How Much Does a Roof Lantern Cost in the UK? Installation and Price Guide
A roof lantern typically costs between £673 and £2,264 ex VAT, depending on size. That price covers the lantern itself, not fitting it. Below is what shapes the final figure, what installation adds and what else affects the total.
How Much Does a Roof Lantern Cost by Size?
The smallest standard size starts at £673 ex VAT and the largest standard size comes in at £2,264 ex VAT, which is the full range for how much a roof lantern costs across the standard sizing. A mid-range size sits close to £1,200 ex VAT, a useful benchmark for a typical kitchen extension. Price rises with size because a wider lantern needs more glass and a stronger frame to carry it.
Every standard roof lantern includes double glazing, an insulated frame and a thermal break as part of the price, so there's no separate charge for basic weatherproofing.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Roof Lantern?
Fitting is priced separately from the lantern itself, so a local installer's quote alongside the product price gives the full picture before work starts. Cost depends on whether the opening already exists, the type of roof, site access and the installer's own rates.
Fitting into an existing flat roof opening is generally more straightforward than cutting a new one, which needs extra roofing and structural work first. Modern lanterns are supplied as pre-engineered kits with clip-together components, which speeds up the fitting process, but it is not a single-person job on larger sizes and should always go to a qualified roofer or builder.
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Explore Roof Lanterns→How Much Does a Roof Lantern Cost Including Installation?
The lantern price and the installation price come from two different places, so they are best worked out separately rather than as one combined figure. The lantern price is fixed and published by the manufacturer. Installation is priced by the installer, based on your roof, your access and the size you have chosen. Getting a quote for each gives a more accurate total than relying on a general average that may not reflect your actual job.
What Affects the Price of a Roof Lantern?
Size has the biggest effect on price. Glazing is double glazed as standard on every unit, with Thermlock technology built in to hold heat during winter and reduce heat gain in summer, so there is rarely a need to pay extra for this. Installation complexity, covered above, is the next largest factor.
An opening outside the standard sizes can be built as a bespoke rooflight, priced individually once the exact measurements are confirmed. Frame finish is a smaller factor by comparison: standard lanterns come in Anthracite Grey, Pure White or Jet Black at no extra cost, though a custom finish on a bespoke size may affect the final price.
Are Roof Lanterns Worth the Cost?
A roof lantern brings in light from several angles rather than one, which is why it suits kitchen extensions and open-plan rooms so well. It also gives a flat roof a genuine architectural feature rather than a purely functional opening. See more on the benefits of a roof lantern for the full picture.
Every lantern carries a 10-year guarantee as standard, a useful measure against a cheaper option with less cover.
Additional Costs to Consider When Installing a Roof Lantern
Beyond the lantern and its fitting, a few extras are worth budgeting for depending on the project. Structural alterations and roofing modifications apply where a new opening is being created rather than an existing one reused. Internal finishing, such as plastering around the new opening, is a separate job from the roofing work itself. Scaffolding may be needed depending on roof access and electrical work is only relevant if lighting is being added around the lantern.
Delivery to UK mainland addresses is free and takes 10 to 14 working days, with a £250 charge for the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Choosing and fitting a roof lantern correctly from the start helps avoid costs that surface partway through the job.
Size sets the base price. Installation, structural work, extras and delivery location add the remaining amount on top. For an exact quote, visit Rooflights & Skylights UK.