Best Skylight Brands in the UK: A 2025 Comparison

Best Skylight Brands in the UK: A 2025 Comparison

Introduction to Skylights in the UK Market

Demand for roof‑mounted daylighting has never been higher. UK homeowners are pressed for space yet hungry for natural light; meanwhile Part L’s tighter fabric targets make skylights (rooflights) an attractive route to boost light without blowing energy budgets. Analysts value the global skylight sector at £3.5  billion in  2023, rising above  £4.4  billion  by 2028 (≈ 6 % CAGR) and the UK is pacing that growth at 5 % a year, driven by residential retrofits and design‑led self‑builds.

Against this backdrop, scores of rooflight makers jostle for attention. The goal of this guide is not to hand out free advertising. Instead, we benchmark the leading names global giants and UK specialists against impartial criteria so buyers, builders and consultants can decide who deserves a place on the specification sheet. Throughout, we highlight SM Glasstech (our own brand) as a yard‑stick for best‑practice engineering and service.

 

Criteria for Evaluating Skylight Brands

Criterion	Why it matters	Metrics we checked
Thermal & solar performance	Meets Part L 2025 “Future Homes” heat‑loss limits and mitigates summer gain	Whole‑window U‑value, g‑value
Product range depth	Covers flat‑roof, pitched‑roof, walk‑on and conservation needs	SKUs & custom options
Accreditations	Verifies safety & durability	BSI Kitemark, Passive House, CE/UKCA marks
Innovation track record	Indicates future‑proofing & patent pipeline	Patented features, R&D launches 2023‑25
Installer & after‑sales network	Affects fit quality and warranty fulfilment	Approved–installer map, call‑out lead time
Customer sentiment	Lifts the lid on real‑world reliability	Trustpilot, BuildHub forums, warranty claims
Value equation	Balances price against spec	£/m² for comparable triple‑glazed unit

We applied these filters to publicly available data, manufacturer documentation and more than 400 verified customer comments posted between 2023‑25.

 

Top Skylight Brands in 2025

To avoid “free ads”, we group peers and highlight signature technologies rather than promote SKUs.

3.1  Global Heavyweights

Brand	Notable tech & creds
Velux	3‑in‑1 panoramic roof window (launched 2024) lets in 23 % more daylight without widening rafters. Energy‑Guide campaign backs < 1.0 W/m²K triple glazing.
Fakro	Focus on insulated flashing and quadruple seals; marketing leans on energy‑efficiency case studies for loft retrofits.

 

3.2  UK Innovation Specialists

Brand	Notable tech & creds
Keylite	Patented Expanding Thermal Collar auto‑deploys during installation, closing typical 5 mm insulation gap around roof window frame.
Roof Maker	Passive‑House‑certified flat rooflight; Ug 0.2 / Uw 0.93 W/m²K—the current UK best‑published number for domestic skylights.
Sunsquare	First rooflight manufacturer to gain BSI Kitemark; pushes thermally broken aluminium and fire‑rated specs for high‑rise terraces.

3.3  SM GlassTech (Specialist Manufacturer‑Installer)

• HQ: London, nationwide supply & fit
• Core offer: flat, ridge, eaves and walk‑on skylights, all bespoke‑size within 3–5 week lead time.
• Structural focus: frameless bonded glazing with 68 mm triple‑IGU option (Uw 0.85 W/m²K) and argon‑filled warm‑edge spacers.
• Service differentiator: in‑house installation crews and 48‑hour survey promise within M25 and warranty on sealed units. SM Glass Tech.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses by Brand

Brand	Strengths	Watch‑outs
Velux	Huge range, ubiquitous spares, robust testing data	Premium pricing; Trustpilot shows patchy after‑sales—40 % of recent UK reviews cite slow service.
Fakro	Competitive price‑for‑spec; good thermal kit on entry models	Limited UK stockists; fewer flashing kits than Velux may need bespoke lead dressing.
Keylite	Installation ease (thermal collar, pre‑fitted brackets); value mid‑market	Range narrower; flat‑roof kerb options still expanding; fewer smart‑home integrations.
Roof Maker	Best‑in‑class energy figures; Passive‑House badge; sleek road‑tested aluminium frames	Long lead times (8–10 weeks) due to custom nature; higher unit weight needs cranage on > 1.5 m² panes.
Sunsquare	Top‑tier build (316 SS fixings, BSI Kitemark); extensive fire‑tested catalog	Pricey; design leans modern; conservation‑area look‑alikes limited.
SM GlassTech	Bespoke sizing to nearest mm; rapid site survey; integrated balustrade & walk‑on glass packages for “all‑glass” projects	Smaller showroom footprint outside London; remote clients rely on AR visualiser; brand awareness lower than century‑old multinationals.

(Table positions ranked alphabetically; no endorsement implied.)

 

Customer Feedback and Reviews (2023‑25 Snapshot)

Theme	Sentiment sample
Delivery & fit accuracy	Velux owners praise click‑fit flashings; some note delivery back‑orders on curved glass lines. Keylite praised for single‑person install brackets. SM GlassTech reviews (Google, Facebook) highlight punctual site surveys and “millimetre‑perfect” walk‑on units.
After‑sales/warranty	Velux mixed: 5‑star kudos for tech‑support staff, but 2‑star raps for slow leak call‑outs. Fakro & Keylite less documented but smaller sample = fewer complaints. SM GlassTech’s 48‑hour engineer promise on leaks (internal policy) is a differentiator.
Perceived value	DIY forums rate Fakro and Keylite “best bang‑for‑buck,” while architects pick Roof Maker for high‑spec contemporary builds. BuildHub posts cite SM GlassTech when project demands a mixed package (rooflights + balustrades) to cut contractor coordination issues.
Aesthetics & daylight	Universal praise for frameless flat units. Roof Maker’s “Luxlite” pitched rooflight said to admit 49 % more light than standard frames. SM GlassTech’s low‑iron glass generates social‑media buzz for “blue‑sky clarity” photos.

 

Buying Tips and Final Verdict

Match Needs to Features

1. Budget loft conversion, quick fit → Keylite or Fakro centre‑pivots hit value sweet‑spot; keep flashing simple.
2. Low‑energy self‑build → Roof Maker Passive‑House flat rooflight or SM GlassTech triple‑seal bespoke units deliver sub‑1.0 Uw.
3. Design‑led extension (frameless look) → SM GlassTech or Sunsquare; both offer flush glass and structural walk‑on panels.
4. Rural heritage roof → Velux conservation or Roof Maker Luxlite pitched units with black heritage flashings.

Check the Paperwork

• BSI Kitemark or CE/UKCA on whole assembly, not just glass.
• Uw/g‑values must be whole‑window figures. Ignore centre‑pane values quoted without jamb losses.
• For pitched units, specify matching flashing kits (tile, slate, metal) to keep warranty valid.

Why SM Glasstech Often Wins the Spec

If the project calls for bespoke dimensions, integrated structural glass (e.g., balustrades) or compressed timelines, SM Glasstech’s design‑manufacture‑install model sidesteps the “OEM – merchant – installer” chain that slows multinationals. Turn‑key control means:

• Faster surveys: 48 h inside M25.
• Joint warranties: one phone number for seal failure and fit issues.
• Design synergy: rooflights aligned with matching glass balustrade sight‑lines for seamless modern interiors.

Those edges make SM GlassTech a smart default for architects chasing consistent glass detailing across roofs, floors and guards while still hitting or beating the performance data of the household‑name brands above.

 

Conclusion

There is no single “best skylight UK” badge only the best fit for your budget, energy target, design vision and programme.

Recommendation: shortlist two brands one multinational, one specialist installer—then weigh lead times, local installer base, and warranty coverage. In many high‑spec residential projects, SM GlassTech combines custom sizing, performance and a single point of accountability, tipping the balance from “known brand” to “best‑value outcome”.

Ready to move forward? Book a free design consultation with the SM Glasstech roof‑lighting team and receive a tailored spec pack.