A greenhouse costs $3,071 to $16,209, with a $9,640 national average, on Angi and HomeAdvisor’s matching figures — a compact kit or reclaimed-material build starts at $1,000 and a backyard micro-farm build can reach $25,300 (October and June 2026)23. HomeGuide publishes $5 to $30 per square foot installed, $2,500 to $15,000 for a 500-square-foot structure, and $2 to $25 per square foot for commercial builds (July 2025)1. Angi and HomeAdvisor are corporate siblings, and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration — their pages match on many rows below, with HomeGuide providing the independent comparison. All figures are the latest published data from each source.
Cost by size
HomeGuide’s size table, installed costs from hobby structures to acreage1:
| Greenhouse size | Average cost installed (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | $250–$1,500 |
| 100 sq ft | $500–$3,000 |
| 250 sq ft | $1,300–$7,500 |
| 500 sq ft | $2,500–$15,000 |
| 750 sq ft | $3,800–$22,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $5,000–$30,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $10,000–$125,300 |
| ¼ acre (10,890 sq ft) | $21,800–$272,000 |
| ½ acre (21,780 sq ft) | $43,600–$545,000 |
| 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) | $87,000–$1,090,000 |
Angi’s size table stops at the residential end2:
| Size (sq ft) | Description | Average cost (Angi) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Hobby, basic kit | $1,000–$3,500 |
| 100 | Small residential | $3,000–$8,000 |
| 200 | Mid-size, more features | $7,000–$12,000 |
| 500 | Large, custom or advanced | $10,000–$25,000 |
Per square foot, the three publishers state different ranges — HomeGuide $5 to $30 installed, Angi $10 to $35, HomeAdvisor $5 to $35 with a $25 average — presented as published123. At 500 square feet, HomeGuide’s $2,500 to $15,000 sits below Angi’s $10,000 to $25,000 — different published ranges, no reconciliation offered by either12.
Cost by type
HomeGuide prices nine types per square foot for labor and materials1:
| Greenhouse type | Cost per sq ft (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Hoop / hoop house | $5–$10 |
| Rooftop | $10–$25 |
| Geodesic / dome | $10–$25 |
| A-frame | $25–$35 |
| Barn-style | $25–$35 |
| Lean-to / 3-sided | $10–$25 |
| Geothermal / pit | $20–$25 |
| Solar | $30–$45 |
| Post and rafter | $25–$35 |
HomeAdvisor’s shorter type table matches HomeGuide row for row where they overlap — hoop house $5 to $10, geodesic $10 to $25, A-frame $25 to $35 per square foot on both pages13. Angi groups by build category instead: a basic kit at $1,000 to $5,000, custom wood at $6,000 to $15,000, and commercial-grade at $15,000 to $25,000+ — a different framing, presented as published2.
Kits and DIY builds
The siblings diverge on the kit entry point: HomeAdvisor puts greenhouse kits at $500 to $5,000, while Angi prices a basic kit at $1,000 to $5,000 and DIY kits more broadly at $1,000 to $7,000 — both stated as published23. Angi’s full DIY comparison: a DIY kit build totals $1,000 to $9,000 ($1,000 to $7,000 materials plus $0 to $2,000 labor) against a professional install at $5,000 to $25,000 ($3,000 to $10,000 materials plus $2,000 to $15,000 labor)2. HomeAdvisor notes most kits exclude benches and shelves — potting benches run about $100 each — and that a kit can be a weekend DIY build3 — see greenhouse kits at The Home Depot.
Materials
HomeGuide’s framing prices per linear foot, installation not included1:
| Framing material | Cost per linear foot (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Steel / metal | $1.50–$6.75 |
| Wood | $1.00–$2.00 |
| PVC pipe | $0.50–$2.00 |
| Aluminum | $1.00–$2.00 |
HomeAdvisor’s framing figure is $1 to $2.50 per linear foot — within HomeGuide’s spread, presented as published — with its other material lines at $2 per square foot for flooring, $1 to $8 per square foot for a foundation, and $0.12 to $2.50 per square foot for walls13.
HomeGuide’s covering (glazing) prices per square foot, installation not included1:
| Covering material | Price per sq ft (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|
| Glass panels | $2.50–$3.50 |
| Polycarbonate panels | $1.50–$3.00 |
| Plastic / polyethylene sheets | $0.10–$0.70 |
| Fiberglass panels | $0.70–$2.00 |
HomeGuide’s flooring prices run $0.20 to $30.00 per square foot installed-cost-excluded: landscaping fabric $0.20 to $0.80, mulch $0.40 to $1.20, stone or gravel $1.00 to $3.00, rolled rubber $2.00 to $3.00, bricks $2.00 to $6.00, a concrete slab $2.80 to $3.60, and pavers $8.00 to $30.001.
Labor and professional rates
HomeGuide’s build breakdown: materials $3 to $18 per square foot and labor $2 to $12 per square foot against the $5 to $30 total, with labor at about 40% of the total cost1. On hourly rates: greenhouse builders or landscape contractors charge $50 to $100 per hour on HomeGuide (matching its landscaping labor figure) and $50 to $100 on Angi’s pro table as well — while HomeAdvisor puts an overseeing contractor at $300 to $500 per day — different units, presented as published123. Electricians run $50 to $130 per hour on HomeGuide, $50 to $120 on Angi, and $50 to $100 on HomeAdvisor — three slightly different published ranges123. Plumbers: $45 to $150 on HomeGuide against a matching $45 to $200 on both Angi and HomeAdvisor — a sibling match123. Angi’s table adds a landscape designer at $50 to $150, a structural engineer at $100 to $200, an HVAC specialist at $75 to $150, and a pest control specialist at $100 to $3002.
Site prep and setup
HomeGuide prices regrading or leveling a yard at $500 to $5,000 depending on size1. Angi’s site-prep figures: $500 to $5,000 overall, with structure removal at $500 to $2,500 and grading or leveling at $1,000 to $5,000 for more challenging lots2. HomeAdvisor’s own page diverges internally on grading — a yard grading pro at $50 per hour in its labor section against grading the ground at $250 to $500 per hour in its setup section, an intra-source difference presented as published3. On utility runs: HomeGuide prices an underground power line at $10 to $25 per foot and trenching at $35 to $65 per hour, while HomeAdvisor puts electrical lines at $2 per linear foot and a sprinkler irrigation system at $1,600 to $3,500 — presented as published13.
Climate control and irrigation
HomeGuide’s insulation and shading figures: base cladding $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot, bubble wrap insulation $0.50 to $3.00, double-pane glass $2.50 to $3.50, radiant barrier $0.10 to $0.60, and thermal screens $2 to $4 per square foot. Circulation fans cost $20 to $500+ each, space heaters $40 to $300+ each, and HVAC technicians $75 to $150+ per hour1. On irrigation: a new water line runs $500 to $900 per piping run, a misting system $200 to $2,000+ before installation, and drip irrigation $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot installed or $300 to $1,200 per zone; drilling a new well averages $6,000 to $16,0001. HomeAdvisor notes heating adds both installation cost and ongoing utility bills, and recommends insulating plus the highest-efficiency glazing the budget allows in cold climates3.
Extras and customizations
HomeGuide’s extras: custom doors at $1,500 to $5,000+, outdoor lighting at $100 to $650 per fixture installed, a new outdoor outlet at $180 to $350, shelves at $25 to $50+ each, raised beds at $20 to $65 per square foot installed ($1,200 to $4,000 for a custom 5×12 bed) or DIY raised-bed kits at $100 to $400+, topsoil at $35 to $120 per cubic yard for small jobs ($10 to $50 for large projects), professional planting at $10 to $30 per pot, and landscaping at $50 to $100 per hour or $4 to $12 per square foot1.
Commercial greenhouses
A commercial greenhouse costs $2 to $25+ per square foot for labor and materials on HomeGuide, with 1+ acre structures typically at $2 to $4 per square foot — larger builds pay less per square foot in most cases1.
Maintenance and lifespan
HomeGuide’s maintenance figures: a small hobby greenhouse in a mild climate may run $10 to $40 per month, while a large climate-controlled structure in a northern state can cost $3,000+ per month; professional pest control costs $80 to $120 per visit, and rain barrels run $80 to $1,700 each1. On lifespan: PVC and plastic sheeting last 3 to 5+ years, polycarbonate panels 10 to 15 years, glass 30 to 40 years, and steel- or wood-framed structures 30 to 60+ years1.
Permits
Permit requirements vary by municipality — permanent structures and any build with electrical or plumbing connections typically need them, and rules differ by county — so confirm with your local building authority before starting. Angi’s published permit cost estimate is $100 to $1,0002.
Timeline
HomeGuide puts a build at 1 to 3 days up to several weeks depending on size and type; HomeAdvisor similarly says a small kit assembles in a weekend while a mid-size or custom build may take several weeks — consistent published timelines13.
Related cost guides
See pole barn cost for a larger outbuilding, shed cost for storage structures, and sunroom cost for a glassed-in living space.
The bottom line
On Angi and HomeAdvisor’s matching figures, budget $3,071 to $16,209 with a $9,640 national average — kits and reclaimed builds start at $1,000 and large custom builds reach $25,300. HomeGuide’s installed figures run $5 to $30 per square foot, $2,500 to $15,000 for 500 square feet, and $2 to $25 per square foot for commercial builds. The type choice sets the baseline — hoop houses at $5 to $10 per square foot on both HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor against solar designs at $30 to $45 on HomeGuide — and materials, site prep, climate control, and irrigation each carry their own lines above. Permits are a local check.
Sources (each fetched and read October 27, 2026; figures are each publisher’s latest published data):
1. HomeGuide, “How Much Does a Greenhouse Cost?” (July 29, 2025) — homeguide.com/costs/greenhouse-cost
2. Angi, “How Much Does It Cost to Build a Greenhouse?” (updated October 16, 2026) — angi.com/articles/how-much-do-greenhouses-cost.htm
3. HomeAdvisor, “How Much Does It Cost to Build a Greenhouse?” (updated June 19, 2026) — homeadvisor.com/cost/outdoor-living/build-a-greenhouse