The short answer
The main difference is the balance of solid wall to glass: an orangery has substantial brick piers and a flat perimeter roof with a central glazed lantern, while a conservatory is mostly glazed with a fully glazed or solid pitched roof. Because it has more masonry and a partly solid roof, an orangery feels more like a permanent room, holds temperature more evenly and typically costs more — around £20,000–£40,000 against roughly £8,000–£25,000 for a conservatory. Both are often permitted development within size limits. See what an orangery is for the full picture.
Orangery and conservatory are often used interchangeably, but they describe different structures and the choice affects cost, comfort and how the room is used. This guide sets out the differences in walls, roof, light, temperature, cost and planning, so you can decide which suits your home. All figures are typical illustrations rather than quotes, and the glazing in either should be fitted by a FENSA or CERTASS registered installer.
Orangery vs conservatory at a glance
- Walls Orangery: solid piers · Conservatory: mostly glass
- Roof Orangery: flat with lantern · Conservatory: glazed/pitched
- Feel Orangery: room · Conservatory: garden room
- Temperature Orangery more even year-round
- Typical cost £20k–40k vs £8k–25k
- Planning Both often permitted development
Walls and roof: the core difference
A conservatory is built mainly from glass on a low dwarf wall, with a fully glazed or solid pitched roof. An orangery keeps large windows and glazed doors but sets them within solid brick or rendered piers, and replaces the glazed roof with a flat perimeter roof carrying a central glazed lantern. That flat roof allows a plastered internal ceiling, a deep cornice and concealed lighting and services. The practical effect is that an orangery has roughly a quarter to a half of the glass of a conservatory, so it reads as a solid room with a bright rooflight rather than a glass box.
| Aspect | Orangery | Conservatory |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Solid piers plus glazing | Mostly glazed, dwarf wall |
| Roof | Flat perimeter with glazed lantern | Fully glazed or solid pitched roof |
| Internal ceiling | Plastered, with cornice | Often the underside of the glazing |
| Typical cost | £20,000–£40,000 | £8,000–£25,000 |
| Build time | Longer — more masonry | Shorter |
Light, temperature and year-round use
A conservatory maximises light and the sense of being in the garden, but the high glass content can make it hot in summer and cold in winter unless carefully specified. An orangery trades some of that glazed openness for more solid wall and a partly solid roof, which tends to give a more even temperature and makes the room easier to use through the year as a kitchen-diner, family room or office. The central lantern keeps an orangery bright despite the extra masonry. If year-round comfort matters more than maximum glass, the orangery usually has the edge — see is an orangery worth it.
Cost and planning compared
An orangery costs more than a conservatory because there is more masonry, a built roof and more internal finishing — typically £20,000–£40,000 against roughly £8,000–£25,000. On planning, both are often permitted development if they stay within size and height limits, and both can require permission in conservation areas, on listed buildings or where size limits are exceeded. Building regulations may apply to either depending on the glazing ratio and whether the new room is separated from the house by external-quality doors. See orangery cost, planning permission and building regulations. These are general pointers, not advice for your specific project.
Compare orangery quotes
Specifications and prices vary widely between products labelled orangery and conservatory. Use our service to compare quotes from orangery specialists in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Is an orangery warmer than a conservatory?
Generally yes. With more solid wall and a partly solid roof, an orangery holds a more even temperature than a fully glazed conservatory, which makes it easier to use through the year. The exact comfort depends on the glazing, heating and how the room faces.
Is an orangery more expensive than a conservatory?
Usually. An orangery typically costs £20,000–£40,000 against roughly £8,000–£25,000 for a conservatory, because there is more masonry, a built roof and more internal finishing. These are typical illustrations, not quotes.
Which adds more value, an orangery or a conservatory?
Because it reads as a permanent room rather than a garden add-on, a well-built orangery is often viewed more favourably by buyers, but the effect varies by property and area and is rarely a direct pound-for-pound return. See does an orangery add value.
Do orangeries and conservatories need planning permission?
Both are often permitted development within size and height limits, but either can need permission — for example in conservation areas, on listed buildings or above the limits. Building regulations may also apply. See planning permission for an orangery.
Sources & further reading
- Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) — consumer guidance on orangeries and conservatories
- FENSA / CERTASS — registered installer schemes and Building Regulations compliance for glazing
- Planning Portal — conservatories, orangeries and permitted development
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Documents — standards for glazed structures
This is general information, not advice for your specific property or build. Costs, timescales and outcomes vary with your home, the design you choose and your chosen specialist. The glazing should be fitted by a FENSA or CERTASS registered installer. We are an independent information and introduction service, not an installer.