A new kitchen is the single most impactful home improvement you can make — and often the most expensive. Whether you're a homeowner planning a renovation or a kitchen fitter quoting on work, understanding UK kitchen costs in 2026 is essential.
This guide covers everything: kitchen costs by budget level, unit prices, worktop materials, appliance costs, labour rates, regional differences, and a full sample quote breakdown.
New Kitchen Cost at a Glance — UK 2026
| Budget Level | Cost Range | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget kitchen | £3,000-£6,000 | Flat-pack units, laminate worktop, basic appliances, same layout |
| Mid-range kitchen | £8,000-£15,000 | Rigid units, quartz or solid wood worktop, integrated appliances, new layout |
| High-end kitchen | £15,000-£25,000 | Bespoke or premium rigid units, granite/quartz worktop, Bosch/Neff appliances, island unit |
| Luxury kitchen | £25,000-£50,000+ | Handmade cabinetry, natural stone worktops, Sub-Zero/Miele appliances, structural changes, underfloor heating |
Key Insight: The kitchen units themselves are often only 30-40% of the total cost. Labour, worktops, appliances, tiling, flooring, and electrics make up the rest. A £3,000 set of units easily becomes a £10,000+ project once everything is included.
Kitchen Unit Costs — UK 2026
Kitchen units (carcasses + doors) are priced per unit or per linear metre. Here's what to expect:
| Unit Type | Budget (Flat-Pack) | Mid-Range (Rigid) | Premium (Bespoke) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base unit (600mm) | £40-£80 | £100-£200 | £250-£500 |
| Wall unit (600mm) | £30-£60 | £80-£150 | £180-£400 |
| Tall unit (larder/oven housing) | £80-£150 | £200-£400 | £400-£900 |
| Drawer unit (3-4 drawers) | £60-£120 | £150-£300 | £300-£700 |
| Corner unit (L-shaped) | £60-£120 | £150-£300 | £300-£600 |
| Full kitchen (8-12 units) | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,500-£7,000 | £8,000-£20,000+ |
Budget suppliers: IKEA, Wickes, B&Q. Mid-range: Howdens, Magnet, Wren. Premium: Naked Kitchens, Tom Howley, Roundhouse.
Worktop Costs — UK 2026
The worktop is a major cost driver and one of the most visible parts of any kitchen:
| Material | Supply (per linear metre) | Fitted (per linear metre) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £40-£100 | £80-£150 | Budget kitchens, rental properties |
| Solid wood (oak/walnut) | £100-£200 | £150-£300 | Warm, natural look — needs oiling |
| Quartz (engineered) | £200-£400 | £300-£550 | Durable, low-maintenance, many colours |
| Granite | £250-£450 | £350-£600 | Natural stone, unique patterns, heat-resistant |
| Corian (solid surface) | £300-£500 | £400-£700 | Seamless joins, integrated sinks |
| Dekton / Neolith | £400-£700 | £550-£900 | Ultra-durable, scratch/heat/UV resistant |
A typical kitchen has 3-5 linear metres of worktop. At mid-range quartz prices, that's £900-£2,750 fitted including cut-outs for sink and hob.
Pro Tip (for fitters): Always include the worktop material, colour, edge profile, and number of cut-outs in your quote. Stone worktops are usually templated and fitted by a specialist — make it clear whether your quote includes this or if it's a separate cost. For help creating clear, itemised quotes, see our guide on how to quote a kitchen installation.
Kitchen Appliance Costs — UK 2026
| Appliance | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in oven | £150-£300 | £300-£600 | £600-£2,000 |
| Induction hob | £150-£300 | £300-£600 | £600-£1,500 |
| Gas hob | £100-£200 | £200-£400 | £400-£1,000 |
| Extractor hood | £60-£150 | £150-£400 | £400-£1,200 |
| Integrated fridge-freezer | £250-£400 | £400-£800 | £800-£3,000 |
| Integrated dishwasher | £200-£350 | £350-£600 | £600-£1,500 |
| Washer-dryer (integrated) | £300-£500 | £500-£800 | £800-£1,500 |
| Boiling water tap | £300-£500 | £500-£900 | £900-£1,800 |
A full set of mid-range integrated appliances (oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher) typically costs £1,500-£3,000.
Labour Costs for Kitchen Fitting — UK 2026
| Trade | Day Rate | Days Needed (Average Kitchen) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen fitter | £200-£350 | 3-5 days |
| Plumber | £200-£350 | 1-2 days |
| Electrician | £200-£400 | 1-2 days |
| Tiler | £180-£300 | 1-2 days |
| Plasterer | £180-£280 | 0.5-1 day |
| Painter/decorator | £150-£280 | 1-2 days |
| Flooring specialist | £150-£250 | 1 day |
Total labour for an average kitchen refit: £2,000-£5,000 depending on complexity and region. For detailed day rates, see our plumber day rate and electrician day rate guides.
Kitchen Cost by Size
| Kitchen Size | Typical m² | Budget | Mid-Range | High-End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small galley | 5-8 m² | £3,000-£5,000 | £6,000-£10,000 | £12,000-£20,000 |
| Medium L-shaped | 8-12 m² | £4,000-£6,000 | £8,000-£15,000 | £15,000-£30,000 |
| Large U-shaped | 12-18 m² | £5,000-£8,000 | £10,000-£18,000 | £20,000-£40,000 |
| Open-plan kitchen-diner | 15-25 m² | £6,000-£10,000 | £12,000-£22,000 | £25,000-£50,000+ |
Regional Price Differences — UK 2026
| Region | Mid-Range Kitchen Refit | vs National Average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £12,000-£22,000 | +25-40% |
| South East | £10,000-£18,000 | +10-20% |
| Midlands | £8,000-£15,000 | Average |
| North West | £7,000-£13,000 | -5-10% |
| North East | £6,500-£12,000 | -10-20% |
| Scotland | £7,000-£13,000 | -5-10% |
| Wales | £6,500-£12,000 | -10-15% |
What Affects the Cost of a New Kitchen?
- Layout changes — Moving the sink, gas supply, or adding an island means re-routing plumbing and electrics. This can add £1,000-£3,000+
- Knocking through walls — Creating an open-plan kitchen-diner requires structural work (RSJ steel beam, building regs). Budget £2,000-£5,000 for wall removal alone
- Worktop choice — The difference between laminate (£80/m fitted) and quartz (£400/m fitted) is huge over 4 metres: £320 vs £1,600
- Appliance upgrades — Swapping a basic oven for an induction hob + pyrolytic oven + boiling water tap can add £2,000-£4,000
- Electrical work — New kitchens often need additional sockets, upgraded consumer unit, and dedicated circuits for induction hobs. Budget £500-£1,500
- Flooring — Vinyl (£15-£30/m²), tile (£40-£80/m²), or engineered wood (£30-£60/m²) — each with very different costs and labour
- Waste and access — Removing an old kitchen and disposing of waste costs £300-£600 including skip hire
Pro Tip: The single biggest way to save money is to keep the sink and cooker in the same position. Moving them means re-routing waste pipes, water supply, gas (or adding new electrics for induction), and often re-routing ducting for the extractor. That's easily £1,000-£2,000 saved.
Sample Quote — Mid-Range Kitchen Refit
Here's a typical itemised quote for a medium L-shaped kitchen (10 m²) in a 3-bed semi in the Midlands:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Strip out existing kitchen & dispose (incl. skip) | £450 |
| Kitchen units — 10 rigid units, soft-close (Howdens) | £3,200 |
| Quartz worktop (4m, including sink cut-out) | £1,600 |
| 1.5 bowl undermount sink & mixer tap | £280 |
| Built-in oven (Bosch Serie 4) | £380 |
| Induction hob (Bosch 4-zone) | £350 |
| Integrated extractor hood | £200 |
| Integrated fridge-freezer | £450 |
| Integrated dishwasher | £380 |
| LED under-cabinet lighting | £150 |
| Splashback tiles (6 m² porcelain @ £35/m²) | £210 |
| Vinyl click flooring (10 m² @ £25/m²) | £250 |
| Kitchen fitting labour (4 days) | £1,200 |
| Plumbing — disconnect/reconnect, waste & supply | £500 |
| Electrics — 4 new sockets, induction circuit, extractor | £650 |
| Tiling labour (splashback, 1 day) | £250 |
| Flooring fitting (1 day) | £200 |
| Plastering & making good | £300 |
| Painting walls & ceiling | £350 |
| Total | £11,350 |
That's a quality mid-range kitchen with Howdens units, quartz worktop, and Bosch appliances for under £12,000 in the Midlands. In London, add 25-40%.
For Kitchen Fitters: An itemised quote like this wins far more jobs than a lump sum. Customers planning a kitchen renovation compare multiple quotes — the one with clear, detailed pricing builds trust. If you're still quoting on paper, try a quoting app to create professional quotes in minutes.
How to Save Money on a New Kitchen
- Keep the existing layout — Don't move the sink or cooker unless the layout is genuinely broken. Layout changes = expensive plumbing and electrics
- Buy units during sales — Howdens, Wren, and Magnet regularly run 40-50% off sales. IKEA is consistently affordable year-round
- Choose laminate worktops — Modern laminate (like Duropal or Bushboard) looks remarkably similar to stone at a fraction of the price. Save £1,000+ vs quartz
- Supply your own appliances — Buy appliances from Currys, AO, or Amazon during sales. Kitchen companies mark up appliances 20-40%
- Reface instead of replace — If your carcasses are solid, replacing just the doors and worktop costs £2,000-£4,000 vs £8,000+ for a full refit
- Get 3 quotes — Always compare at least 3 quotes for the same specification. Use our quote vs estimate guide to understand what you're agreeing to
- Do the decorating yourself — Painting walls and ceiling is straightforward DIY. Save £300-£500 on painting labour
Does a New Kitchen Add Value?
A kitchen renovation is consistently rated as the best return on investment for UK home improvements:
- A well-fitted kitchen typically adds 50-100% of its cost to your property value
- A £10,000-£15,000 mid-range kitchen can add £10,000-£20,000 to a property's asking price
- An outdated kitchen is the #1 reason buyers negotiate the price down or walk away
- Open-plan kitchen-diners are the most sought-after feature for family homes
- Even a budget refresh (£3,000-£5,000) can dramatically improve saleability
Kitchen Renovation Timeline
Knowing how long a kitchen takes helps both homeowners and fitters plan properly:
| Project Type | Duration |
|---|---|
| Like-for-like replacement (same layout) | 5-7 working days |
| New layout (plumbing/electric changes) | 2-3 weeks |
| With wall removal (open-plan conversion) | 3-5 weeks |
| Full extension + kitchen | 8-12 weeks |
Allow an extra 4-8 weeks lead time for ordering units and worktops before work starts. Stone worktops are templated after units are fitted, adding another 1-2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK?
A new kitchen costs £3,000-£6,000 for a budget refit, £8,000-£15,000 for mid-range, and £20,000-£40,000+ for a luxury kitchen in the UK in 2026. The total depends on kitchen size, unit quality, worktop material, appliances, and whether you're changing the layout. London is typically 25-40% more expensive than the national average.
How long does it take to fit a new kitchen?
A straightforward kitchen replacement with the same layout takes 5-7 working days. A full renovation with new layout, plumbing, electrics, tiling, and flooring takes 2-4 weeks. Large open-plan conversions with structural changes can take 4-6 weeks. Allow extra lead time for ordering units and worktops.
Is it cheaper to reface or replace kitchen cabinets?
Refacing (new doors and drawer fronts on existing carcasses) costs £2,000-£4,000 — roughly 40-60% less than a full replacement. It's worth doing if your existing carcasses are solid and the layout works well. If you need to change the layout, add units, or the carcasses are damaged, a full replacement offers better long-term value.
Related Guides
- How to Quote a Kitchen Installation
- New Bathroom Cost UK 2026
- House Extension Cost UK 2026
- Plumber Day Rate UK 2026
- Electrician Day Rate UK 2026
- Carpenter Day Rate UK 2026
- Best Quoting Apps for Tradesmen UK 2026
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