Wales regional cost guide

House Extension Cost in Cardiff

Current 2026 national benchmarks adjusted with the transparent UK Home Costs Wales planning model, plus worked Cardiff examples.

Last reviewed: 1 September 2026 · 0.91× regional model · Methodology

Modelled cost per m²£1,650–£2,750 / m²
Planning context£32,750–£54,600 for a modelled 20m² example
This page does not claim to measure observed contractor prices in Cardiff. It starts with dated UK benchmarks, applies the stated UK Home Costs modelling assumption and rounds the result for early budgeting.

Calculate your extension cost

Extension cost per m² in Cardiff

Current UK benchmark£1,800–£3,000 / m² before VAT
Cardiff modelled range£1,650–£2,750 / m²
Regional factor0.91× · 9% below the national planning baseline

Extension cost by size in Cardiff

Each row multiplies the current £1,800–£3,000 per m² national benchmark by floor area and then applies the same regional factor.

10m² extension£16,400–£27,300
15m² extension£24,550–£40,950
20m² extension£32,750–£54,600
25m² extension£40,950–£68,250
30m² extension£49,150–£81,900
40m² extension£65,500–£109,200
50m² extension£81,900–£136,500

What can change a real Cardiff quote?

  • Floor area and number of storeys
  • London and regional labour rates
  • Steelwork and structural changes
  • Kitchen or bathroom installation
  • Glazing and door specification
  • Finish level, access and contingency

Local planning considerations

For grants and energy schemes, verify the current Wales-specific eligibility rules before relying on any support assumption.

  • Use Wales-specific planning, building-control and energy-scheme information where the rules differ from England.
  • Terraced or constrained urban properties can add access, waste and scaffold costs that are not captured by the regional factor.
  • Drainage, roof and external-work scopes should be based on the property condition rather than a generic city assumption.

How the regional model works

The 0.91× factor places this planning estimate 9% below the national planning baseline. We keep that modelling assumption separate from the dated national benchmark so users can see which part comes from an external source and which part is UK Home Costs modelling.

Sources

Checkatrade

House Extension: Cost Breakdown 2026

Published / checked: June 2026

Used for: Extension cost-per-m² benchmarks and common add-on costs

View source ↗
Office for National Statistics

Construction output price indices

Published / checked: 13 August 2026

Used for: Construction price trend and update checks

View source ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does a house extension cost in Cardiff in 2026?

Our modelled Cardiff planning rate is about £1,650–£2,750 / m², based on the current national £1,800–£3,000 per m² benchmark and the Wales regional factor. This is not an observed city-wide quote average.

How much is a 20m² extension in Cardiff?

Applying the same regional model gives about £32,750–£54,600 before VAT for a straight-line 20m² example. Structural work, glazing, kitchens, bathrooms and access can move a real quote outside that range.

Why is the Cardiff estimate different from the UK benchmark?

UK Home Costs applies a 0.91× Wales planning factor, placing the model 9% below the national planning baseline. It is our modelling assumption rather than an external city price index.

Does the extension figure include VAT and professional fees?

The national benchmark is stated before VAT. Do not assume architect, structural engineer, planning, building-control, party-wall or specialist survey fees are included unless a contractor quote says so.

Compare extension cost across the UK