Garden Rooms

About our garden rooms

A garden room is not a shed with a window. It is a detached building engineered for 365-day use as a home office, studio, gym, or living space. Our range includes insulated garden offices from Calmpod, Nordic spruce log cabins from Palmako, premium timber rooms from Lichfield, steel-framed buildings from Telluria, glass orangeries from Janssens, and timber summerhouses from Power. Prices start at £724 for the Power 4x4 summerhouse and run to £21,500 for the Lichfield Crown Elegant. When we fit these buildings, we see the difference proper insulation, double glazing, and EPDM roofing make to year-round comfort.

If you want a seasonal summer space rather than a year-round room, our summerhouses start from a lower price point. For compact options under 3m wide, see our small garden rooms collection.

Types of garden room we offer

How much does a garden room cost?

Garden room prices depend on size, insulation, wall thickness, and brand. A basic 4x4ft summerhouse starts at £724. A proper insulated garden office with double glazing starts at £9,799 for the Calmpod 8x8. Premium buildings from Lichfield with 44mm+ walls and full insulation range from £18,250 to £21,500. The table below breaks down every product type we sell.

Planning permission: do you need it?

Most garden rooms fall under permitted development and do not need planning permission. The key rules for England and Wales:

• Maximum height: 2.5m at the eaves if within 2m of a boundary. Up to 4m for a dual-pitched roof if further than 2m from any boundary.
• Ground coverage: All outbuildings combined must not exceed 50% of your total garden area (excluding the footprint of the original house).
• Position: Must be in the rear or side garden. Not forward of the principal elevation.
• Use: Must be incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling. A home office or gym counts. A self-contained flat does not.

Exceptions: Listed buildings, conservation areas, AONBs, and National Parks have stricter rules. Always check with your local planning authority if you are unsure. Read our full planning permission guide for the complete checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does a garden room cost in the UK?

  Garden rooms cost between £724 and £29,000 depending on size, insulation, and materials. A basic timber summerhouse for seasonal use starts at £724. A fully insulated garden office with double glazing and EPDM roofing starts at £9,799 for the Calmpod 8x8. Premium timber buildings from Lichfield with 44mm walls range from £18,250 to £21,500. Running electricity typically adds £800-£1,500 for a Part P qualified electrician to install SWA cable underground.

• Do garden rooms need planning permission in the UK?

  Most garden rooms are permitted development and need no planning application. Your building must stay under 2.5m at the eaves if within 2m of a boundary, and under 4m at the ridge if further away. Total outbuilding coverage must not exceed 50% of your garden. Listed buildings, conservation areas, and AONBs are exceptions where you must apply to the council. Scotland uses a 1m boundary rule instead of 2m. When in doubt, request a Lawful Development Certificate from your local authority for about £100.

• Can I use a garden room as a home office all year?

  Yes, if you choose an insulated model with double glazing. Our Calmpod insulated pods have 100mm wall insulation and U-values matching a modern house wall. They maintain 18-22°C with a small electric heater. Uninsulated log cabins (28mm walls) are comfortable from April to October but drop below 10°C in winter without significant heating. For year-round use, spend the extra on insulation. It saves £300+ per year on heating versus a single-skin building.

• What base does a garden room need?

  A 100mm concrete slab or ground screw system is required. Garden rooms are far heavier than sheds. Paving slabs on sand will shift over time, causing doors and windows to jam. We recommend a reinforced concrete base extending 50mm beyond the building footprint on all sides. Pour a cable duct through the base before the concrete set if you plan to run electricity. Our concrete base guide covers the full process.

• How do I get electricity and internet to a garden room?

  Run Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) cable underground from your house consumer unit. Standard extension leads are not safe for permanent buildings. A Part P qualified electrician must do the connection. Budget £800-£1,500 depending on the distance from your house. For internet, run an external-grade CAT6 ethernet cable alongside the power cable. Wi-Fi struggles to penetrate insulated walls with foil-backed boards. Powerline adapters work as a fallback if your house wiring supports them.

• What is the difference between a garden room and a summerhouse?

  Insulation is the key difference. A garden room has insulated walls (50-100mm), double-glazed windows, and weatherproof EPDM roofing for year-round use. A summerhouse is a single-skin timber building (12-19mm walls) designed for warm-weather use only. Garden rooms cost more upfront but deliver a usable room 12 months of the year. If you only want a retreat for May to September, a summerhouse saves you thousands.

• Will a garden room add value to my property?

  A quality garden room can add 5-15% to your property value. Estate agents report that a well-built garden office is now a selling point in the same way a conservatory was in the 2000s. The key is quality of finish. A properly insulated room with electrical supply and double glazing adds significantly more value than an uninsulated shed with a desk in it. Around 40% of UK workers now work remotely at least part of the week, driving demand for dedicated home offices.

• How long does delivery and installation take?

  Most garden rooms are delivered within 2-6 weeks of ordering. Palmako log cabins arrive as pre-cut kits for self-assembly (2-3 people, 2-3 days). Calmpod insulated pods and Lichfield premium buildings include professional installation as an option. Self-assembly suits experienced DIYers with a helper. Professional installation typically takes 1-3 days depending on the building size and adds 15-20% to the total cost.