How Much Does a Smoking Shelter Cost? UK Price Guide 2026

The question "how much does a smoking shelter cost?" is one we get several times a week. The honest answer is that it ranges from around £800 for the simplest possible canopy to £12,000 or more for a large bespoke installation. That spread is not price gouging — it reflects genuinely different products serving genuinely different needs.

This guide explains the main variables that affect cost and gives you realistic figures to work with before you approach a supplier.

The main factors that affect price

Size. The single biggest cost driver. A small canopy covering one machine or two people costs a fraction of a large structure covering a dozen. Width, depth, and height all affect material cost, fabrication time, and installation complexity.

Configuration. A simple open canopy with no walls is cheaper than a three-sided structure with a back panel. A structure with partial glazed side screens costs more than one with fully open sides. Each additional panel adds material and fabrication cost.

Material. Aluminium powder-coated to a RAL colour is the standard for quality commercial shelters. It is maintenance-free for the life of the structure. Steel with painted finish costs less to buy but more to maintain over time as it requires repainting every three to five years in most UK environments.

Foundations. Most shelters are installed on base plates bolted to an existing surface. This is the cheaper option. If the existing surface is unsuitable, a concrete pad foundation is required, which adds groundworks cost.

Site access. A shelter installed in a straightforward car park location with good vehicle access costs less to install than one in a constrained location requiring scaffolding, working above head height, or traffic management.

Bespoke requirements. Non-standard dimensions, custom RAL colours that require specialist powder, heating units, integrated lighting, signage panels, or CCTV provision all add to the base cost.

Indicative pricing: what to budget

These are supply and installation prices for a standard aluminium powder-coated smoking shelter in a UK commercial or workplace setting, installed in a straightforward location.

Configuration	Approximate size	Supply and install
Open canopy, no walls	2m x 2m	£800 to £1,500
Three-sided: roof, back wall, two open sides	2m x 2.5m	£2,000 to £3,500
Three-sided with partial side screens	2m x 3m	£3,000 to £5,000
Large three-sided shelter	3m x 4m	£4,500 to £7,000
Multi-bay bespoke (pub, hospital, large site)	4m x 4m+	£7,000 to £15,000+

These prices include supply, delivery, and installation. They assume a straightforward concrete or tarmac base in accessible location, standard RAL colour, and UV-stabilised polycarbonate roof panels.

What is not included in most quoted prices: groundworks beyond a standard base plate fixing (if a concrete pad is required), traffic management if the installation is adjacent to a road, electrical connection for lighting or heating, and signage.

Allow a 10 to 20 per cent contingency on the figures above for a realistic all-in budget.

Why quotes vary so much

If you have already had quotes for a smoking shelter, you may have noticed they vary significantly between suppliers. Common reasons:

Different specifications. If you have not provided a detailed specification, suppliers will quote what they typically supply, which may be very different between one manufacturer and another. One quote may be for steel, another for aluminium. One may include a back panel, another may not. Comparing these quotes is comparing different products.

Material quality. The grade of polycarbonate, the thickness of the frame section, and the quality of the powder coat all affect both price and longevity. The cheapest quote is often for thinner-gauge steel with a basic painted finish that will need maintenance within five years.

Manufacturer vs reseller. A reseller who buys from a manufacturer and marks up will typically price higher than a direct manufacturer for equivalent product. Ask whether the company you are quoting with actually makes the shelter or sources it elsewhere.

Installation included or excluded. Some quotes are supply-only. Others include installation. Make sure you are comparing like for like before making a decision.

What you should provide to get an accurate quote

To get a meaningful quote from any manufacturer, you need to provide:

• The required width and depth in metres
• Whether you need a back wall and what side panel configuration you want
• The RAL colour or a description of the colour requirement
• The site location and surface type (tarmac, concrete, block paving)
• Whether the site is accessible for a small delivery vehicle
• Any specific requirements: lighting, heating, signage space

Without this information, a quote is an estimate at best. With it, a good manufacturer will give you a fixed price that does not change on the day of installation.

Does a smoking shelter need planning permission?

In most cases, no. Standard commercial smoking shelters fall within permitted development rights and do not require a planning application. Exceptions apply in conservation areas, on listed buildings, and for larger structures. We check this for every site as part of the quotation process. See our full guide: Does a Smoking Shelter Need Planning Permission?

Is the cheapest option ever the right option?

Sometimes. If your smoking shelter is in a sheltered location, is lightly used, and the site is inland with mild weather, a simpler, less expensive structure may give perfectly adequate service.

For a north-facing exposed car park, a coastal site, a high-footfall premises, or a hospital or hospitality setting where the shelter is in constant use, a quality aluminium structure pays back over time. Repainting a steel shelter every three to four years costs money and disruption. An aluminium shelter with a quality powder coat requires nothing beyond an annual wash.

The honest calculation is not "what is the cheapest price today" but "what does this shelter cost over ten years including maintenance." On that calculation, the quality option is almost always the better value.

For the complete guide to smoking shelter regulations in the UK, including the 50% open rule, planning permission, and what a compliant shelter actually looks like, read: UK Smoking Shelter Regulations: What Employers and Venues Need to Know.

To get a fixed price for your smoking shelter, call 01704 547 321 or visit our smoking shelters product page.