Disclosure: FMB Home Picks is committed to delivering independent advice and reviews on home products and services. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Learn moreContact us.
How much does a new kitchen cost? We do the maths so you can prepare a more informed budget for your project.
The kitchen is the heart of every home. Renovating a dated kitchen can change the entire feel of your house, increase its resale value and generally make spending time in your kitchen a better experience. However, the cost of the best fitted kitchens can appear daunting and difficult to calculate.
The cost of your kitchen can vary dramatically based on the size of your kitchen, the style and material of your cabinetry, the requirement for further works such as plumbing and electrics, and whether or not you will handle the assembly and installation yourself.
Below is a estimation of the cabinetry costs for a standard 8-unit kitchen, excluding extras and installation:
| Kitchen supplier | Cost of cabinetry (excluding installation) |
|---|---|
| Wickes | From £979 |
| B&Q | From £1,053 |
| IKEA | From £627 |
| Magnet | From £2,487 |
| John Lewis | From £3,500 |
| Harvey Jones | From £12,000 |
The cost of your kitchen will be determined by a number of factors including the cabinetry you choose, the handles, the worktops, the appliances and the plumbing. Where you live can also impact the cost of materials and labour – for instance, a new kitchen installation might cost more in London than it does in the North of England.
The size of your kitchen and the number of units you’ll need will also influence the price you end up paying. A small galley kitchen (standard in many flats and homes across the UK) will require around 10㎡ of space and can start from as little as £600 for about 8 cabinets. A larger 30㎡ kitchen may need around 20 units to fill the space, pushing the price up to £7,000 or more. You’ll still need to add worktops, installation and any additional building work to this cost.
The scale of your project will have an impact on the cost, too. A simple upgrade to your cabinets without changing the layout of your kitchen and retaining your existing floor and tiles will cost much less than a complete renovation that may include moving gas and electric points or replacing old floors.
If you’re looking to give your kitchen a totally new look rather than a kitchen cabinet upgrade, you should hire a professional builder to manage the entire process. They can take accurate measurements of your space, assess the scope of work to be completed and ensure everything is done to a high standard. Of course, all of this comes at a cost – both money and time – but it’s worth it if you have the budget.
If you are working with limited funds, you can find flat-packed kitchens from the likes of Homebase and Wickes for less than £1,000, but bear in mind that these usually exclude worktops and installation. Very few budget companies offer a fitting or measuring service – you’ll need to measure the kitchen on your own and attend a design appointment.
When you are assessing the total cost of your kitchen, check if your supplier offers an installation service or can recommend a kitchen fitter. It’s also worth gathering quotes from other installers and building professionals, particularly if the project scope goes beyond simple installation. It’s important to make sure whether using your own installer will void or impact your warranty.
Buying a kitchen from a budget brand doesn’t mean that your cabinets or accessories will be shoddy. IKEA offers Blum soft-close hinges with all of its cabinets, which are also a favourite among luxury brands. Do a little bit of research to find out where you can save money without compromising on quality. Some companies build carcasses using MDF or chipboard and fit quality timber doors and worktops to cut costs if you ask them to. The total cost of a new kitchen will be entirely bespoke to you and the cost of materials, rates charged by your chosen kitchen fitter and whether your project includes new flooring or tiling should all be factored in to the final costs.
Your kitchen floors and walls can have a significant impact on the overall aesthetic and cost of your kitchen. According to our experts’ research, you can expect to pay the following prices for new flooring:
| Material | Cost (uninstalled) |
|---|---|
| Sheet vinyl flooring | From £8 per square metre |
| Luxury vinyl tile | From £18 per square metre |
| Linoleum | From £30 per square metre |
| Cork | From £30 per square metre |
| Laminate flooring | From £10 per square metre |
| Polished concrete | From £80 per square metre |
Wall and floor tiling can also have a big impact on your budget. The total cost of kitchen tiling depends on the size of your kitchen, the tiles you’ve chosen and how much your tiler charges to do the work. This price can be considerably higher in London than in other parts of the UK.
The average cost to paint a mid-sized room is around £350, if you use one tradesperson, plus the cost of materials (the paint, brushes, rollers, painters tape, etc).
Many homeowners make the mistake of only looking at the cost of the cabinetry when budgeting for a new kitchen. While cabinetry represents a considerable cost, it’s important to calculate the prices for installation, delivery, appliances, worktops, flooring, tiling, accessories and any other related building work you might need (such as plumbing, painting, etc) as well.
Below is a breakdown of what percentage of the total cost each component of a new kitchen typically accounts for:
| New kitchen component | Average % of total cost |
|---|---|
| Furniture (base cabinets) | 30-35% |
| Worktops | 15-20% |
| Appliances | 15-20% |
| Plumbing (sinks and taps) | 3-5% |
| Delivery and installation | 15-20% |
Generally, when the cost of a new kitchen is advertised, it refers to the price of the units but not the various appliances, worktops or installation. It’s important to weigh up the cost of the various extras you’ll need to purchase before arriving at a final price, such as worktops, cabinet hardware and appliances.
When it comes to worktops, laminate worktops are the cheapest (from £30 per linear metre), followed by wood (from £150 per linear metre) and stone (from £200 per linear metre). However, unit prices will vary depending on where you live, the availability of materials and whether the pieces will need to be cut to fit into your specific space.
The cost of installation will vary significantly as well, depending on your project’s specifications and where you are based. You can find vetted and independently inspected builders for your kitchen renovation using our Find a Builder service.
The number of appliances you need and the brands you choose will also have a strong impact on the final cost of your kitchen project.
When you start shopping online, you’ll notice that many kitchen suppliers offer either flat-packed or fitted options. Flatpack kitchens are generally much cheaper. Your cabinetry and accessories arrive unassembled, which means you’ll either need to hire someone to do the assembly for you or try your hand at DIY.
If you are willing to spend the time and are adept at understanding complex instructions, taking measurements and putting together hundreds of components, buying a flatpack kitchen is a good option. The quality is usually very good: Wren Kitchens’ budget Vogue range, for example, is the same quality as their pricier Infinity range but costs much less.
A bespoke fitted kitchen does cost more (especially if you opt for a handmade and custom-fitted brand), but it can reduce the hassle and frustration considerably. In most cases, the installer will remove your old cabinetry and appliances, connect gas and plumbing where required and, in some cases, provide the final painting and varnishing you need. You should always check with your installer what services and work is included before signing a contract.
Custom-made kitchens usually mean that you have more options in terms of designs and styles, and a designer will usually help you choose the best kitchen cabinetry and layouts for your space.
Alternatively, if you are willing to shop around, a second-hand kitchen is a great way of finding your dream kitchen at a lower price. The Used Kitchen Exchange offers pre-owned kitchen cabinetry and will even purchase your old kitchen from you, which can reduce your costs considerably.
Calculating the total cost of a new kitchen can be confusing, but it’s an important step to take when deciding what will fit into your budget.
Keep in mind that any average prices we’ve included in this article are just a guide to help you start the process. The prices might be different to the quotes you’ll receive as you proceed with your project, as every one is unique and quotes can vary depending on where you live, the scope of your project, and the current market price for materials.
It’s worth shopping around to find the most affordable cabinetry that doesn’t compromise on quality. You can do this by gathering quotes from multiple installers or builders in order to benchmark the prices in your area and choose the best option for you.
As the kitchen is typically the heart of the home, often with family members gathering, it makes sense that space should be a prime consideration. The ability to store electricals and other items is crucial to maximising your space, and having clear work surfaces can make a space feel bigger than it actually is. Plenty of cupboard space allows worktops to remain clear.
Someone who measures and installs replacement kitchens is called a kitchen fitter. They ensure that every component goes in the right place and if necessary, trim worktops to the correct size. While most kitchen fitters will set up white goods and other electrical appliances, unless they are also a qualified electrician, they cannot wire items into the mains.
The cost of installing a fitted kitchen varies depending on a number of factors, including:
The average cost for a kitchen fitter is around £35 per hour; however, you may be charged a day rate instead, which tends to range between £120 and £200.
Before the new kitchen is fitted, the existing one has to be removed, and your installer will generally take care of this. Many will dispose of the old carcasses for free, while some charge a small fee for getting rid of your unwanted kitchen.
Generally, there is a logical set order for installing a new fitted kitchen once the existing units are removed:
