How to choose the right size garden windmill: a complete guide

Picking a size is the question we get most often, and the answer is almost always: bigger than you first think. The rule of thumb we use in the workshop is that a windmill should be at least one third of the height of whatever it sits in front of. A 2-metre fence asks for at least 80 cm; a 3-metre garden room wants something north of a metre.

The 85 cm size is our entry point and it works beautifully on patios, balconies and as an accent in a tight border. People often pick this one first then come back six months later for a taller one. It is the gateway model for a reason.

The 1 m and 1.35 m sizes are the sweet spot for the average UK back garden. They have presence without overwhelming a lawn, and they tend to be the ones that pull double-duty as a landscape light at dusk thanks to the integrated LEDs.

Above 1.7 m we move into focal-point territory. A 2.23 m windmill is what people order when they have a long lawn and want a destination at the end of it — somewhere your eye lands when you look out from the kitchen window. Expect visitors to walk over to inspect it.

One more thing: think about the journey. A 2.2 m windmill is not delivered as a single piece. Make sure you can route the boxed kit through your gate before you order. We have helped more than one customer carry a windmill round the side of a house.