£30 OFF Everything!
Use code SPRING30 at checkout min order £799 (Everything)
Which Greenhouse?
Which Greenhouse?
Choosing your first greenhouse can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This guide covers the three main glazing types (horticultural glass, toughened safety glass and polycarbonate), sizes from compact 6x4 models starting at £339 to large 13ft-wide structures up to £18,950, and the key brands we stock including Vitavia, Elite, Swallow, Palram Canopia and Janssens. We've helped over 150,000 UK customers pick the right greenhouse since 2012, so here's what actually matters.
Written by Matt W, Co-Founder of Greenhouse Stores | Over 15 years in the greenhouse industry | 150,000+ customers served
Which Greenhouse Glazing Is Best? Glass vs Polycarbonate
This is one of the most common questions our customers ask when buying a greenhouse. Given a choice we'd always go for toughened safety glass because it's far stronger than standard greenhouse glass (horticultural glass), meaning fewer breakages and a safer garden for families.
Horticultural Glass
Standard 3mm horticultural glass is the cheapest glazing option. Each panel measures roughly 2ft x 2ft, with two overlapping panes per section held together by "S" clips. It lets in around 90% of available light, which is excellent for growing. The downsides? When it breaks, it shatters into large, dangerous shards. The overlapping joins also collect dirt and algae over time, making cleaning difficult.
Horticultural Glass Greenhouse Best Sellers
View All Horticultural Glass Greenhouses
Toughened Safety Glass
Toughened safety glass in 3mm and 4mm thickness is made by passing normal cut glass through a high-temperature furnace that heats up the outside of the glass very quickly, creating surface tension that hardens it. This glass is around 5x stronger than standard horticultural glass — it'll take an impact from the kids' football without a problem, but not a golf or cricket ball.
If it does break under heavy impact, it shatters into hundreds of tiny, relatively harmless pieces like a car windscreen, rather than large dangerous shards. Toughened glass is also supplied in full-length panes running from floor to eaves, giving you a smooth, easy-to-clean surface with no overlapping joins.
Toughened glass is also heavier than standard horticultural glass and polycarbonate, which gives excellent wind resistance — the wind won't be shifting it, that's for sure! Our toughened glass greenhouses start from around £519 for a 6x4 Vitavia Venus.
Toughened Glass Greenhouse Best Sellers
View All Toughened Glass Greenhouses
Polycarbonate Glazing
Polycarbonate greenhouse glazing comes in two varieties. The most widely used is 4mm Twin Wall Polycarbonate — basically double-glazed polycarbonate sheet of the kind you'll find on conservatory roofs. Polycarbonate is used in bulletproof applications, aeroplane cockpits and luggage where impact resistance is paramount.
The advantages are that it retains heat around 40% better than single-pane glass due to the double-glazed construction. The biggest advantage though is safety, especially in a family garden where there are kids and pets racing around and balls being booted about. Twin wall polycarbonate has a slightly frosted appearance, which means your plants are protected from sun scorching in hot weather.
The next kind is Crystal Clear Polycarbonate found only on Palram Canopia greenhouses. This clear-as-glass polycarbonate benefits from better light transmission like a glass greenhouse but offers all the safety advantages — it's virtually unbreakable. Many gardeners prefer the look of clear polycarbonate as you can see all your lovely plants inside clearly.
The only downside to some polycarbonate greenhouses is that because polycarbonate is so light it can be blown out by high winds. This is especially the case with cheap polycarbonate greenhouses that use glazing clips to hold the polycarbonate in place. Our Vitavia and Palram greenhouses use a better glazing system where the glazing sits sandwiched within the aluminium frame, holding them firm even in 50mph+ gusts.
Polycarbonate Greenhouse Best Sellers
View All Polycarbonate Greenhouses
Greenhouse Glazing Comparison
| Feature | Horticultural Glass | Toughened Safety Glass | 4mm Twin Wall Polycarbonate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 3mm (2 overlapping panes) | 3mm or 4mm (full-length panes) | 4mm twin wall |
| Strength | Weakest — breaks easily | 5x stronger than horticultural | Virtually unbreakable |
| Safety When Broken | Large dangerous shards | Small harmless pieces | Won't shatter |
| Light Transmission | ~90% (excellent) | ~90% (excellent) | ~80-83% (good, diffused) |
| Heat Retention | Poor (single pane) | Moderate (single pane, heavier) | Good (~40% better than glass) |
| Wind Resistance | Low (lightweight) | High (heavier glass) | Moderate to high (depends on fitting) |
| Cleaning | Difficult (overlapping joins trap dirt) | Easy (smooth floor-to-eaves panes) | Easy (smooth surface) |
| Longevity | Lasts indefinitely if not broken | Lasts indefinitely if not broken | May discolour after 10-15 years |
| Starting Price | From £395 | From £519 | From £395 (Palram Canopia) |
| Child/Pet Safe? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Our Verdict | Budget option for sheltered, adult-only gardens | Best all-round choice for most UK gardeners | Best for families, year-round growers and exposed sites |
Want more detail on glazing? Read our full glass vs polycarbonate greenhouse comparison.
Choosing a Greenhouse
Small Greenhouses for Smaller Gardens
Most of us gardeners have limited space and with gardens getting smaller, small greenhouses are very popular. The most popular size is 6ft wide. We have a great range of 6ft wide greenhouses in aluminium and wood with different glazing types and colours.
Our Vitavia Venus and Orion greenhouses are 6ft wide with the smallest sizes being 6x4, ideal for fitting into a small space in your garden or on the allotment. Venus greenhouses are available with horticultural glass, toughened glass or polycarbonate glazing. Prices start from £395 for horticultural glass, £519 for toughened glass and £649 for polycarbonate (8x6 size).
If you're in the market for a polycarbonate greenhouse and want to save a few quid, have a look at our Palram Canopia Hybrid. It uses crystal clear polycarbonate, comes with a galvanised steel base and a lockable door, and starts from £395 for a 6x6. Delivery takes just 3-5 days on most Palram models.
Still on the subject of 6ft-wide polycarbonate greenhouses — the Palram Harmony range is also available in silver or green, with sizes from 6x4 up to 6x10. The Harmony has an outward-opening door with a locking handle, a galvanised steel base and one roof vent. The glazing slides directly into the greenhouse frame without clips, giving this greenhouse a sturdy construction and great resistance to wind and flying footballs.
If you've considered a wooden greenhouse then have a look at our Swallow wooden greenhouses. These really are beautiful works of craftsmanship, made right here in the UK in Rotherham. Hand-built from tantalised Redwood Pine with a 10-year guarantee. Standard features include an inward-opening door with mortise lock, full-length toughened glass, automatic opening roof vents, slatted staging and best of all — free greenhouse installation. Swallow will deliver and erect your beautiful new 6ft-wide Kingfisher greenhouse at no extra cost. Just order, sit back and relax for 5-8 weeks until your new greenhouse arrives ready to use. You can also have your greenhouse factory-painted in a number of attractive colours.
Best Selling Small Greenhouses
Large Greenhouses for Bigger Spaces
If you've got more space or just want to grow a lot more plants and vegetables, an 8ft-wide greenhouse is a very sensible choice. You get a lot more working space inside as well as more room for your plants. We sell 8ft-wide greenhouses with single and double doors. Double doors are particularly useful for getting in and out with wide trays, wheelbarrows and especially useful for wheelchair gardeners. This size of greenhouse is great for schools — you can fit quite a few little students into an 8ft-wide greenhouse and it's a lovely warm environment to learn about where food comes from.
Best Selling Large Greenhouses
8ft Wide Greenhouses
Our Vitavia selection of 8ft-wide greenhouses has 4 models which we'll run through here.
Vitavia Neptune — Single sliding door with lever latch, 2 roof vents, integral gutters. Sizes from 8x8 to 8x14 in silver, green or black. A solid, straightforward greenhouse for most gardens.
Vitavia Jupiter — Double doors, higher eaves and roof ridge than the Neptune, making it ideal for serious growers and especially well suited to schools with its generous usable space. 2-4 roof vents depending on size, with extra corner and roof bracing for strength.
Vitavia Saturn — The pretty one. The Saturn's eaves gently curve, joining the roof to the sides seamlessly. The curved part is made from tough UV-protected acrylic which ends where the gutters start. Yes, gutters! There are other greenhouses with curved eaves but none of them have gutters apart from the Saturn. The gutters help you collect rainwater for your water butts and keep muck and grime from ending up down the sides. Double doors, 1-4 roof vents depending on size.
Vitavia Zeus — Described by Vitavia as "semi-professional" and it's easy to see why. Sizes from 8x10 up to 8x20, with an outward-opening stable door, high 1.89m eaves and a low-threshold entry. The sides use float glass while the roof and apex sections are 10mm twin wall polycarbonate for shading, safety and heat retention. Have a look at these superb greenhouses here on Greenhouse Stores.
For a large wooden greenhouse, the 8ft-wide Swallow Raven has inward-opening double doors with mortise lock, slatted staging, automatic opening roof vents and toughened glass as standard. All Swallow greenhouses include a 10-year guarantee and free installation in your garden.
8ft Wide Greenhouse Best Sellers
Bigger?
If you want something bigger still then the 13ft-wide Swallow Falcon greenhouse might be just the thing. Lovingly crafted from tantalised Redwood Pine, the Falcon has slatted staging on either side, double doors, automatic roof vents and toughened glass as standard. This spacious greenhouse is available in sizes from 13x12 all the way to the huge 13x37. Don't forget that every Swallow wooden greenhouse is installed in your garden for free. The Elite Supreme range comes in 10ft widths with prices starting from £1,199 (horticultural glass) or £1,399 (toughened glass).
Something a Bit Different?
Do you want something a bit different? A greenhouse that is functional but just as much a feature of your garden to catch the eye. Something attractive that will make the neighbours jealous!
Orangery Style Greenhouses
Orangery style greenhouses are as much about having a pleasant warm environment for relaxing in as they are a space to grow your plants and vegetables. They're generally a T-shaped structure with an entrance porch leading into the greenhouse itself. Orangeries offer a spacious and interesting place to enjoy working in your greenhouse whilst looking beautiful in the garden. The Vitavia Hera starts from £729 (horticultural glass) or £869 (toughened glass).
Best Selling Orangery Style Greenhouses
Vitavia Sirius Orangery Greenhouse
The Vitavia Sirius Orangery is a 12ft x 12ft greenhouse made from high-quality aluminium, available in anodised silver, green and black. The greenhouse has double sliding doors, 4 roof vents and a galvanised steel base as well as Vitavia's 10-year warranty.
Swallow Wooden T-Shaped Orangery Greenhouses
These wonderfully designed and crafted T-shaped orangeries from Swallow are the stuff that gardeners' dreams are made of. The Swallow Cygnet model, the smallest in the T-shaped range, won the 2011 "Best of British" and "Best Product" awards at the Birmingham GLEE exhibition. All Swallow orangeries feature toughened glass, tantalised Redwood Pine timber, automatic roof vents, guttering and slatted staging. The Swallow Mallard T-shaped model starts from around £9,919 with free installation.
If you're not sure which greenhouse you want after reading all this, give us a call on 0800 098 8877 or have a look at our "Which Lean-to Greenhouse" guide.
Best Selling T-Shaped Orangery Greenhouses
View All T-Shaped Wooden Greenhouses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best glazing for a greenhouse?
Toughened safety glass is the best all-round glazing for most UK greenhouses. It's around 5x stronger than standard horticultural glass, shatters safely into small harmless pieces, and comes in full-length floor-to-eaves panes that are easy to clean. If safety around children or pets is your main concern, polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable and retains heat around 40% better than glass. Compare all three in our toughened glass greenhouse range.
What size greenhouse should I buy?
Buy the biggest greenhouse your garden and budget will allow. The most popular size is 6x8 (around 48 sq ft), but around 70% of our customers say they wish they'd gone larger after their first growing season. If you want staging on both sides plus room to move, look at 8x10 or larger. Check our full buying guide for sizing advice.
Do I need planning permission for a greenhouse?
Most UK greenhouses don't need planning permission under permitted development rules. Your greenhouse must not cover more than 50% of your garden, must not sit forward of the principal elevation, and eaves must stay under 2.5m near a boundary. Greenhouses over 30 square metres or in conservation areas may need approval. Call us on 0800 098 8877 and we can help you check.
Should I choose aluminium or wooden?
Aluminium is the best choice for most gardeners — affordable, low-maintenance and long-lasting. Around 85% of our customers choose aluminium. Prices start from £339 with 10-15 year warranties. Wooden greenhouses from Swallow cost more (from around £3,500) but they're hand-built in the UK, come with a 10-year timber guarantee and free installation, and typically last 25-30+ years.
How much does a greenhouse cost?
Greenhouse prices range from £339 for a small lean-to up to £18,950+ for a large premium wooden model. A good-quality 6x8 with toughened glass costs £600-£800. An 8x10 costs £1,100-£1,700 depending on brand and glazing. All greenhouses include free UK mainland delivery. Browse our aluminium and wooden greenhouse ranges.
Can't find the size or specification to suit your needs?
Most of our ranges are fully customisable. Learn more about our bespoke options.