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What makes Howdens one of the best kitchen suppliers in the UK? In our Howdens kitchens review, we look at the popular trade-only brand’s product offering, service and prices.
Howdens is a trade-only fitted kitchens supplier, meaning only tradespeople can buy and install its products.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t deal directly with Howdens. You can use the company’s design services, and Howdens can support finding a local tradesperson if needed.
The company offers 12 kitchen designs in a range of colours, all made in Cheshire and East Yorkshire. You can choose between 2 main styles, modern and traditional, with either handless, in-frame or standard cabinets. On top of that, you can choose accessories such as wine racks and corner protectors, and select appliance packages to complete your kitchen.
Deciding on a company to supply your new kitchen can be a difficult choice, so we recommend carefully considering the pros and cons of each kitchen supplier before making a decision.
Howdens is unique in that it doesn’t sell directly to the public. You’ll need to find a tradesperson, like a builder or carpenter, to buy and install your kitchen for you.
Howdens recommends browsing their product range and speaking to a builder before working with an in-house Howdens designer to create plans for your ideal kitchen. You, your builder and your Howdens designer can work together to finalise the plans. Your builder will then purchase the products directly from Howdens, ready for installation.
Howdens cabinets are versatile and designed to suit various kitchen sizes and storage needs to create an uncluttered look with optimum practicality. You can choose from a diverse range of stunning colours, or opt for your builder or yourself to paint your kitchen in a custom colour.
Don’t worry if you’re struggling to find a tradesperson to work with – Howdens can support finding a local tradesperson if needed. Alternately, you can find a reliable, local builder with the Federation of Master Builders’ Find a Builder tool.
Howdens only offers trade pricing, which makes it hard to determine exactly how much their kitchens cost.
Ultimately, the price you pay for a Howdens kitchen depends on the tradesperson you work with. Builders can offer their customers competitive prices, depending on the discount they get from Howdens. They may or may not pass this on to you – some might even add a markup to their prices. We recommend getting a few different quotes to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.
We’ve examined online customer reviews to get an idea of the cost of a Howdens kitchen. It seems a standard kitchen can cost anywhere between £5,000 to £15,000, depending on the builder used and products installed.
The process of purchasing a Howdens kitchen differs from other kitchen brands. The company’s pricing is also less transparent, and, judging by customer reviews, on the expensive end of the spectrum.
We’d recommend Magnet kitchens if you’re interested in a premium kitchen brand without having to go through a tradesperson. Magnet offers a variety of designs, colours and finishes plus full-service design and installation. They aren’t cheap by any means, but there are lots of high-quality options and a simple process which we believe justifies the price tag.
If you’re on a budget but still want to choose from a variety of options, IKEA is a great provider to consider. It boasts a wide range of kitchens, and while the materials aren’t the highest quality, it offers incredible value for the price.
Howdens’ solid wood kitchen worktops require a good deal of care to keep them in tip-top condition. You need to regularly treat your worktops with oil to keep them free from rings, burns and water damage. (Worktops should also be oiled before and after installation.) You’ve reached optimal oil saturation when water bubbles to the top.
Your wooden countertops could stain quite easily if you don’t carry out this type of maintenance. If you don’t feel up to the challenge, opt for granite, marble or laminate instead, especially if you plan on renting your house in the future. Your contractor should be able to provide advice about compatible worktops.
As of February 2026, Howdens is rated a very high 4.7 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 77,000 reviews. Most recent reviews call out the professionalism and helpfulness of the staff, as well as the quality of the products.
“We really benefited from being able to visit the showroom, browse the catalogue and on-line website together with a home visit from Howdens. We changed our minds several times before deciding on the final version which was not a problem for Grace and the team.”
“The quality of the kitchen, customer service and support are fantastic. No matter how trivial my questions I received a prompt response within minutes. The final installation is breathtaking. I can’t recommend Tamworth Howdens enough. You pay for quality. Thank you for my new kitchen”
Howdens offers a range of quality kitchens with attractive designs and numerous colour options. The brand’s paintable cupboard doors are unique and give you even more freedom to customise your kitchen.
The fact that Howdens only sells to the trade is a significant drawback for some people. It means the buying process can be a little more complicated, and pricing is opaque and inconsistent. Having said that, many homeowners opt to use trusted installers anyway, so it might not make much difference to you.
If you want to have your dream kitchen installed professionally, Howdens’ quality products and beautiful ranges are a great choice.
We’re passionate about reviewing brands and products accurately. This review was compiled by reading thousands of customer reviews, as well as technical documentation, media articles and professional forum discussions.
We then compiled and rated Howdens using a scoring system totalling 100 points. The scoring system evaluated the following:
