Best fitted kitchens suppliers in the UK 2023

British Standard cupboards are the perfect addition to this rustic kitchen aesthetic (Image credit: British Standard)

Kitchen ranges: 1 

Number of styles: 1 

Finance available: No

Installation service: No (can recommend trusted local partners)

Of the best new kitchen suppliers in the UK in 2022, British Standard takes a different approach. Homeowners start by designing their ideal kitchen with or without the help of an in-house designer, then purchase products online via the British Standard website.

British Standard offers a variety of cupboard units and other products. The cupboards arrive primed which enables you to paint and fit them on your own or with the help of an installer. This gives you complete creative control. Paint and style your new kitchen however you like!

Unlike other kitchen suppliers, this company only offers one Georgian-inspired off-the-shelf kitchen range. The cupboards have a very clean and traditional aesthetic, and they are handmade from solid wood on British soil. Worktops are also made from wood and are oiled before and after fitting.

How much do British Standard kitchens cost?

A single cupboard can cost £700 or more, and it will cost from £8,000 for a standard kitchen. This pricing does put British Standard above the likes of Wickes and Magnet, but it’s still not as expensive as Neptune or Harvey Jones.

Final recommendation

British Standard won’t appeal to everyone. While many of the other companies we’ve reviewed offer warranties, fitting and installation, pre-painted cabinetry, and several ranges to select from, British Standard doesn’t offer any of these bells and whistles. 

Instead, you get off-the-shelf, high-quality, handmade wooden British cabinetry that you can modify and style according to your preferences.

We recommend British Standard if you have a specific vision for your kitchen. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a simple, rustic and sophisticated look and you want total control over the colour scheme.

Read our full British Standard kitchens review.

With 25 different kitchen ranges, you have a lot of choice with Howdens (Image credit: Howdens)

• Kitchen ranges: 25
• Number of styles: 3
• Finance available: No
• Installation service: No

Howdens is a high-quality, trade-only fitted kitchen brand with 25 different ranges and three styles that can be combined and modified in 75 different ways. The Elmbridge Dove Grey Kitchen won the award for 2022 Best Classic Kitchen in the Ideal Home Kitchen Awards.

With 25 different kitchen ranges, you have a lot of choice with Howdens. Choose from gloss, grain or matt finishes, or select a paintable kitchen if you fancy getting creative. There are also several accessories and appliance packages available to help complete your kitchen.

All Howdens’s UK-manufactured cabinets are backed by a generous 25-year warranty against issues arising from defects in the manufacturing process or raw materials. Doors are guaranteed for five years.

How much do Howdens kitchens cost?

Howdens prices are only supplied to the trade, with each tradesperson getting an individual deal. This means Howdens pricing can be quite opaque and inconsistent. How much you pay depends on the products you choose and the builder you work with.

From online reviews, the average Howdens kitchen appears to cost anywhere from £5,000 to £15,000 depending on the installer, appliances, finishes and the choice of flooring or tiling.

Final recommendation

Howdens offers wonderful designs, colour options and styles. No matter your taste or requirements, you’ll find something you like. Remember, since prices are only made available to builders, you must find a trustworthy builder to work with.

Howdens offers truly great quality. All its manufacturing sites hold a (BS) ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management system accreditation that can attest to the company’s high standards.

See our full Howdens review for more information.

Homebase offers variety, value for money, and solid customer service. (Image credit: Homebase)

• Kitchen ranges: 6 
• Number of styles: 50 
• Finance available: Yes
• Installation service: No

Homebase offers great variety at a good price. In addition to the Homebase kitchen range, which features six different designs, the company also offers three further kitchen collections: House Beautiful, Country Living and Küchenmöbel.

The Homebase range arrives flat-packed with a 15-year warranty period, so you can assemble and install the cabinets yourself. The three other brands come with a 20-year warranty period and offer attractive styles that arrive pre-built for ease of installation.

Homebase doesn’t offer installation, but you can take advantage of fully accredited virtual or in-store design consultation services. When the time comes to install your kitchen, you can either do so yourself or enlist the help of a trusted local tradesperson.

What we really like about this kitchen brand is its financing options. It’s not always possible to pay for a kitchen upfront, and many people depend on financing. Homebase offers interest-free credit (or interest-bearing credit for up to seven years) and a deposit-free “buy now, pay later” plan. The interest-free plan requires a £500 minimum spend. You can pay it off over 10 months or up to five years without early settlement penalties.

How much do Homebase kitchens cost? 

The price of Homebase kitchens varies depending on the style and number of cabinets purchased. In general, a Homebase kitchen will cost anywhere between £2,000 and £6,000 not including installation.

Final recommendation

Homebase offers variety, value for money and solid customer service. The guarantees offered with its cabinets are very comprehensive, ranging from 15 to 20 years. There is also an additional guarantee on inserts, baskets and laminate worktops for up to five years.

Overall, Homebase is a great option if you want to purchase your new kitchen on credit without compromising on quality or limiting your design options.

For more information, see our full Homebase review.

An attractive indigo blue, wood-grain effect shaker fitted kitchen (Image credit: Wren)

• Kitchen ranges: 1 flat-pack and 3 ready-built
• Number of styles: 3 – modern, shaker and traditional, with numerous design options within the styles
• Finance available: Yes
• Installation service: Yes

Wren has been manufacturing fitted kitchens from its UK-based plants for decades. Managing every element itself, from using innovative production techniques, right through to installations, has allowed the company to keep costs lower than many other suppliers. They also have an impressive record of recycling, using sustainable materials and charity fundraising. 

Offering extensive planning and design options, Wren gives customers the option of online, in-store and at home consultations, all incorporating 3D 360° walk-throughs. This fully immersive technique allows customers to experience their new kitchen virtually before making any decisions. 

Wren is widely recognised for its high quality and professional installations by industries and associations, including The Furniture Industry Research Association and The British Furniture Manufacturers. In 2019, it was also awarded the Made in Britain marque for its manufacturing processes.  

Wren fitted kitchens are available in a wide range of styles, designs, colours and effects. Extra additions can also be incorporated, including built-in wine racks, display shelves and even pet beds. Accessories and appliances can be supplied by the company, making it a one-stop shop for high quality fitted kitchens. 

How much do Wren fitted kitchens cost? 

By cutting out the middleman, Wren has managed to make high quality kitchens affordable. Although its bespoke range is around £5,300 for an eight-unit kitchen with three appliances, its lower price band option still manages to combine quality materials and production with a starting cost of £505.

Each kitchen comes with Wren’s guarantee covering up to 25 years, and a five-year guarantee is placed on all Wren installations.

Final recommendation

If you’re looking for a fitted kitchen that combines style, quality and affordability, then Wren is well worth considering. With numerous design options, the ability to supply appliances and an impressively innovative 3D virtual planning 360° walk-through, Wren makes choosing a new fitted kitchen easy. 

Consider your budget: cabinets are the highest cost, but you also have to consider fixtures, flooring, tiling, appliances, and installation costs. (Image credit: Adobe)

The best kitchen suppliers offer a range of choices and different service options, so you can get as involved with the process as you want. Kitchens should be beautifully designed, creating a practical space to work, relax and socialise, and manufactured using high-quality materials. They should also come with good warranties to give you peace of mind. Credit options are another important feature for some buyers who need help financing their dream kitchen.

To help you choose the best kitchen supplier for you and your home, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to research before making a final decision.

1. Available space

Before making any decisions, we recommend accurately measuring your kitchen. Consider the floorplan and the wall size. These measurements will help you and your designer (if you use one) when it comes to finalising your kitchen layout and shopping list.

2. Budget

Be very clear on your budget before making any decisions. Cabinets are the highest cost, but you also have to consider fixtures, flooring, tiling, appliances and installation costs. There are clever ways to cut costs without compromising on your style, like swapping wood for laminate.

3. Style

Everyone has unique tastes, but try to consider what suits your home and what will appeal to future occupants (if you plan on selling your home in the future). There are common design themes to choose from, including handle-free, traditional, modern and shaker, so consider what style suits your home and requirements the best.

4. Colour

Colour choices are a good way to elevate your style and achieve your desired look. We find that monochromatic blacks, greys and whites are best suited to sleek, modern kitchens, while greens, natural creams and browns work well in traditional spaces with wooden features. You could always opt for pastels or whites if you’re unsure and add pops of colour to your space to inject a little personality.

5. Kitchen shapes

The shape of your kitchen can have a big impact on the products and style you choose. A smaller kitchen might work best with a one-wall galley and fitted appliances flush with storage, while large kitchens are well-suited to a U-shaped design or L-shaped countertops. An island can also add life and energy into a kitchen if you have the space for one.

The Chester range in Cloudy Blue by Wickes (Image credit: Wickes)

You should now have a better idea of which kitchen suppliers are suited to you based on your individual budget, style preferences and installation needs.

Wren offers the lowest prices, and has the most awards for its consistent high quality. IKEA flat-packs come a close second, although you might not have the time or skill (or patience) to do the assembly yourself. B&Q offers the most variety at a fair price, and Magnet is our choice for luxurious kitchens with quality customer service.

If you want a traditional shaker-style aesthetic and you have a generous budget, British Standard may appeal to you. You might be put off by the idea of DIY installation and hand-painting, but you could always hire a professional installer to help you out.

Howdens is the best trade-only brand, and you might be attracted by its exceptional quality and exciting design options. However, for more transparent pricing that helps you budget, you might find Wren is a better option. 

Homebase offers the most attractive credit options for those who need flexible financing. With four brands and 17 ranges, Homebase customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to style.

Our favourite all-rounder is Wickes, with good variety, competitive pricing, attractive payment options and warranties.

Whichever supplier you select, make sure you ask the right questions and don’t proceed until you are satisfied with your choice.

How we found the best new kitchen suppliers in the UK 2022

To compile this report, we read thousands of customer reviews, professional reports and technical documentation, as well as third-party media articles. We then compiled a scoring system to rate the UK’s kitchen suppliers against one another based on the factors consumers care about most.

This included:

• The quality of the units (loading shelves, drawers, runners, hinges and worktops for three points each), for a total of 15 points;
• The availability of an in-house designer, for a total of five points;
• The availability of an in-house installer, for a total of five points;
• The number of ranges, colours and designs, for a maximum of five points each and a total of 15 points;
• The availability and length of warranty, for a total of 15 points;
• The cost, for a total of 10 points;
• Customer reviews and star ratings (Trustpilot, Google and Reviews.io), for a total of 15 points;
• Payment options, for a total of 10 points; and
• The number of local showrooms, shops and installers, for a total of 10 points.

A final total score out of 100 points was given for each brand.