Home Improvement Statistics UK 2026

Ben Dracup

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Last Updated

The UK home improvement market continues to grow as millions of homeowners invest in upgrading their properties rather than moving. From kitchen renovations and loft conversions to energy-efficient retrofits and smart home technology, the sector is underpinned by strong consumer demand, an ageing housing stock, and shifting lifestyle priorities. This comprehensive guide compiles the latest UK home improvement statistics for 2026, drawing on government data, industry reports, and consumer surveys.

Report Highlights

  • The UK home improvement market was valued at £11.2 billion as of 2024 and is projected to reach £16.67 billion by 2033 — a rise of almost 49% in nine years.
  • Almost seven million UK homeowners plan to renovate their homes in the next two years, with an average expected spend of more than £14,000 each.
  • 54% of UK consumers intend to make home improvements over the next 12 months, with decorating (31%), landscaping (21%), and new flooring (12%) topping the list.
  • One in five homeowners (20%) would like to move house but find it financially unfeasible — up from 13% two years ago — fuelling the 'improve, not move' trend.
  • A loft conversion with a bedroom and bathroom can add up to 24% to a property's value — equivalent to approximately £65,000 on the average UK home.
  • 52.5% of homes in England now meet EPC Band C or better, up from just 10.3% fifteen years ago, reflecting a sustained push toward energy efficiency.
  • Record £6.1 billion in property claims was paid out by UK insurers in 2025, including £307 million in subsidence claims and £758 million in weather-related home damage.
  • The UK needs an extra 293,300 construction workers over the next five years (2025–2029) to meet demand, with 35% of the current workforce aged over 50 and approaching retirement.

UK Home Improvement Market Size & Value

The UK home improvement market encompasses DIY retail, professional trade services, building materials, kitchen and bathroom installations, and energy-efficiency upgrades. Multiple market sizing methodologies produce a range of valuations:

  • Market value (2024): £11.2 billion, projected to reach £16.67 billion by 2033, representing a rise of approximately 48.8%.
  • Broader market estimate: USD 38.86 billion (approximately £31 billion) in 2024, anticipated to reach USD 53.43 billion by 2032. Interior renovation is the largest segment.
  • IMARC Group estimate: USD 15.0 billion (approximately £12 billion) in 2025, expected to reach USD 21.8 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 4.28%.
  • Household spending on RMI: UK households spent £60 billion on repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) of the housing stock in 2021–22, with three-quarters spent on alterations and improvements. Approximately £40 billion of the total was contracted out to tradespeople.
  • Private housing RMI forecast: Construction output in private housing RMI is forecast to grow by 2.0% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2026.
  • Total construction output: The UK construction industry is expected to grow by an average annual rate of 3.2% between 2026 and 2029, supported by housing, infrastructure, and renewable energy investment.

UK Home Improvement Retail Landscape

  • Kingfisher (B&Q and Screwfix): UK & Ireland sales rose 4.5% to £3.53 billion in H1 2025/26, with B&Q like-for-like sales up 4.4% to £2.17 billion and Screwfix sales up 4.4% to £1.36 billion. UK retail profit increased 5.7% to £344 million.
  • B&Q market share gains: B&Q reported a 10% increase in coloured emulsion (paint) sales, alongside resurgent demand for kitchens, bathrooms, and storage products. Market share gains were partly driven by Homebase closures.
  • Screwfix trade growth: TradePro sales at Wickes jumped 10%, with active trade members climbing 14% to 615,000. E-commerce sales penetration at Screwfix reached 59.2%.
  • Homebase administration: Homebase collapsed into administration in November 2024, having operated 133 UK stores with 3,600 staff. By 2025, 65+ stores closed, with surviving branches acquired by CDS Superstores (The Range), B&Q, Wickes, and Sainsbury's.
  • Top 12 UK home improvement brands: Plumbworld, Screwfix, Toolstation, Wickes, Selco, B&Q, Homebase, Bradfords, Jewson, City Plumbing, Wolseley, and Huws Gray.

The 'Improve, Not Move' Trend

With rising house prices, stamp duty costs, and a shortage of available housing, millions of UK homeowners are choosing to invest in their current properties rather than relocate:

  • 20% of homeowners would like to move house but find it financially unfeasible — an increase from 13% just two years ago.
  • 54% of people intend to make home improvements over the next 12 months.
  • 33% of UK homeowners are choosing to delay moving and improve their current home instead.
  • 51% of homeowners renovated in 2024, up from 48% in 2023, showing resilient renovation activity despite economic pressures. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • 3 in 5 renovating homeowners (61%) plan to stay in their current home for at least 11 years following their project. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Motivations are evolving: Practical concerns like making better use of existing space rose to 23%, while social factors doubled — 14% now say they improve their home to impress or inspire others, up from 7% in 2023.
  • 19% of UK homeowners considered moving in the past two years but decided against it. Of those, 35% cited high house prices, 35% cited the stress of moving, 27% cited a shortage of suitable homes, and 24% cited stamp duty costs.

UK Home Renovation Spending

  • Average renovation spend: £14,000 per homeowner over the next two years.
  • Average spend dropped to £15,000 in 2023 (Houzz & Home UK Study), down from £22,000 the previous year, reflecting a more cautious yet resilient approach as homeowners adapted to inflation. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Full house renovation: The average cost of a full house renovation in the UK was £76,690 in 2024. Costs range from £700 to £2,000 per square metre depending on property size and scope.
  • Weekly household spending on home improvements: UK homeowners spend an average of £10.70 per week on maintenance and repairs, and £31.10 on larger alterations and improvements — 20.8% of the average weekly housing budget (£201).
  • Regional variations: South East England has the highest weekly home improvement spend at £58.80, while Northern Ireland is the lowest at £22 per week.
  • Age demographics: Homeowners aged 50–64 spend the most on home improvements at £52.10 per week, while under-30s spend the least at £12.60.
  • 80% of UK households plan to use savings to fund home improvement projects. Just over 80% of Houzz survey respondents used savings, though credit card and loan use also increased.
  • 91% hired professionals for their renovation projects, indicating strong trust in expertise despite tighter budgets. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Only 4% of homeowners who renovated said they regretted having work done, most commonly citing cost overruns or disappointing results.

Property Value & Return on Investment

  • Loft conversion: Adds up to 24% to the value of a typical three-bedroom, one-bathroom home — equivalent to approximately £65,279 on a property worth £271,995.
  • Additional bedroom: Adds approximately 13% to property value, or around £35,000 on the average UK home. Converting a 2-bed detached to 3-bed adds up to 17%.
  • Additional bathroom: Adds approximately 4% to property value — around £10,880 on the average UK home.
  • 10% increase in floor space: Adds around 5% to the value of a typical house.
  • Kitchen renovation ROI: 60–80% return on investment, adding up to 10% to property value.
  • Bathroom renovation ROI: 50–70% return on investment, adding approximately 4% to value.
  • Loft conversion ROI: 60–75% return on investment, adding up to 20% to property value.
  • Garden landscaping: Approximately 80% ROI. A well-designed outdoor space can add significant kerb appeal and market value.
  • Average renovation: Adds approximately 9% to home value, equivalent to roughly £24,000 on the average UK house, with a 50% overall ROI.
  • Green improvements: 34% of homeowners who renovated in the past five years made green improvements, with 56% of those adding solar panels. Younger homeowners (25–34) are most active, with 69% making green upgrades.

UK Home Renovation Costs

Renovation costs vary widely depending on the project type, property size, and location. Below are typical costs for common UK home improvement projects as of 2024–2025:

Source: Hillarys / HOA / Checkatrade / Fittra 2024–2025

  • Kitchen renovation median spend: Rose 34% to £17,500 in 2024 (from £13,000 in 2023). Major renovations of large kitchens averaged £20,000, up from £15,000 the previous year. (2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study).
  • 92% of kitchen renovators upgraded their worktops. Engineered quartz is the most popular worktop material (42%), followed by butcher block/wood slab (14%) and laminate (14%). (2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study).
  • Labour costs: Plumbers and electricians charge an average of £325 per day; general builders approximately £225 per day; labourers around £165 per day; apprentices approximately £135 per day.
  • Full 3-bed house renovation: Ranges from £43,530 to £110,350 depending on the scope of work.
  • Full 2-bed house renovation: Ranges from £107,900 to £147,300 depending on type and scale of refurbishment.

Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation Statistics

  • Kitchen and bathroom renovations: The most popular improvements among UK homeowners, with 71% of those who renovated in the last five years undertaking either or both.
  • 42% added a bathroom or ensuite; 25% added an additional toilet.
  • 1 in 10 UK consumers are planning a kitchen renovation, and 1 in 10 are planning a bathroom renovation in 2025–2026.
  • Kitchen renovation priorities: Homeowners prioritise materials based on look and feel (65%), durability (44%), and ease of cleaning (38%), rather than cost (24% — down 7 percentage points from 2024). (2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study).
  • 71% changed their kitchen layout during renovation; 63% upgraded plumbing and electrics. (2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study).
  • Top kitchen styles: Contemporary (28%), modern (20%), and traditional (11%, down 4 percentage points). Japandi is an emerging style at 3%. (2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study).
  • Laundry/utility rooms: 25% of renovating homeowners focused on the laundry room in 2024, up from 14% the previous year. 10% extended specifically to accommodate a laundry room. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Driveways and garages: 13% of homeowners upgraded their driveway in 2024 (up from 10% in 2023), and 7% renovated their garage (up from 3% in 2023). (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).

Most Popular Home Improvement Projects (2025–2026)

  • Decorating: 31% — the most common planned improvement.
  • Landscaping the garden: 21%.
  • Laying new flooring: 12%.
  • Installing a new bathroom: 11%.
  • Creating an outdoor dining/entertaining area: 11%.
  • Fitting new windows or doors: 11%.
  • Installing a new kitchen: 11%.
  • From Häfele UK's survey: 29% want to update interior decorating, 23% want new kitchens, 21% want bathroom renovations, 21% want new flooring, 16% want to increase property value, 15% want new doors, 14% focus on external projects (roofing, guttering), 14% want new windows.
  • Building work in homes: Up 17% in Q1 2025 compared to the previous quarter. Landscaping projects surged 131% and driveway/patio projects rose 58%.

Outdoor, Garden & Landscaping Statistics

  • Landscaping is the second most popular planned improvement (21%), behind only decorating. Outdoor dining and entertaining areas also rank at 11%.
  • Landscaping projects surged 131% in Q1 2025, and driveway/patio projects rose 58%.
  • Garden landscaping ROI: Approximately 80% return on investment, making it one of the higher-return improvement categories.
  • 13% of homeowners upgraded their driveway in 2024, up from 10% in 2023 — a growing trend. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • 39% of homeowners who renovated in the last five years added an outbuilding such as a shed or garden room.
  • UK garden room market: Approximately £266 million in 2024, growing at 5.8% annually until 2030. The global garden rooms market is projected to grow from $3.2 billion in 2025 to $5.4 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 11%.
  • Garden room demand: UK companies reported a 50.5% increase in garden room orders in 2023, driven by the shift towards home-based work environments. Most garden rooms are exempt from planning permission.
  • 23% built a conservatory among those who renovated in the last five years.

Energy Efficiency & Retrofit Statistics

  • 52.5% of homes in England now meet EPC Band C or better — up from 23.1% ten years ago and just 10.3% fifteen years ago.
  • Median EPC score in England: 69 (Band C). Properties built after 2012 achieve a median score of 84 (near the top of Band B), while older homes sit significantly lower.
  • 60% of properties in England and Wales still have the lower EPC ratings of D to G. These properties produce 77% of all residential CO2 emissions.
  • 19 million UK homes are currently rated below EPC Band C. The Warm Homes Plan targets upgrading up to 5 million homes by 2030.
  • Warm Homes Plan: £15 billion total investment — the biggest energy efficiency programme in UK history, replacing ECO4 from January 2027. £4.4 billion committed to low-income homes grants.
  • Heat pump installations: Record 125,037 certified installations in 2025, up 27% year-on-year. Over 100,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant applications have been made since 2022.
  • Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Provides £7,500 grants for air-source and ground-source heat pumps. Budget for 2025/26 set at £295 million. A new £2,500 grant for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries launches in 2026.
  • ECO4 scheme: 666,900 measures installed in 207,700 households before its scheduled end date. ECO4 extended to 31 December 2026.
  • 56% of homeowners surveyed had made energy efficiency improvements in the past two years, and 55% of the remainder planned to do so.
  • Housing association homes: 72.5% are rated EPC C or better (up from 44.9% in 2013), compared with just 48.4% of private rented homes and 48.8% of owner-occupied homes.
  • Solar panel adoption: Nearly 1.5 million dwellings in England now have photovoltaic (PV) panels — approximately 6% of total dwellings, up from less than 3% in 2013.

Smart Home Technology

  • UK smart home market: Valued at USD 7.7 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 16.9 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 9.12%.
  • Approximately 39% of UK households currently have smart home products. Adoption is expected to reach 50.2% by 2027, with 15.1 million households.
  • Motorised window coverings: Purchases jumped from 2% in 2023 to 8% in 2024. Smart home technology integration is steadily becoming more popular among renovating homeowners. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Smart meter installations: Rose to their highest figure in six years during 2025.
  • EV charging access: Available in 1.8 million homes (approximately 7% of stock), but in 20% of dwellings built since 2012.

Planning Permission & Permitted Development

  • 90% of householder planning applications were granted in Q3 2025, with 93% decided within 8 weeks. Householder developments accounted for 51% of all planning decisions.
  • 38,700 householder planning decisions were made in Q3 2025 alone.
  • Permitted development for loft conversions: Most loft conversions fall under permitted development, with volume limits of 40m³ for terraced houses and 50m³ for detached/semi-detached homes.
  • Proposed reforms (December 2024): The government proposed relaxing loft conversion rules, including allowing homeowners to convert as much loft space as they want without permission, building wider and taller extensions, and removing the 50% curtilage rule.
  • Housing supply: 208,600 net additional dwellings were delivered in England in 2024–25, a 6% decrease on the previous year. 25.8 million dwellings in England as of September 2025.
  • Planning applications for new homes: Up 60% in 2025 versus 2024, though the number of homes granted permission fell 15% to 208,000 in the year to September 2025.

Tradespeople & Skills Shortage

  • 293,300 extra construction workers needed by 2029 — an average of 47,860 per year — to meet demand.
  • 35% of the construction workforce is aged over 50 and approaching retirement. Just 19% are aged 25 or under.
  • 69% of adults would not consider a construction career, creating a significant recruitment challenge.
  • 75% of construction professionals feel that worker fatigue is currently a major issue due to lack of talent.
  • 75% of builders saw material prices rise in the past year; 67% report higher wages; 61% have increased their prices.
  • Construction salary increases: Base salary increases for construction professionals projected to average 5.2% in 2025, with workers anticipating an average pay rise of 4.5%.
  • Checkatrade: Over 51,000 tradespeople registered on the platform, now integrated with Zoopla to simplify home improvement for buyers and sellers.

Home Insurance & Weather Damage

  • Record £6.1 billion in property claims paid out by UK insurers in 2025 — the highest since ABI records began in 2017.
  • £1.2 billion in weather-related property claims — a 14% (£142 million) increase compared with 2024.
  • Domestic subsidence payouts: Hit a record £307 million in 2025, up 10% (£27 million) year-on-year, following the UK's hottest summer on record.
  • Average flood payout: £30,000 per homeowner, up 60% from the previous year.
  • Storm damage payouts: £244 million in 2025, a 32% (£59 million) increase from the previous year. Average storm damage payout reached £2,450.
  • Subsidence claims H1 2025: £153 million across nearly 9,000 households, with an average payout of £17,264 per claim.
  • Average home insurance: Combined building and contents home insurance averaged £379 in Q4 2025 — £14 lower than the same period in 2024.
  • 84% of home insurance professionals believe climate change is a risk to their business.
  • 3.5 million non-decent homes remain in England, housing approximately 7.5 million people.

Who Is Renovating — And Why

  • 73% of Gen Z (aged 27 and under) and 65% of Millennials (aged 28–43) are planning renovation work — significantly higher than older age groups.
  • Homeowners aged 55+ represented the largest renovation demographic in the Houzz study, seeking to adapt homes for longevity and comfort rather than aesthetics. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • 25% of those planning extensions attribute their plans to home working practices, including 15% who want a home office and 13% who want space for a business venture or side hustle.
  • 1 in 5 homeowners planning renovations plan to extend the layout of their homes.
  • Multigenerational living: More than 1 in 10 UK adults live with their parents, including 9% of those aged 45–54. This is driving demand for home extensions, with 17% of those extending planning to add more bathrooms.
  • Pent-up demand: 36% of renovating homeowners say they finally have the financial means, and 33% say they finally have the time to pursue a renovation. (2025 UK Houzz & Home Report).
  • Regional variations: West Midlands homeowners prioritise home offices (26%, 11 percentage points above average). Londoners are most interested in extending (25% plan to extend). Scottish renovators focus on aesthetics (60%).
  • 46% of UK homeowners planned some form of home improvement in 2025, with Wales (58%) and Yorkshire & Humber (48%) the most likely regions. Northern Ireland was the least likely (32%).

UK Housing Market Context

  • England's housing stock: 25.8 million dwellings as of September 2025, with 25.4 million as of 2023. 16.3 million are owner-occupied (64%), 4.9 million privately rented (19%), and 4.2 million social rented (16%).
  • Over half of owner-occupied homes are classified as under-occupied (two or more spare bedrooms), while 8% of social rented properties are overcrowded.
  • Property transactions: 11% higher in 2025 than 2024, with over 1 million transactions in January–October 2025. 1.2 million+ properties agreed for sale by November 2025.
  • UK house prices: Forecast to rise approximately 2% in 2026.
  • Average UK house price: £271,995 (Nationwide Q4 2025).
  • UK residential real estate market: Valued at USD 389.82 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 674.33 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 6.28%.
  • Stamp duty: Remains a barrier to moving, cited by 24% of homeowners who considered moving but decided against it.

Flooring Statistics

  • Solid hardwood flooring: The most expensive option at £80+ per m² for materials, with installation costs of £35–£60 per m².
  • Laminate flooring: One of the most affordable at £30 per m² for materials, with £30 per m² for installation — approximately 2.5 times cheaper than hardwood.
  • Engineered wood: £50 per m² for materials. Almost 40% more expensive than laminate but around a third cheaper than solid hardwood.
  • Luxury vinyl tile (LVT): £35 per m² for materials, with £45 per m² for installation.
  • Carpet fitting: Costs £20–£35 per hour (or £150–£250 per day). Carpeting a 3-bed house typically costs £1,000–£2,000+.
  • Laying new flooring: Ranks as the 3rd most popular planned improvement at 12%.

Window Replacement Statistics

  • uPVC casement windows: £372–£691 per window. Aluminium nearly double the cost; composite casement windows the most expensive at £2,046–£3,596.
  • Average cost for a 3-bed house (uPVC): Approximately £4,000, not including maintenance. Assuming a 20-year lifespan, the yearly cost is approximately £200.
  • Wooden windows (3-bed house): Approximately £10,500, with average upkeep costs of £1,000 over 40 years (£287 per year). Choosing uPVC over wooden windows saves approximately £87 per year.
  • Fitting new windows or doors: Planned by 11% of homeowners in the next 12 months.

UK Home Improvement Outlook 2026–2030

  • Market growth: The UK home improvement market is projected to grow from £11.2 billion (2024) to £16.67 billion by 2033, driven by an ageing housing stock, the 'improve not move' trend, and government energy-efficiency mandates.
  • Construction output: Expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.2% between 2026 and 2029. Private housing RMI output forecast to grow 3.0% in 2026.
  • Energy efficiency: The Warm Homes Plan (£15 billion) aims to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030. The government's 2030 target is for all homes to reach EPC Band C or better.
  • Smart home adoption: Expected to reach 50.2% of UK households by 2027, creating new demand for connected renovation solutions.
  • Skills challenge: 293,300 additional construction workers needed by 2029. Addressing the skills gap through apprenticeships, immigration policy, and improved sector perceptions will be critical.
  • Climate adaptation: Record insurance claims (£6.1 billion in 2025) are driving demand for resilient home improvements including flood defences, subsidence remediation, and sustainable materials.
  • Outdoor living: Garden rooms, landscaping, and outdoor entertaining areas continue to grow as homeowners extend their living space beyond four walls — supported by a surge in landscaping (+131%) and driveway projects (+58%) in 2025.

Sources

1. Hillarys — UK Home Renovation Trends & Statistics 2025 (hillarys.co.uk)

2. Aviva — How We Live Report 2025 (aviva.com)

3. Unhooked Communications — Homes Unhooked 2025–2026 Report

4. ONS — Family Spending in the UK: April 2023 to March 2024

5. Barbour ABI — Home Improvement Index 2024

6. Credence Research — U.K. Home Improvement Market Size, Growth and Forecast 2032

7. IMARC Group — UK Home Improvement Market Size, Trends, Report 2034

8. Construction Products Association — Construction Industry Forecasts

9. GlobalData / BusinessWire — UK Construction Industry Report 2025

10. Kingfisher plc — H1 2025/26 and FY 2024/25 Results

11. Wickes — H1 2025 Trading Statement

12. Express / Mirror — Homebase Store Closures 2024–2025

13. ClickThrough Marketing — UK Home Improvement Brands Digital Benchmark Q3 2025

14. Nationwide Building Society — What Adds Value Special Report, October 2025

15. Checkatrade — Home Improvement Index Q1 & Q2 2025

16. Checkatrade / Zoopla — Partnership Announcement 2025

17. 2025 UK Houzz & Home Report

18. 2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study

19. Häfele UK — Homes for Living Report 2025

20. English Housing Survey — EHS Energy Report 2023

21. ONS — Energy Efficiency of Housing in England and Wales 2025

22. Sprift — EPC Data Analysis 2025

23. DESNZ — Warm Homes Plan / Warm Homes Local Grant Statistics February 2026

24. MCS — Certified Heat Pump Installation Data 2025

25. Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme Statistics

26. PV Magazine — Record UK Heat Pump Installations H1 2025

27. Association of British Insurers (ABI) — Property Claims Data 2025

28. Deloitte UK — UK Property Insurance Claims Report 2026

29. Insurance Business Magazine — Subsidence Claims H1 2025

30. CITB — Construction Workforce Outlook 2025–2029

31. Atkins Search — Construction Skills Gap 2025

32. MHCLG — Housing Supply: Net Additional Dwellings 2024–25

33. MHCLG — Local Authority Council Taxbase 2025

34. MHCLG — Planning Statistics Q3 2025

35. HomeOwners Alliance — Permitted Development Guide 2026

36. 4D Planning — New UK Home Extension Laws 2025

37. GreenMatch — Smart Home Statistics UK

38. The Business Research Company — Garden Rooms Market Report 2025

39. Coherent Market Insights — Garden Rooms Market 2025–2032

40. Fittra — UK House Renovation Costs 2024

41. Uswitch — Home Improvement Statistics 2024

42. Narrative Wealth / Yahoo Finance — Home Renovations Trend Report 2025

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Ben Dracup

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