If you’re dreaming of a garden renovation this year, you’re not alone. Brits spend £8 billion a year sprucing up their outdoor space, and the amount of garden a property has is a key consideration for millions of movers.
With outdoor spaces offering a sanctuary for relaxation, play, and entertaining, making the most of your garden has never been more popular - or more valuable.
Home improvement specialists, Eurocell have analysed the average size of gardens across the UK and contrasted this to house prices, to find where movers can get the most bang for their buck when buying
Why is private garden space important?
In an age of hybrid working, rising urban density, and an increased focus on wellbeing, private garden space is no longer just a luxury - it’s a necessity for many UK homeowners.
According to Eurocell’s research, over 96% of UK homes (excluding flats) have private outdoor space, with the average home coming with 207m² of available garden space.
Research shows that spending time in green spaces has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Gardens also encourage more physical activity, whether that’s gardening, playing with children, or simply getting outside for fresh air.
Gardens are also now an extension of the living space, allowing people to live more comfortably without needing to upsize.
Homes with well-maintained and designed gardens are also consistently more appealing to buyers. A thoughtfully designed outdoor space can increase a property’s value and speed up its time on the market.
The 10 cities with the biggest gardens per £100,000 spent
According to the research, Aberdeen tops the list, offering a generous 317m² average garden size, and an impressive 161.8m² of garden space per £100,000 spent on property—the best value in the UK.
Other Scottish cities Dundee and Stirling round out the top 3, with residents in Dundee benefitting from some of the lowest house prices in the UK, while also having access to some of the biggest private garden spaces.
Overall, Northern cities across Yorkshire and the North East tend to rank highly, giving homeowners here more outdoor space for less.
The 10 cities with the smallest gardens per £100,000 spent
Examining cities with the smallest garden spaces per £100,000 spent, Portsmouth tops the list. While the average house price here is cheaper than the UK average, outdoor space of only 75.40m² means buyers here only get 29.87m² of garden space per £100,000.
University towns Cambridge and Oxford rank second and third respectively. With the average property price here hovering around half a million pounds, buyers here only get around 30m² per £100,000 they spend on their home purchase.
Decking and fencing: The key to a garden transformation
Adding or upgrading decking and fencing is one of the most effective ways to improve your garden’s layout, aesthetics, and functionality. One of the first choices you’ll face is whether to use traditional wood or modern composite materials. Both have their strengths, but the right option for you will depend on your budget, lifestyle, and how much maintenance you’re willing to take on.
Composite decking and composite fencing materials cost more upfront than traditional wood but are also much longer-lasting. Weather and rot-resistant, these sustainable panels and boards also don’t require sanding and painting, the cost of which can add up quickly over the lifetime of a wood deck or fence.
How much will composite decking and fencing cost?
Outdoor seating areas are particularly popular with Brits, with many decking areas and patios taking up around 20% of rear garden space. Eurocell’s research shows that the average UK decking area is just shy of 30m².
When it comes to fencing, the average length of a fence surrounding a UK garden (on three sides), is around 32.6m.
| Material | Average cost of decking | Average cost of fencing | Average lifetime (years) | Maintenance costs (lifetime) | Total estimated costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite | £1,237 | £2,058 | 25 - 30+ | £0 | ~ £3,295 |
| Wood | £687 | £1,470 | 10 - 15 | £392 | ~ £2,549 |
While wood decking and fencing have a lower initial cost, however maintenance expenses, especially for staining and painting fencing, add up quickly. Composite materials, though more expensive upfront, require little to no maintenance and tend to last significantly longer, making them more cost-effective over time.
Commenting on the research, Beth Boulton, marketing director at Eurocell, said:
“We’re seeing a real shift toward outdoor living—and with that comes the desire for durable, stylish, and low-maintenance garden features. The garden has become an extension of the living room, used for everything from entertaining to relaxing, working, or even exercising.
“Our research shows that homeowners in cities like Aberdeen, Dundee and Rotherham are getting incredible value when it comes to garden space, and that’s something worth investing in.
“On the other hand, homeowners in cities like Portsmouth, Cambridge, Oxford and Brighton pay a premium for their outdoor space, but that value can be retained and expanded upon with creative planning to make the best use of the garden, attracting higher offers from buyers.”
Methodology
Eurocell examined garden size data from the ONS and the latest house pricing data from the Land Registry to uncover which parts of the UK have the biggest gardens per £100,000 spent.
Cost and size/length figures for decking and fencing were calculated using this data combined with industry estimates and Eurocell’s own composite pricing data.
Data correct as of May 2025.