Free planning tool

Plan your house extension online.

Sketch your proposed extension on your existing floorplan. See an instant build cost range. No sign-up, no download — just a simple browser tool to help you visualise what's possible.

Free, no sign-up Works on phone, tablet, desktop Build cost based on 1,200+ UK projects
Drag onto plan All fixtures placed at correct UK standard sizes
Drag onto plan Rotate after placing using the corner handles
Drag onto plan Resize / rotate after placing using the corner handles

Upload your floorplan

Drop a JPEG or PNG of your existing floorplan, or click to browse. Most homeowners find theirs in their estate agent listing or mortgage paperwork.

Your image stays on your device — never uploaded to our servers.
Floor area (GIA)— m²
Estimated build cost£—
Standard finish · UK average region
What's covered: complete build of the new extension to your chosen finish level — foundations, walls, roof, windows & external doors, plasterboard, first & second-fix electrics and plumbing, basic flooring, basic internal doors. Includes VAT at 20%.
Not covered: kitchen units / bathroom fit-out, floor finishes (wood / tile / carpet), premium upgrades beyond the chosen tier, professional fees, and any work to your existing home.

Refine estimate

Click the first point of a known measurement

What's the real distance?

Type the actual distance between the two points you clicked. This calibrates the scale for everything you draw.

metres

What are you planning?

Pick the type of project so we can give you the right cost rates as you sketch. You can change this any time.

Like what you've sketched?

A free estimate is a great start — but for a project worth £40k+ you'll want a proper fixed price for the drawings, plus a designer who's done it 1,200 times. That's where we come in.

Get an instant price

Five quick questions, fixed-price quote in under 45 seconds. No card, no call.

Speak to a designer

20 minutes on video with our founder Dave. Talk through your sketch and your options.

Book a call

How to plan a house extension online

If you're thinking about extending your home, the most useful first step isn't a builder's quote or a planning application — it's a sketch on your existing floorplan. It clarifies what you actually want, reveals what's physically possible, and gives you a rough budget before you commit to anything.

This free floor planner tool lets you do exactly that. Drop in your existing floorplan (you'll find one in your estate agent listing, mortgage paperwork, or by asking your conveyancer), set the scale, and sketch your proposed addition. The tool calculates the new floor area in square metres and shows a build cost range based on real-world data from over 1,200 UK projects.

What you'll need

Common UK extension costs at a glance

The tool's estimates are based on industry-standard build cost rates per m² of internal floor area, adjusted for region and finish level. As a rough orientation:

So a typical 25 m² rear extension at standard finish in the Midlands works out at £60,000-£72,500. Add a kitchen-fit, bifolds and a slate-roof skylight and you're closer to the premium tier — around £75,000-£95,000. These numbers exclude professional fees (drawings, structural engineer, building control), which our drawings packages cover from £1,698.

Will my extension need planning permission?

For most UK homeowners the answer is maybe not. Many single-storey extensions fall under permitted development rights, which let you build without a full planning application — provided you stay within strict rules on depth, height, materials and proximity to boundaries. Loft conversions follow a similar pattern: most rear dormers qualify under PD, but anything in a conservation area or on a listed building usually needs full permission.

Our extension planner helps you visualise the rough size and shape — but the planning question is about the specifics. We do a free feasibility check at the start of every project to confirm exactly which route applies to your home.

Frequently asked questions

Is the tool really free?
Yes, completely free. No sign-up, no email collection, no time-limited trial. We've built it as a useful resource for homeowners who are early in their planning journey. There's no obligation to use Arkiplan afterwards — though we'd love to help if you decide to take your sketch further.
Where does my floorplan go? Are you storing it?
Your floorplan stays on your device the whole time. The tool runs entirely in your browser — your image never gets uploaded to our servers. When you close this tab, your floorplan disappears. (If you want to keep your work, click "Download PNG" before you close.)
How accurate is the build cost estimate?
It's a guidance figure, not a quote. The rates are drawn from over 2,000 completed Arkiplan projects across England and Wales, adjusted for your region and finish level. They're broadly reliable as an order-of-magnitude check (am I looking at £40k or £140k?), but actual quotes from builders can vary 20-30% based on site access, ground conditions, structural complexity, and current materials prices. For an actual fixed-price quote on the drawings — and a much more accurate build cost estimate based on your specific design — get an instant price from our team.
What does the build cost figure cover? Does it include VAT?

The figure is a complete build cost for the new extension to your chosen finish level — not a shell-only number. At Standard finish, that typically means:

  • Structure: foundations, walls, roof, windows, external doors
  • First-fix: electrical wiring runs, plumbing pipework, insulation
  • Plasterboard, skim plaster, skirtings, architraves
  • Second-fix: sockets, switches, basic light fittings, taps, radiators
  • Basic flooring — concrete subfloor and screed (you'd lay your own finished floor on top)
  • Internal doors at standard spec
  • VAT at 20% — UK domestic extensions are not zero-rated

Premium and Luxury tiers step up the spec — better windows (e.g. aluminium bifolds), underfloor heating, higher-quality plumbing & electrical fixtures, oak doors, etc.

The figure does not include kitchen units & appliances (typically £8k–£25k), bathroom suite & tiling (£4k–£12k), floor finishes like wood / tile / carpet (£2k–£6k), or any alterations to your existing home. It also doesn't include professional fees — drawings, structural engineer, building control sign-off — which typically add £3k–£6k on top.

For a tighter quote on your specific design — and proper itemised build cost — get an instant price from our team.

What if I don't have a floorplan?
For now this tool requires an uploaded floorplan. Most homeowners can find one in their estate agent listing, mortgage paperwork, or by asking their conveyancer. If you genuinely don't have one, our drawings packages all include a free 3D Home Scan™ where we capture your home's layout in millimetre accuracy — no measuring tape needed.
Can I use this on my phone?
Yes — the tool works on phone, tablet and desktop. On a phone the canvas is smaller and dragging is a bit trickier, but it works. We'd recommend a tablet or laptop for serious sketching.
Will my extension need planning permission?
It depends on size, location, and house type. Many single-storey extensions and loft dormers fall under permitted development (no full planning application required). Anything in a conservation area, on a listed building, or above certain size limits usually needs full permission. We do a free feasibility check at the start of every project — see our extensions guide for more.