning conditions require off-street parking. Many garages are too narrow for modern cars, so in practice the driveway often provides the parking anyway. We check for planning conditions affecting the garage before quoting. If you need extra parking, we can also price a driveway extension.