Interactive tool
Calculate your 10-year cost
Kit + base + delivery + maintenance, with side-by-side comparison vs cheap aluminium replacement cycles and heritage glasshouse alternatives.
Run the Cost Calculator →Why headline kit prices mislead
The UK wooden greenhouse market has roughly four price tiers:
- Budget kits (£300-£800): self-build polyethylene-over-timber-frame, 3-5 year lifespan, generic Asian softwood
- Mid-range (£1,500-£2,500): NORDIC sits here. Kiln-dried treated FSC pine, twin-wall polycarbonate, screw-fixed retention, written warranty
- Heritage (£3,500-£8,000): cedar/modified-timber frames, often glass, painted finishes, supplier installation
- Bespoke (£10,000+): custom-designed, often integrated with garden architecture
Each tier has different cost profiles for the four non-kit line items (base, delivery, assembly, maintenance). Adding £1,500 to a £400 budget kit's headline price doesn't make it a £1,900 mid-range product — the underlying construction is fundamentally different.
This guide is the actual breakdown for mid-range NORDIC (the prices we know best), with comparison columns for budget and heritage tiers based on UK market rates spring 2026.
The 5 cost lines explained
Line 1 — The kit itself
| Tier | Typical price range (2026) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget self-build | £300-£800 | Single-skin polyethylene cover, basic softwood frame, often imported. 3-5 year service life. Spring-clip glazing retention. |
| Mid-range NORDIC | £1,499-£1,899 | 45×45 mm kiln-dried FSC pine, 4 mm twin-wall CrystalLight™ polycarbonate, screw-fixed, EasyMount™ base brackets, SmartVent™. 20+ year service life with maintenance. |
| Heritage | £3,500-£8,000+ | Cedar or modified timber, often horticultural glass, painted finishes, sometimes including basic site survey. |
| Bespoke | £10,000+ | Custom design, custom dimensions, professional install included, sometimes integrated with house. |
The NORDIC range pricing:
| Model | External (L × W) | Internal floor | Live RRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORDIC S | 2.00 × 2.60 m | 5.2 m² | £1,499 |
| NORDIC M | 3.00 × 2.60 m | 7.8 m² | £1,599 |
| NORDIC L | 4.00 × 2.60 m | 10.4 m² | £1,699 |
| NORDIC XL | 5.00 × 2.60 m | 13.0 m² | £1,799 |
| NORDIC XXL | 6.00 × 2.60 m | 15.6 m² | £1,899 |
Line 2 — Delivery
UK mainland delivery is typically £0-£200 surcharge, depending on size and your postcode area. Highlands, Scottish Islands, and Northern Ireland often carry separate quotes (£200-£500+ depending on logistics).
What you're paying for in delivery: pallet shipping (the kit arrives on a 120 × 80 × 150 cm Euro-pallet), kerbside drop. The delivery driver will not move the pallet from the kerb to your installation spot — that's on you. Plan for help moving 95-230 kg of palletised flat-pack from kerb to garden.
Hidden delivery cost trap: "free delivery" headlines on budget Asian-import kits often mean the seller bakes the £80-£150 logistics cost into the headline price, then surcharges separately for "remote postcodes" once you order. NORDIC's pricing is transparent: UK mainland is included; Highlands/Islands/NI quoted separately upfront.
Line 3 — Base preparation
You can't put a 100+ kg wooden greenhouse on bare lawn — it sinks, the frame distorts, the joints fail. Three viable bases with cost ranges:
| Base type | DIY material cost | DIY labour | Contractor cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paving slabs on hardcore (most common) | £150-£300 | weekend, 2 adults | £400-£700 |
| Concrete pad (most permanent) | £200-£500 | 2-3 days, 2 adults | £700-£1,200 |
| Ground screws + perimeter timber sill (fastest, no concrete) | £200-£400 | 1 day, 2 adults | £350-£600 |
Most NORDIC owners go with paving slabs on hardcore — DIY-able weekend job, £200-ish in materials, lasts the lifetime of the greenhouse.
Avoid: bare lawn (sinks within 6 months), gravel only (slumps), wooden deck (movement transfers).
→ Deeper read: Greenhouse Base Preparation UK — what actually works
Line 4 — Assembly
Self-assembly cost: nothing if you do it yourself. Time investment is the real number:
| Greenhouse size | DIY time (2 adults) | Tool kit needed |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 m² (NORDIC S) | half-day | cordless drill, spanner set, spirit level |
| 7-10 m² (NORDIC M) | full day | above + step-ladder |
| 10-13 m² (NORDIC L/XL) | weekend (1.5-2 days) | above + extended step-ladder |
| 15+ m² (NORDIC XXL) | 2-3 days | above + second helper recommended |
If you'd rather pay someone:
- Local handyman: typically £200-£400 for NORDIC S/M, £400-£800 for L/XL/XXL
- Specialist installer (greenhouse-experienced contractor): £400-£700 for S/M, £700-£1,500 for L/XL/XXL
If you're getting professional installation, get the quote with the kit price included to avoid scope creep on assembly day.
→ Deeper read: How to assemble a wooden greenhouse — UK step-by-step
Line 5 — Maintenance over 10 years
The recurring cost most kit comparisons skip:
| Item | Cost | Frequency | 10-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved wood preservative re-treatment | £25-£40 per cycle | every 2-3 years | £100-£200 (4-5 cycles) |
| Polycarbonate replacement (if storm impact) | £40-£80 per panel × maybe 1-2 over 10 years | event-based | £80-£160 |
| SmartVent™ piston cartridge replacement | ~£25 | every 7-10 years | £25-£50 |
| Routine cleaning supplies | £10/year | annual | £100 |
| Total maintenance over 10 years | £305-£510 |
For the budget tier, the 10-year cost looks very different — the cover doesn't last 10 years and frame replacement is needed:
| Item (budget tier) | 10-year cost |
|---|---|
| Cover replacement (every 18-30 months) | £150-£300 (5-6 covers) |
| Frame replacement at year 4-5 | £400-£600 |
| Total maintenance + replacement over 10 years (budget) | £550-£900 |
→ Deeper read: Wooden Greenhouse Maintenance UK — the real schedule
Total 10-year cost — three tiers compared
For the same plot — UK mainland delivery, paving slab DIY base, self-assembly, maintenance per schedule — over 10 years:
| Line item | Budget kit (£500 tier) | NORDIC mid-range (M, £1,599) | Heritage (£4,500 tier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit (initial) | £500 | £1,599 | £4,500 |
| Delivery | £80 (often hidden) | included UK mainland | £150-£250 |
| Base (DIY paving) | £200 | £200 | £200 |
| Assembly (DIY) | £0 | £0 | £0 (or £600+ if contractor) |
| Maintenance + replacement (10 years) | £550-£900 | £305-£510 | £400-£700 (cedar/modified timber needs less re-treatment but UV oils still recommended) |
| 10-year total (DIY) | £1,330-£1,680 | £2,104-£2,309 | £5,250-£5,650 |
| Real growing capacity | semi-permanent, often replaced at year 4-5 | full-season, 20+ years service | full-season, 25-40 years service |
| Cost-per-season (~25 growing seasons over 10 years inc. winter) | ~£53-£67 | ~£84-£92 | ~£210-£226 |
The NORDIC mid-range total is ~50% more than budget tier over 10 years — but with 5-7× the structural lifespan and immediately full-season growing capacity (not 4-month-summer-only with a polyethylene cover).
The heritage tier costs 2.5× NORDIC over 10 years, mostly in initial kit — the maintenance burden is similar order. Whether that 2.5× delta is worth it depends on whether you specifically want cedar/modified timber and the heritage aesthetic. The structural durability is comparable; the visual end-result is the difference.
Hidden costs that appear in real budgets
Things buyers forget:
Site survey / measurement
- Nothing for self-survey: bring a tape measure, level, and 2 hours
- Professional pre-installation site survey: £100-£200 (worth it for sloped or awkward plots)
Permitted Development check
- Self-check: free (council planning portal lookup)
- Pre-application advice: £40-£80 (worth it in Conservation Areas or Listed Building neighbourhoods)
- Lawful Development Certificate (if you want absolute legal certainty): £103, 6-8 week wait
- See Greenhouse Permitted Development UK for the rules
Tools you may not own
- Cordless drill (real one, not screwdriver): £80-£150 if buying new
- Spanner set: £20-£40 if buying new
- 2.5m step-ladder (for L/XL/XXL): £40-£70 if buying new
- Spirit level: £15-£30
Accessories that aren't included
- Ground anchoring (concrete or screws beyond the corner brackets): £50-£200 depending on plot
- Staging benches: £80-£300 for mid-range aluminium, £200-£500 for hardwood
- Watering system / drip lines: £40-£200
- Heater (if you want year-round growing): £50-£250 (electric oil-filled, paraffin, propane)
- Insulation (bubble-wrap roll for winter): £30-£60
Realistic first-year all-in budget for a NORDIC M including base, accessories, tools you don't yet own: ~£2,200-£2,800 total.
When the DIY math works and when it doesn't
DIY base + DIY assembly = real cost saving. £400-£800 in labour saved compared to all-contractor approach.
DIY makes sense when:
- You have at least one practical adult helper for assembly day
- You own (or can borrow) a real cordless drill, spanner set, level
- Your plot is reasonably level (slopes >5° make base prep harder for amateurs)
- You can take a weekend without urgent commitments
Pay for help when:
- You're physically limited (the L/XL/XXL roof panels are awkward to position)
- Plot is on a slope, on a difficult-access lane, or in a cramped space
- You don't have the tools and don't want to buy them for one project
- You'd rather work that weekend at your day job (real economic question — your time has a value)
The honest framing: the DIY saving is meaningful (~£500-£1,000 across the project) but isn't a free lunch. The time and physical effort are real.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wooden greenhouse cost in the UK in 2026?
Quality mid-range starts at £1,499 (NORDIC S), top of the range £1,899 (NORDIC XXL). All-in 10-year cost including base, delivery, maintenance, and accessories typically £2,000-£2,800 for DIY install. Budget kits (£300-£800) work out cheaper initially but expensive over 10 years due to cover/frame replacements. Heritage tier starts ~£3,500 for the kit.
Why is one wooden greenhouse £400 and another £4,000?
Different products. The £400 tier uses single-skin polyethylene cover over imported softwood — 3-5 year service life. The £1,500-£2,500 tier (NORDIC) uses kiln-dried FSC-certified pine with twin-wall polycarbonate and screw-fixed retention — 20+ year life. The £3,500+ tier uses cedar or modified timber with sometimes glass — 25-40 year life. The price differences track real differences in materials, lifespan, and warranty terms.
What is the entry-level cost for a quality wooden greenhouse?
The structural floor for a wooden greenhouse with a written warranty, FSC-certified timber, twin-wall polycarbonate, and screw-fixed retention is around £1,300-£1,500. Below that, something is being compromised. NORDIC S at £1,499 is the entry point for that quality bracket.
Do I need to factor in installation cost?
Yes — even DIY install has a real cost in time, possibly tools you don't own, and base preparation. Budget £200-£400 in materials for a paving-slab base, plus a weekend for assembly. If paying for installation: £200-£800 for handyman, £400-£1,500 for specialist installer.
What's the cost of running a wooden greenhouse year-round?
If you don't heat it: ~£15-£40 per year in cleaning supplies, plus the £25-£40 every 2-3 years for re-treatment. If you heat for frost protection: £50-£200 per winter in electricity (oil-filled radiator, ~30W average) or £100-£250 in paraffin/propane.
How does the cost compare to a polytunnel?
A 6m polytunnel costs £400-£900 initially with a cover replacement every 5-7 years (£150-£300). 10-year total ~£700-£1,500. Lower per-square-metre cost but a different product class — semi-permanent, less aesthetic, less thermal performance. NORDIC's 10-year cost is higher (~£2,000+) but the structure persists much longer (20+ vs 7-10 years for the polytunnel) and looks like a finished garden feature. → See our deeper polytunnel vs greenhouse UK comparison.
Is a wooden greenhouse cheaper than aluminium?
Marginally, in the mid-range. Quality aluminium-framed greenhouses (4mm horticultural glass, 1.2mm aluminium) sit in the £1,800-£3,500 range. NORDIC at £1,499-£1,899 is at the lower end of the same overall bracket. The cost difference long-term is more about glazing replacement (glass shatters; polycarbonate doesn't) than frame material. → See Wooden vs Aluminium Greenhouse comparison.
Can I finance a wooden greenhouse purchase?
Yes — Klarna split-pay (3 instalments, no interest) is available on NORDIC purchases at checkout. For larger orders, contact us about extended payment plans. Klarna's basic split-pay doesn't affect your credit score for the standard 3-payment option.
Final CTA
Ready to compare actual prices? Browse the NORDIC range — five sizes, transparent pricing, no hidden delivery surcharges for UK mainland.
For pre-purchase budget planning, also see:
- 9-step wooden greenhouse buying guide — the 9 decisions in priority order
- Greenhouse Base Preparation UK — what your base really costs
- Wooden Greenhouse Maintenance UK — the recurring 10-year cost
Or call us on +44 7861 751995 (voice + WhatsApp) for size + budget advice on your specific plot.