Conservatory styles and orangeries
Conservatory styles range from the simple lean-to to the Victorian, Edwardian, gable-front and bespoke, and on to the orangery. Here is what each one looks like, what it costs fitted, and who builds them near you.
- Lean-to conservatoriesA lean-to conservatory has a single sloping roof that runs up to the wall of the house.from £6,000typically £8,3003m × 4m lean-to conservatory in uPVC, fitted
- Victorian conservatoriesA Victorian conservatory has a bay front with three or five facets and a ridged roof that follows the bay.from £9,000typically £11,5003m × 4m Victorian conservatory in uPVC, fitted
- Edwardian conservatoriesAn Edwardian conservatory is a rectangle with a pitched roof and a flat, square front.from £9,500typically £12,0003m × 4m Edwardian conservatory in uPVC, fitted
- Gable-front conservatoriesA gable-front conservatory has a tall triangular front, with the roof ridge running straight out from the house.from £10,000typically £18,000Gable-front conservatory in uPVC, from 4m × 4m to 6m × 4m, fitted
- Bespoke conservatoriesA bespoke conservatory is designed for the house and the plot, rather than picked from a standard shape.from £14,000typically £27,000Bespoke conservatory, including P-shaped and T-shaped, 5m × 4m and larger, fitted
- Orangery extensionsAn orangery extension has brick piers and a flat or lightly pitched roof with a central glazed lantern.from £25,000typically £32,5004m × 3m orangery, fully installed
How to choose between conservatory styles
Start with how you want to use the room. A lean-to is the cheapest and fits tight plots, an Edwardian gives the most usable floor space, a Victorian is the most decorative, and a gable front gives height and light. A bespoke shape or an orangery suits a larger house and a bigger budget.
Every style page shows what it typically costs fitted, what moves the price and what a quote should include, so you can compare like with like.
What to compare across conservatory styles
- Floor space. Bay corners and a hipped roof take space away from furniture. A square front gives more of it for the same depth.
- The roof. Every style can have a glass, polycarbonate or solid roof, and the roof changes the price and the comfort more than the shape does. See conservatory roofs.
- Planning. Height and depth set what you can build without an application. Read planning and building a conservatory before you fix on a style.
- Cost. A lean-to is the cheapest and a bespoke build the most expensive. Our conservatory prices page puts every style side by side.
Get quotes for your home
A guide price only takes you so far. Local firms can price the work on your own home, and comparing a few quotes is the quickest way to see what is reasonable.
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