PRICE GUIDE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · 2026–2027
Cladding cost in the UK
£50–£250 per m². Typically £100.
External cladding costs £50–£250 per m² fitted in the UK, with around £100 typical for timber such as larch. The material is the main driver — uPVC and featheredge are cheapest, cedar and composite sit in the middle, zinc and other metals are dearest — and scaffold and insulation add to it.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does cladding cost in the UK?
| Low end | £50 | uPVC or featheredge on a low wall |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £100 | what most people pay |
| High end | £250 | zinc or other metal cladding on upper storeys |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the builders and trades near you.
What moves the price
- Cladding material — uPVC and treated softwood cost far less per square metre than cedar, composite or zinc
- Insulation behind the cladding — an external wall insulation layer adds materials and labour to every square metre
- Battens, membranes and trims — a breathable membrane, counter-battens and corner trims are part of a proper cladding job
- Height and scaffolding — cladding above ground floor needs scaffold, which is priced on top of the cladding
- Building height and fire rules — combustible cladding is restricted on taller buildings under the Building Regulations
- Planning — cladding the front of a house or a home in a conservation area may need the council's approval
Building and repair prices in the UK are up 6% over five years (ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Services for maintenance and repair, to 2026 August). Five years ago a typical cladding would have cost about £95 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7DO →
WHAT YOU GET
What a cladding booking includes
Takes: Two to five days for a typical house elevation, plus time for scaffolding. Not included: Scaffolding, external wall insulation, rendering of other walls and painting or staining the boards are usually priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common cladding jobs
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Cladding near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Choose treated softwood or uPVC cladding over cedar or metal if the look allows, as the material is most of the cost
- Clad only the elevations that need it, such as an extension or upper storey, rather than the whole house
- Book cladding at the same time as roof or window work so one scaffold serves both
Before you book
- Check with the council whether cladding the front of your house needs planning permission, especially in a conservation area
- On flats and taller buildings, ask the installer to confirm the cladding meets the fire rules in the Building Regulations
- Ask what maintenance the cladding needs — timber may need oiling or staining every few years
- Ask the cladding installer about leaving a ventilated cavity, so moisture does not get trapped against the wall
Cladding cost: questions people ask
£50–£250 per m², with about £100 typical. uPVC and featheredge board are the cheapest fitted; zinc and other metal systems cost the most.
Two to five days for an average elevation, with scaffolding going up beforehand and coming down afterwards.
Often not, if the materials are similar in appearance to the house. Cladding in a conservation area, on a listed building, or on the front of a house in some areas needs the council's approval.
On its own, little. Combined with external wall insulation behind it, cladding can greatly improve a solid-walled house, and some grants fund the insulation.
Scaffolding, insulation boards, painting or staining and repairs to the wall underneath are often listed separately.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, taken from published UK cladding installation costs — a national range, not a quote. Material and height decide most of the price.