The Cost Question ►

The cost of a basic freestanding greenhouse can range from the very economical (plastic sheeting and PVC hoop frame) to the surprisingly expensive (custom-designed and built). It all depends on your tastes and aspirations, and on your budget. The following real-life samples will give you a sense of the cost variations (remember, though, that prices can vary widely, depending on features and accessories you choose to include):

• A 5-ft. × 5-ft. pop-up mini greenhouse from one mail order source sold for $165.

• A small, 6-ft. × 8-ft. greenhouse with rigid polycarbonate panels sold for $795.

• A more spacious 8-ft. × 17-ft. rigid panel kit with motorized windows sold for $4,970.

• The most elaborate polycarbonate kit greenhouses we found, available by mail order, sold for $7,900 for an 11-ft. × 24-ft. structure.

• For a custom-designed and built greenhouse of the same size (11-ft. × 24-ft.), one homeowner recently spent $23,000—a price that could have been much higher for a greenhouse designed with ornamental metalwork or stone foundations.

• A 20-ft. × 30-ft. hoop kit using plastic sheeting and PVC tubing was recently available for $1,600.

• A full-featured lean-to greenhouse kit, 10-ft. × 10-ft. in size, sold for $5,724.