Made to Order Summer Houses: Sizes, Costs and Rules
A made to order summer house is built to your measurements and your list of wishes, not picked off a shelf. You choose the size, the doors, the windows and how it’s laid out inside. This guide shows what you can change, what it tends to cost, which rules to check, and how to order without the headache.
TL;DR
- Made to order means you set the size, wall thickness, doors, windows and layout. It’s a great fit for awkward or sloping gardens.
- Budget more than for a standard model. Bespoke builds can reach £10,000 or more, though a simple kit can be far less.
- Most summer houses don’t need planning permission, but height, position and use all matter. Check before you order.
- Keep it under 15m² with no bed in it and you normally avoid building regulations too.
- Tell us your garden size and what you’ll use it for, and we’ll talk you through the options.
Table of Contents
- What “made to order” really means
- What you can change
- Summer house or garden room? Pick by use
- How much does a made to order summer house cost?
- Do you need planning permission?
- What about building regulations?
- Planning your base and your site
- Our view on made to order
- Ready to get a quote?
- A simple way to order
- FAQ
- Sources
What “made to order” really means
There are three ways to buy a summer house, and the words get mixed up a lot.
- Standard range. A fixed size and spec. Quick to choose, but you take it as it comes.
- Adjusted standard. You pick a model you like, then change it. Maybe wider doors, an extra window, thicker walls.
- Fully bespoke. Designed from scratch around your plot and how you live.
People search for all sorts of names: bespoke, made to measure, custom. They all point to the same thing. The cabin fits you, not the other way round.
For most gardens, option 2 is the sweet spot. You get a proven design and still get the details you care about. If your garden is an odd shape, or you want something no catalogue offers, our bespoke cabin design service is the place to start.
What you can change
Here’s the good news. Almost every part of a timber summer house can be adjusted. Here are the changes people ask for most.
Size and shape
Gardens are rarely square. Maybe you have a narrow strip down one side, or a gap between a tree and a fence. A made to order build lets you pick the exact width and depth, rather than settling for the nearest standard size.
Height needs a thought too, because of the rules covered below. A lower roofline can keep you inside the limits if you want to build close to a boundary.
Wall thickness
Thicker logs hold warmth better and feel more solid. Thinner walls cost less and suit a space you’ll mostly use in summer. If you plan to sit out there on a cool October evening, go thicker. If it’s for afternoon tea in July, thinner is fine.
Doors and windows
This is where made to order really shines. You can ask for:
- Double doors across the front to open the whole room to the lawn
- Doors on the side instead of the front
- Extra or larger windows on the sunny side
- Fewer windows where you want privacy
- Double glazing for warmth and quiet
Roof style
An apex roof gives you extra headroom and a classic look. Have a look at our apex roof cabins to see how it works. A pent roof is simpler and keeps the overall height down.
Layout inside
One open room is the usual choice. But you can split the space into two or more rooms: a lounge and a hobby room, say, or a small store at the back for deckchairs and cushions. Take a look at our multi-room log cabins for ideas.
If you like planning the inside as much as the outside, it helps to think about how a room is planned around furniture, materials and storage. Sketch where the sofa goes before you fix the door positions.
Insulation and finish
Insulation, double glazing and a factory-painted exterior are all options. Paint saves you a weekend of work and gives a tidy, even finish. Insulation stretches the months you can use the space.
Summer house or garden room? Pick by use
The name matters less than what you’ll do in there. Ask yourself:
| If you want to… | Think about |
|---|---|
| Relax with a book in the warmer months | A summer house with thinner walls and large windows |
| Use it most of the year | Thicker walls, insulation and double glazing |
| Work from home | A garden office with good insulation and plenty of light |
| Entertain friends | A wide front, double doors and space for a table |
| Have a modern look | One of our contemporary garden buildings |
| Have an open-sided, airy feel | A garden pavilion |
If you’re still browsing, our garden summer houses and garden log cabins pages show the standard range you can adjust.
How much does a made to order summer house cost?
There isn’t one price, because size, wall thickness and extras all push it up or down. Here’s what independent sources say, so you can set a realistic budget.
- Which? says a simple, uninsulated log cabin you put up yourself costs around £3,000 to £5,000. Sturdy, insulated garden rooms often start upwards of £10,000.
- MyJobQuote puts the average cost to build a summer house in the UK at around £3,000 in 2026. It says a small, basic prefabricated kit can cost as little as £500 without labour, while larger bespoke builds can reach £10,000 or more.
The same source notes that tradespeople often charge around £170 to £250 a day, so labour can add a lot on a bigger build.
Those figures are guides, not quotes. We don’t publish a fixed price for bespoke work, because every one is different. Send us your size and wish list and we’ll give you a personal quote.
What pushes the price up
- A larger floor area
- Thicker walls
- Double glazing and insulation
- Extra doors and windows
- Multiple rooms
- Professional installation instead of self-build
Ways to keep it sensible
- Spend on the things you can’t easily change later: wall thickness, glazing and the roof.
- Leave out what you can add later, like shelving, furniture and decking.
- Choose a standard model and adjust only the parts that matter to you.
A wider look at running costs is in our guide to UK log cabin costs.
Do you need planning permission?
Usually not, but check. Most garden outbuildings count as permitted development, so no application is needed if you meet certain limits. The Planning Portal lists them. In short:
- Single storey only
- Behind the front of the house (the principal elevation)
- No more than 50% of the garden covered by buildings
- Eaves no higher than 2.5m
- Overall height no more than 4m with a dual-pitched roof, or 3m for other roofs
- Overall height no more than 2.5m if any part is within 2m of a boundary
That last one catches people out. A made to order summer house helps here, because we can lower the roof to fit under the 2.5m cap if you want it tucked in near the fence.
When the rules change
Permitted development rights can be removed. Which? advises checking whether your home has them, as they can be withdrawn for listed buildings and in places like National Parks and conservation areas. If you’re unsure, ring your local council’s planning team before you order.
What you’ll use the building for matters too. BestBuilders notes that plumbing for cooking or showering can take a project out of incidental use and may bring planning permission into play. A summer house for relaxing, hobbies or a desk is the simple case.
We’ve written more on this in our guides on planning permission for log cabins and whether garden log cabins need planning permission.
What about building regulations?
This is a separate set of rules from planning. The Planning Portal says building regulations approval is generally not needed for a small detached summer house under 15m² of floor area. Between 15m² and 30m², you generally avoid it if the building sits at least 1m from every boundary and is built mainly from non-combustible materials. In both cases there must be no sleeping accommodation.
The same page says mains drainage or complex heating and electrical work can still bring approval into play whatever the size. If you want power for lights and sockets, use a qualified electrician and ask your council what applies.
So a simple rule of thumb: keep it under 15m², no bed, and you’re normally in the clear. Over that, or with extras like plumbing, speak to your local building control first.
Planning your base and your site
A timber cabin needs a flat, firm base. It’s worth getting this right, because a wonky base leads to sticking doors later on.
Before you order, walk the garden and check:
- Access. How will the kit reach the garden? Measure side gates and passages.
- Level. Is the ground flat, or will it need levelling?
- Sun. Where does the light fall at the time of day you’ll be in there?
- Trees and fences. Leave a gap around the walls so air can move and you can reach them for maintenance.
- Services. If you want power, think about the cable route now.
Take photos and a few measurements. They make a quote much quicker.
Our view on made to order
We think made to order is the best way to buy a summer house if your garden isn’t textbook perfect. And whose is?
Most of the questions we get aren’t about fancy design. They’re about small things: a door that opens the wrong way, a window that looks onto the neighbour, a roof that’s 10cm too tall. A standard model can’t fix those. A bespoke one can.
Our advice is simple. Start with a standard model that’s close to what you want, then adjust it. You keep a proven design, and you only pay for the changes that matter. Be honest about how you’ll use it, too. If it’s a summer retreat, don’t overspend on insulation. If it’s an office, don’t skimp.
And please ask us anything. There’s no such thing as a silly question when it’s your garden and your money.
— Martin
Ready to get a quote?
We sell self-build log cabin kits and bespoke garden buildings, with delivery across the UK mainland. Professional installation is available too if you’d rather not build it yourself. Our bespoke log cabin service is the quickest way to tell us what you have in mind. Send us your measurements, a few photos and your wish list, and we’ll come back with a quote made for you. No trawling through pages of near-matches.
A simple way to order
- Decide how you’ll use it. Relaxing, working, hobbies or a mix.
- Measure the space. Include the gap you want around the walls.
- Check the rules. Height, boundary distance and floor area.
- Pick a starting model. Browse the garden summer houses.
- List your changes. Doors, windows, wall thickness, layout, finish.
- Ask for a quote. We’ll confirm what’s possible.
- Prepare the base. Then choose self-build or professional installation.
FAQ
How long does a made to order summer house take?
It depends on the size and how much is changed, so we confirm timings when we give your quote. A bespoke design takes longer than a standard model because it’s made for you. Allow time for your base too.
Can I change a standard summer house?
Yes. Many people pick a standard model and adjust it, for example with different doors, extra windows, thicker walls or a different layout. It’s often the easiest and most sensible route. Tell us what you’d like and we’ll say what’s possible.
Will a made to order summer house need planning permission?
Usually not, as most garden outbuildings are permitted development. The limits cover height, position, garden coverage and use, and they can differ for listed homes and conservation areas. Check with your local council if you’re unsure.
Is a made to order summer house worth the extra cost?
If your garden has an awkward shape or you want specific doors, windows or layout, yes. You get a building that fits and works for you. If a standard size suits your space, you may not need to change much at all.
Sources
- How to buy the best garden room, Which?
- Do you need planning permission for a garden room?, Which?
- Planning permission for outbuildings, Planning Portal
- Do summerhouses or garden offices need building regulations approval?, Planning Portal
- Garden room cost calculator, BestBuilders
- How much to build a summer house, MyJobQuote