Garage conversions in Sussex
Compare up to 3 free quotes from checked local builders for your garage conversion. It is free and there is no obligation.
Plenty of garages end up holding bikes, boxes and old furniture rather than a car. Converting yours into a properly insulated and heated room can give you a bedroom, home office, gym or second living space within the footprint of the house you already have, which usually means less disruption than building outwards. Tell us about your garage and we will pass your details to up to 3 checked local builders, who can each look at the space and quote for the work. If a garage on its own will not give you enough room, compare the options for a home extension or a loft conversion.
What a garage conversion can become
Home offices
A quiet, separate workspace for remote working or running a small business from home, away from the noise of the main living areas.
Extra bedrooms
A ground floor bedroom can suit older relatives, guests or anyone who finds stairs difficult.
Home gyms
A dedicated space for training equipment, with room to keep it set up rather than packed away.
Playrooms
Somewhere for children to play that keeps toys out of the living room and kitchen.
Utility rooms
Moving laundry and storage out of the kitchen frees up space where it is needed most.
Garage conversion prices
None of the national cost guides publishes Sussex figures, so the prices below are UK guide prices from each named source. Checkatrade bases its per m² figure of £625 to £1,250 on a 16m² conversion taking 2 to 4 weeks, and MyJobQuote says prices in London and the South East run 15 to 25% above its national average. What you pay depends on whether the garage is integral, attached or detached, the condition of the floor and walls, and whether you add a bathroom or kitchen.
| Job | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Garage conversion (typical range) | £10,000 to £20,000, average £15,000 | Checkatrade |
| Integral garage conversion | £10,000 to £14,000, average £12,000 | Checkatrade |
| Detached garage conversion | £15,000 to £25,000, average £20,000 | Checkatrade |
| Partial garage conversion | £5,500 to £8,500, average £7,000 | Checkatrade |
| Garage conversion (average and range) | Average £14,500, range £8,000 to £45,000 | MyJobQuote |
| Standard 16m² garage | £7,000 to £32,000, most averaging £13,500 | FMB |
The use you have in mind changes the budget too. MyJobQuote gives £8,000 to £12,000 for a basic home office or hobby room in a single garage, rising to £15,000 to £22,000 for a basic bedroom with an en suite. Checkatrade puts the extra cost of a bathroom at £5,500 to £9,000 and replacing the garage door at £1,300 to £1,500. Treat all of these as a starting point for budgeting: quotes vary, and the only way to know what your conversion will cost is to have builders look at it. For more detail, read our garage conversion cost guide or see our building prices page.
Planning and building regulations for garage conversions
Whether you need planning permission depends on your property and where it is, so check with your local planning authority before you commit. Rules differ for flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas, and some homes have planning conditions or an Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights. If you want written confirmation that the work is lawful, the Planning Portal explains that you can apply for a lawful development certificate, which costs half the normal planning fee. It is not compulsory, and it is not a replacement for planning permission where permission is needed.
Building control is a separate matter. Turning a garage into a habitable room means the space has to meet the standards for insulation, ventilation and fire safety, and councils list garage conversions as their own category in their building control charges. In West Sussex, Arun District Council charges £266.75 for the full plan check and £586.85 for inspections on an integral garage conversion, or £1,024.32 for a building notice, all before 20% VAT (charges from 1 April 2026). Adur and Worthing Councils charge £205.21 for the plan check and £478.84 for inspections, or £820.61 for a building notice, including VAT (charges from 1 April 2026). Mid Sussex District Council, in its charges from April 2025, lists £155 for the plan check and £409 for inspections on a non exempt garage conversion, or £565 for a building notice, all plus VAT.
Charges vary by council, so check your own council's building control page, or use a private registered building control approver, who sets its own fee. Losing a garage can also mean losing off-street parking, which is worth thinking about before you go ahead, and the builders who quote can talk you through anything specific to your house.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a garage conversion cost?+
Checkatrade's 2026 guide puts a typical garage conversion at £10,000 to £20,000, with an average of £15,000, and an integral garage conversion at £10,000 to £14,000. MyJobQuote's 2026 guide gives an average of £14,500 within a range of £8,000 to £45,000.
Do garage conversions cost more in Sussex?+
None of the national guides publishes Sussex figures. MyJobQuote says prices in London and the South East run 15 to 25% above its national average, so allow for that when you set a budget.
How much does it cost to convert a garage into a bedroom or office?+
MyJobQuote gives £8,000 to £12,000 for a basic home office or hobby room in a single garage, rising to £15,000 to £22,000 for a basic bedroom with an en suite. Checkatrade puts the extra cost of a bathroom at £5,500 to £9,000 and replacing the garage door at £1,300 to £1,500.
Do I need planning permission for a garage conversion?+
It depends on your property and where it is, as some homes have planning conditions or an Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights. The Planning Portal explains that you can apply for a lawful development certificate, costing half the normal planning fee, if you want written confirmation that the work is lawful.
What are the building control charges for a garage conversion?+
They vary by council. Adur and Worthing Councils charge £205.21 for the plan check and £478.84 for inspections on an integral garage conversion, including VAT, while Arun District Council charges £266.75 and £586.85 before 20% VAT, both from 1 April 2026.
Sources for the prices on this page
- Checkatrade: Garage conversion cost in the UK in 2026, checked October 2026
- MyJobQuote: Garage conversion cost 2026, checked October 2026
- Federation of Master Builders: Garage conversion costs UK, checked October 2026
- Arun District Council: Building control fees and charges, checked October 2026
- Adur and Worthing Councils: Guidance on building regulation charges, checked October 2026
- Mid Sussex District Council: Building control charges from April 2025, checked October 2026
- Planning Portal: Lawful development certificates, checked October 2026
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