A new kitchen is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home. It is also one of the easiest places to overspend if you do not know what things should cost. Kitchen companies are notorious for inflating prices and then offering "discounts" that bring the price back down to what it should have been in the first place.
This guide gives you real numbers so you can plan your budget before you step foot in a showroom. We cover everything from the units and worktops to the appliances and fitting costs, broken down by budget level.
A basic kitchen renovation costs £5,000 to £8,000. A mid range kitchen runs £8,000 to £15,000. A premium kitchen with all the trimmings can easily reach £20,000 to £30,000+.
Kitchen Costs at a Glance
| Budget Level | Total Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £5,000 to £8,000 | Flat pack units, laminate worktops, basic appliances, standard fitting |
| Mid Range | £8,000 to £15,000 | Rigid units, quartz or solid surface worktops, integrated appliances |
| Premium | £15,000 to £30,000+ | Bespoke or handleless units, granite or marble worktops, premium appliances, designer lighting |
Regional Price Variations
Kitchen renovation costs vary by region, primarily because labour rates differ significantly across the UK. The units and appliances cost roughly the same everywhere (you can buy from IKEA in Glasgow just as easily as in London), but the fitting and associated trades cost more in the South East.
| Region | Budget Kitchen (total) | Mid Range Kitchen (total) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £7,000 to £11,000 | £12,000 to £20,000 |
| South East | £6,000 to £9,500 | £10,000 to £17,000 |
| Midlands | £5,000 to £8,000 | £8,000 to £15,000 |
| North of England | £4,500 to £7,500 | £7,500 to £13,000 |
| Scotland | £4,500 to £7,500 | £8,000 to £14,000 |
| Wales | £4,500 to £7,000 | £7,000 to £12,500 |
The labour element of a kitchen renovation in London can be 30% to 50% more than the same work done in the North of England or Wales. If you are on a tight budget in an expensive area, sourcing cheaper units and worktops makes the biggest difference.
Breaking Down the Costs
Kitchen Units
| Type | Cost (for a typical kitchen) |
|---|---|
| Flat pack (IKEA, B&Q, Wickes) | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Rigid pre built (Howdens, Wren, Magnet) | £3,000 to £6,000 |
| Bespoke (independent kitchen company) | £6,000 to £15,000+ |
Flat pack kitchens from IKEA or B&Q are perfectly fine for most homes. They look good, they work, and they last 10 to 15 years with normal use. The main difference with rigid units is build quality and the feel of the doors and drawers. Bespoke kitchens are for people who want something truly unique or have an awkward shaped room that standard sizes cannot accommodate.
Worktops
| Material | Cost per Linear Metre |
|---|---|
| Laminate | £30 to £80 |
| Solid wood (oak, walnut) | £80 to £200 |
| Quartz (Silestone, Caesarstone) | £200 to £500 |
| Granite | £250 to £500 |
| Marble | £300 to £700 |
| Dekton / Neolith | £350 to £600 |
Laminate worktops have improved dramatically in recent years. Modern laminates can look convincingly like stone and cost a fraction of the price. Unless you are set on the feel of real stone under your hands, laminate is the smart money choice.
Appliances
| Appliance | Budget | Mid Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oven | £200 to £400 | £400 to £800 | £800 to £2,000+ |
| Hob | £100 to £250 | £250 to £600 | £600 to £1,500 |
| Fridge freezer | £300 to £500 | £500 to £1,000 | £1,000 to £3,000 |
| Dishwasher | £200 to £350 | £350 to £600 | £600 to £1,200 |
| Extractor hood | £50 to £150 | £150 to £400 | £400 to £1,000 |
Buy the best oven you can afford. It is the one appliance you will use every day and the difference between a £250 oven and a £600 oven is noticeable. Everything else, mid range is fine.
Fitting and Labour
| Trade | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Kitchen fitter (units, worktops, doors) | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Plumber (sink, dishwasher, gas) | £300 to £800 |
| Electrician (sockets, lighting, cooker circuit) | £300 to £700 |
| Tiler (splashback or full wall) | £200 to £600 |
| Plasterer (if walls need making good) | £200 to £500 |
| Decorator (painting) | £150 to £400 |
| Skip hire (removing old kitchen) | £200 to £350 |
Labour typically accounts for 30% to 40% of the total kitchen cost. If you can handle the demolition and painting yourself, you will save £300 to £700.
What Affects the Price?
- Layout changes. Keeping the same layout (sink, cooker, and fridge in the same positions) is significantly cheaper than moving things around. Every pipe and wire you move adds cost.
- Kitchen size. A galley kitchen with 10 units costs less than a large L shaped or U shaped kitchen with 20+ units. More units means more cost for everything: units, worktops, fitting, tiling.
- Unit quality. The jump from flat pack to rigid units adds £1,500 to £3,000. The jump to bespoke adds another £3,000 to £10,000.
- Worktop material. The difference between laminate and quartz worktops over a 4 metre kitchen is £700 to £1,500. It is one of the biggest single cost decisions.
- Appliance choices. Budget appliances for a full kitchen cost £800 to £1,500. Premium appliances can add £3,000 to £7,000.
- Structural work. Knocking through a wall to create an open plan kitchen diner adds £2,000 to £6,000 for steelwork, plastering, and making good.
- Flooring. New kitchen usually means new flooring. Add £500 to £1,500 for vinyl, tile, or engineered wood flooring.
- Your location. Labour rates in London are 30% to 50% higher than the North of England. Materials cost the same everywhere.
How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?
A straightforward kitchen renovation where you are keeping the same layout typically takes 1 to 2 weeks from strip out to completion. This includes removing the old kitchen (1 day), plastering and preparing walls (1 to 2 days), fitting the new units and worktops (3 to 5 days), and plumbing, electrics, and tiling (2 to 3 days).
A more complex renovation that involves moving plumbing, rewiring, or knocking through a wall can take 3 to 4 weeks. If you are opening up a kitchen into a dining room to create an open plan space, the structural work alone (steelwork, plastering, making good) adds a week or more before the kitchen fitting even starts.
Plan for the worst case. Order your kitchen 4 to 6 weeks before you want the work to start, because delivery delays are common. Most kitchen companies and suppliers have a 2 to 4 week lead time, and some bespoke manufacturers take 6 to 8 weeks.
Does a New Kitchen Add Value?
Estate agents consistently say that a new kitchen can add 5% to 10% to a home's value, making it one of the best return on investment home improvements you can make. On a £300,000 property, that is £15,000 to £30,000 of potential added value.
The key word is "can". A poorly planned or cheaply executed kitchen renovation will not add value. Neither will a £30,000 premium kitchen in a £200,000 terraced house. The sweet spot is a well planned mid range kitchen that matches the overall quality of the property. For most homeowners, that means spending £8,000 to £12,000 and getting a result that looks clean, modern, and well fitted.
Hidden Costs People Forget
- Takeaway food: You will not have a kitchen for 1 to 3 weeks. Budget £200 to £400 for eating out and takeaways.
- Building regs: If you are moving gas or adding new electrical circuits, you may need sign off. Your electrician should handle this, but check.
- Making good: Old kitchens often hide surprises behind the units. Damp, dodgy plumbing, outdated wiring. Budget an extra 10% for the unexpected.
- Flooring: New kitchen usually means new flooring. Add £500 to £1,500 for vinyl, tile, or laminate flooring.
- Lighting: Upgrading from a single ceiling pendant to downlights and under unit LED strips adds £200 to £600 but makes a massive difference to how the kitchen looks and feels.
How to Save Money on a New Kitchen
- Keep the existing layout. Moving plumbing and electrics is expensive. If you can work with where things are, you save thousands.
- Buy ex display. Kitchen showrooms sell display kitchens at 50% to 70% off. The units are usually in perfect condition. Check Howdens, Wren, and Magnet for ex display deals.
- Do the demolition yourself. Ripping out the old kitchen is the easiest part. Saves you £200 to £500.
- Use a kitchen fitter, not a company. High street kitchen companies add 30% to 50% margin. Buy the units yourself and hire an independent fitter.
- Laminate worktops. Modern laminates are excellent. Spending £3,000 on quartz worktops when you are on a tight budget makes no sense.
- Shop the sales. Kitchen companies run sales constantly (the "was £12,000, now £6,000" kind). The sale price is usually the real price. Never pay the "full" price.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Massive "discounts". If a kitchen company says the kitchen was £18,000 but they will do it for £9,000 "just for you", the kitchen was never worth £18,000. This is a standard sales tactic.
- Pressure to sign today. "This price is only available if you sign today" is a high pressure sales tactic. Walk away. The price will still be available tomorrow, next week, and next month.
- No itemised quote. If the quote is one lump sum with no breakdown, you cannot tell what you are paying for. Ask for a line by line breakdown of units, worktops, appliances, and labour.
- Vague timelines. A professional fitter will give you a clear start date and estimated completion date. "We will get to you in a few weeks" is not good enough.
- No references or portfolio. Ask to see photos of previous kitchens they have fitted. A good fitter will be proud to show you their work.
- Full payment upfront. A deposit of 20% to 30% is standard. Paying everything before the kitchen is installed is a risk.
A new kitchen in the UK costs £5,000 to £30,000+ depending on your taste and budget. For most homeowners, a well planned mid range kitchen at £8,000 to £12,000 will transform your home without emptying your savings. Keep the layout, buy smart, and hire an independent fitter to get the most for your money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK in 2026?
A budget kitchen renovation costs £5,000 to £8,000 in the UK in 2026. A mid range kitchen with rigid units and quartz worktops runs £8,000 to £15,000. A premium kitchen with bespoke units and granite or marble worktops can reach £20,000 to £30,000 or more.
How much do kitchen units cost?
Flat pack kitchen units from IKEA or B&Q cost £1,500 to £3,000 for a typical kitchen. Rigid pre built units from Howdens or Wren cost £3,000 to £6,000. Bespoke kitchen units from an independent company cost £6,000 to £15,000 or more.
How much does a kitchen fitter charge?
A kitchen fitter charges £1,500 to £3,000 for fitting units, worktops, and doors. Additional trades include a plumber (£300 to £800), electrician (£300 to £700), tiler (£200 to £600), and plasterer (£200 to £500). Labour typically accounts for 30% to 40% of the total kitchen cost.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
A straightforward kitchen renovation with no layout changes takes 1 to 2 weeks. A more complex renovation involving moving plumbing, electrics, or knocking through walls can take 3 to 4 weeks. You will be without a functioning kitchen for most of this time.
Does a new kitchen add value to a house?
A new kitchen can add 5% to 10% to your home's value. On a £300,000 home, that is £15,000 to £30,000. A well planned mid range kitchen costing £8,000 to £12,000 is generally the sweet spot for return on investment.
How much do quartz worktops cost in the UK?
Quartz worktops cost £200 to £500 per linear metre in the UK. Laminate worktops cost £30 to £80 per linear metre. Granite costs £250 to £500, and marble costs £300 to £700 per linear metre.
Is it cheaper to buy a kitchen from IKEA or Howdens?
IKEA kitchens are cheaper to buy at £1,500 to £3,000 for units compared to Howdens at £3,000 to £6,000. However, IKEA kitchens are flat pack and take longer to assemble, which can increase fitting costs. Howdens units are pre built and faster to install.
How can I save money on a new kitchen?
Keep the existing layout to avoid moving plumbing and electrics. Buy ex display kitchens at 50% to 70% off. Do the demolition yourself. Use an independent fitter rather than a kitchen company. Choose laminate worktops which look excellent and cost a fraction of stone.