Quick answer: Barry Building Supplies (June 2026) puts an Australian sunroom at $15,000–$90,000 or more, with most homeowners spending $30,000–$60,000 for a standard-sized room. A basic patio enclosure with a polycarbonate roof starts around $15,000–$25,000; a full four-season glass room runs $60,000–$90,000 or more. Airtasker (July 2026) uses $1,500–$3,500 per m² as the national range. All figures are in Australian dollars. Approval fees, electrics and cooling are often extra.
Sunroom cost checker
Pick a project to see the reported Australian price range and where the figure comes from. It is a guide, not a quote.
Prices change and depend on the size of the job, the property, access and location. Figures were last checked . Always get a written quote before work starts.
Request a free quoteSunroom, glass room or patio room?
Australian suppliers use these words loosely, and “conservatory” is rarely used at all. What separates them is how much of the room is glass, what the roof is made of and whether the room is meant to be used all year:
- Patio room or patio enclosure: an existing roofed patio, verandah or alfresco area closed in with glass panels, sliding doors, louvres or screens. The cheapest route, especially when the roof and slab are already there, but often hot in summer and cool in winter.
- Sunroom: an enclosed, glazed room with an aluminium or timber frame and usually an insulated panel roof, built as a room rather than a covered outdoor area. Guides sometimes call a lighter version a “three-season room”.
- Glass room: the most heavily glazed option, with glass walls and often a glass roof, sometimes sold as a “four-season room” or “glass solarium”. It needs better glass (double glazing, low-E coatings, thermally broken frames) to be comfortable in an Australian summer.
For approvals, the key question is not the name but whether the structure is still an open patio or has become an enclosed room: most exemptions for patios and verandahs stop applying once the sides are closed in. Our guide to enclosing an existing patio in Australia covers the structural questions, and our comparison of glass, polycarbonate and solid roofs explains the roof choice.
Prices by type
Reported typical ranges for supply and installation in AUD, not quotes.
| Type | Typical size | Reported cost (AUD) | Per m² | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic patio enclosure: polycarbonate roof, single glazing | 10–15 m² | $15,000–$25,000 | $1,500–$1,700 | Barry Building Supplies |
| Mid-range sunroom: insulated roof, aluminium frames | 15–20 m² | $25,000–$45,000 | $1,600–$2,250 | Barry Building Supplies |
| Premium sunroom: insulated roof, double glazing, thermally broken frames | 20–25 m² | $40,000–$65,000 | $2,000–$2,600 | Barry Building Supplies |
| Full four-season glass room | 25–35 m² | $60,000–$90,000+ | $2,400–$3,000+ | Barry Building Supplies |
| Enclosing an existing patio (roof and slab already there) | 10–20 m² | $12,000–$30,000 | $1,200–$1,800 | Barry Building Supplies |
Source: Cost of a Sunroom in 2026: Complete Pricing Guide, posted 25 June 2026 (bbswindows.com.au). Checked September 2026.
| Type or measure | Reported cost (AUD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Three-season room | $13,000–$35,000 | Airtasker |
| Four-season room | $22,000–$75,000 | Airtasker |
| Glass solarium | $25,000–$80,000 | Airtasker |
| Sunroom, per m² (including electrical and lighting) | $1,500–$3,500 | Airtasker |
| Sunroom kit, unit only | $6,000–$15,000 | Airtasker |
Source: How Much Does a Sunroom Cost in Australia? [2026 Guide], published 22 July 2026 (airtasker.com). Checked September 2026.
The extras that change the total
| Extra | Reported cost (AUD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New footings and slab (saved if enclosing an existing patio) | $3,000–$8,000 | Barry Building Supplies |
| Site preparation | $3,000–$8,000 | Airtasker |
| Double instead of single glazing on a 20 m² sunroom | $5,000–$12,000 more | Barry Building Supplies |
| Power points and lighting | $1,500–$3,500 | Barry Building Supplies |
| Split-system air conditioner, installed | $2,000–$5,000 | Barry Building Supplies |
Sources as above. Checked September 2026.
Location matters too. Barry Building Supplies gives the example of a sunroom costing $35,000 in Brisbane and $42,000 to the same specification in inner Sydney, and says regional areas tend to run 10–20% cheaper than capital cities. Jonathan Homes, a Sydney builder, quotes $2,500–$3,500 per m² for a Sydney sunroom extension, or $50,000–$70,000 for 20 m² including approvals and BASIX.
Official costs and rules by state
Approval and builder rules are set by each state, and several thresholds changed in 2025–2026:
| State (city) | Approval route for an enclosed sunroom | Builder licence or registration | Home warranty or indemnity insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW (Sydney) | CDC under the Housing Code or a DA; an exempt patio cannot have walls over 1.4 m | Licensed contractor; written contract over $5,000 | Home Building Compensation over $20,000 |
| Victoria (Melbourne) | Building permit; planning permit too in a Heritage Overlay | Registered builder over $10,000 | Home Warranty over $20,000 for contracts from 1 July 2026 |
| Queensland (Brisbane) | Building approval from a private certifier; planning approval in some overlays | QBCC licence over $3,300 | Home warranty over $3,300 |
| WA (Perth) | Building permit; development approval unless exempt | Registered builder $20,000+ ($50,000+ for Class 10a patios from 1 July 2026) | Home indemnity insurance over $20,000 |
| SA (Adelaide) | Planning consent and building consent | Building work contractor’s licence | Building indemnity insurance at $20,000+ |
Sources: the state regulators and planning departments listed on each city page. Checked September 2026.
In NSW, council DA fees are capped by a state scale: for 2026/27, work costing $5,001–$50,000 attracts a maximum of $235 plus $3.00 per $1,000 above $5,000, which is about $340 for a $40,000 sunroom (our arithmetic). Drawings, engineering, a construction certificate and any referral or notification fees come on top, and a CDC is usually the faster route where the site qualifies.
Bushfire areas: the BAL can change the price
On bushfire-prone land, AS 3959-2018 sets the construction standard by Bushfire Attack Level, from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ. Glass requirements rise with each level: toughened glass of at least 4 mm in low-level glazing at BAL-12.5 and 19, at least 5 mm in windows and 6 mm in doors at BAL-29, and usually tested window systems or shutters at BAL-40 and FZ. Ask for the BAL before you compare glazing quotes; see our guide to glazing and safety glass.
FAQs
How much does a sunroom cost in Australia?
Barry Building Supplies puts most standard-sized sunrooms at $30,000–$60,000, within a full range of $15,000 to $90,000 or more. Airtasker gives $1,500–$3,500 per m².
Is enclosing an existing patio cheaper?
Usually. With the roof and slab already in place, Barry Building Supplies puts it at about $12,000–$30,000 for 10–20 m², because the $3,000–$8,000 for footings and slab is already spent.
What is the difference between a sunroom and a glass room?
A glass room is more heavily glazed, often with a glass roof, and needs better glass to stay comfortable. A sunroom usually has an insulated panel roof and more solid structure.
Do I need council approval for a sunroom?
Almost always. Patio and verandah exemptions generally stop once the sides are enclosed. The route differs by state; see the city pages below.
Does double glazing matter in Australia?
Barry Building Supplies puts the extra cost at $5,000–$12,000 on a 20 m² sunroom, and the choice matters most for a room used all year.
Local guides
Ready to compare? See our comparison of conservatory and sunroom options, our guide to what to include in a realistic budget, or request quotes.
Sources
- Cost of a Sunroom in 2026: Complete Pricing Guide (bbswindows.com.au)
- How Much Does a Sunroom Cost in Australia? [2026 Guide] (airtasker.com)
- Sunroom Extensions Sydney (jonathan-homes.com.au)
- Schedule of planning and development fees and charges for 2026/27 financial year (planning.nsw.gov.au)
- Balconies, decks, patios, pergolas, terraces and verandahs (planningportal.nsw.gov.au)
- Domestic Building Insurance and Home Warranty (bpc.vic.gov.au)
- Guide to licensed contracting in Queensland (qbcc.qld.gov.au)
- Building or renovating your home (wa.gov.au)
- Building indemnity insurance (sa.gov.au)
- BAL 12.5 and BAL 29 construction reference guides, AS 3959:2018 (bushfiredesignconsultants.com.au)
Last checked: September 2026. Prices and thresholds change, so treat these as a guide and confirm with builders, your certifier and your council.
Compare Conservatories is a comparison and referral service, not a sunroom, patio or conservatory builder. We do not design, build, certify or approve structures, and a listing here is not a recommendation.