How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK?

A new kitchen in the UK typically costs between £5,000 and £20,000 including fitting, depending on the size, quality, and scope of work. A budget kitchen (flat-pack, basic worktops) costs £3,000–£6,000. A mid-range kitchen (solid wood doors, stone worktops) costs £8,000–£15,000. A premium kitchen (bespoke, quartz/granite, high-end appliances) costs £15,000–£30,000+. These figures include units, worktops, appliances, fitting, plumbing, and electrics but exclude major structural changes.

How long does it take to fit a new kitchen?

A straightforward kitchen replacement (same layout, no structural changes) typically takes 1–2 weeks. A mid-range kitchen with some layout changes takes 2–4 weeks. A major renovation involving knocking down walls, moving plumbing, or extending the space can take 4–8 weeks or more. Allow extra time for planning, ordering (typically 4–8 weeks lead time for made-to-order kitchens), and unexpected issues.

Is it cheaper to buy a kitchen from IKEA or a kitchen showroom?

IKEA and other flat-pack suppliers (Wickes, Howdens via a tradesperson, B&Q) are significantly cheaper for the units themselves — often 40-60% less than a kitchen showroom. However, you'll still need to pay for fitting, plumbing, and electrics separately. Mid-range showrooms often include design, supply, and project management, which can simplify the process. For a fair comparison, always compare total installed cost — not just the unit prices.

Can I get finance for a new kitchen?

Yes — common options include 0% interest credit cards (if you can clear the balance within the 0% period), personal loans (APRs from around 3-7% for £5,000+), kitchen retailer finance (often 0% deals on offer), home improvement loans (secured against your home — lower rates but higher risk), and remortgaging to release equity. Avoid high-APR retailer finance and always compare the total cost of borrowing.

Cost of a New Kitchen UK 2026 — Budget, Mid-Range & Premium | PocketWise

A new kitchen is one of the biggest home improvements you can make — and one of the best for adding value. Here’s what it really costs.

Average Kitchen Costs by Budget Tier

Budget tier	Total cost (supply + fit)	Units quality	Worktops	Appliances
Budget	£3,000–£6,000	Flat-pack (IKEA, B&Q)	Laminate	Basic branded
Mid-range	£8,000–£15,000	Rigid/solid wood doors	Quartz or solid wood	Mid-range branded
Premium	£15,000–£25,000	Made-to-order, painted	Granite or quartz	High-end (Bosch, Neff, Siemens)
Luxury/bespoke	£25,000–£50,000+	Handmade, bespoke	Premium stone	Top-end (Miele, Sub-Zero, Gaggenau)

Cost Breakdown

Element	Budget	Mid-range	Premium
Kitchen units (cabinets + doors)	£1,500–£3,000	£3,000–£6,000	£6,000–£15,000
Worktops	£300–£800	£1,000–£3,000	£2,500–£5,000+
Appliances (oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher)	£800–£1,500	£1,500–£3,500	£3,000–£8,000+
Sink and tap	£100–£300	£250–£600	£500–£1,500
Fitting labour	£1,000–£2,000	£1,500–£3,000	£2,500–£5,000
Plumbing	£200–£500	£300–£800	£500–£1,500
Electrics	£200–£500	£400–£1,000	£600–£2,000
Tiling (splashback)	£150–£400	£300–£800	£500–£1,500
Flooring	£200–£600	£400–£1,200	£800–£3,000
Plastering/decoration	£200–£400	£300–£600	£400–£1,000
Skip/waste removal	£200–£350	£200–£350	£200–£350
Total	£3,000–£6,000	£8,000–£15,000	£15,000–£30,000+

Worktop Costs by Material

Material	Cost per metre (supply + fit)	Durability	Maintenance
Laminate	£40–£100	Good (5–15 years)	Low — wipe clean
Solid wood (oak, walnut)	£100–£250	Good (needs oiling)	Medium — oil annually
Quartz (engineered stone)	£200–£500	Excellent (25+ years)	Low — non-porous, stain resistant
Granite	£250–£500	Excellent (25+ years)	Low — seal annually
Marble	£300–£600	Good but porous	High — stains easily, needs sealing
Ceramic/porcelain (Dekton, etc.)	£250–£500	Excellent	Very low
Corian (solid surface)	£200–£400	Good	Medium — can be repaired by sanding
Stainless steel	£200–£400	Excellent	Medium — scratches visible

Where to Buy

Supplier	Price level	Supply only or fitted?
IKEA	Budget	Supply only — find your own fitter
B&Q	Budget–mid	Supply only (or installer referral)
Wickes	Budget–mid	Supply and fit available
Howdens	Mid-range	Trade only — buy through your fitter
Wren Kitchens	Mid-range	Supply and fit
Magnet	Mid-range	Supply and fit
John Lewis	Mid–premium	Supply only (installation referral)
Independent kitchen showroom	Mid–premium	Usually supply and fit
Bespoke kitchen maker	Premium–luxury	Supply and fit

Labour Costs

Trade	Day rate	What they do
Kitchen fitter	£200–£300/day	Install units, worktops, handles
Plumber	£200–£350/day	Sink, dishwasher, washing machine connections
Electrician	£200–£350/day	Sockets, lighting, cooker connection, extractor
Tiler	£200–£300/day	Splashback, floor tiles
Plasterer	£200–£300/day	Walls and ceiling repair
Decorator	£150–£250/day	Painting and finishing
Gas engineer (Gas Safe)	£200–£350/day	Gas hob/cooker connection (MUST be Gas Safe registered)

Timeline

Phase	Duration
Planning and design	2–8 weeks
Ordering	2–8 weeks (lead time for made-to-order)
Removal of old kitchen	1–2 days
Plumbing and electrics (first fix)	1–2 days
Plastering (if needed)	1–2 days (+ drying time)
Unit installation	2–5 days
Worktop templating and fitting	1–3 days (stone worktops need templating after units are fitted)
Plumbing and electrics (second fix)	1–2 days
Tiling	1–2 days
Decoration	1–2 days
Total (replacement, same layout)	1–2 weeks
Total (new layout, some structural)	3–6 weeks

Ways to Save Money

Tip	Potential saving
Keep the same layout (avoid moving plumbing/gas)	£1,000–£3,000
Flat-pack units with good-quality doors	£1,000–£3,000 vs rigid units
Laminate worktops instead of stone	£1,000–£2,500
Buy appliances in sales (Black Friday, Boxing Day)	£200–£800
Do painting and simple finishing yourself	£300–£600
Buy ex-display or end-of-line kitchens	30–60% off
Get 3+ quotes for fitting	Can vary by £1,000+

Financing Options

Option	Typical rate	Pros	Cons
0% credit card	0% for 12–24 months	No interest if paid off in time	Must clear by end of 0% period
Personal loan	3–7% APR	Fixed payments, no security needed	Interest cost
Retailer finance	0–15% APR	Convenient, often 0% deals	Can be high APR if not 0%
Remortgage/equity release	4–6%	Lower rate on larger amounts	Your home is at risk
Savings	0%	No borrowing costs	Depletes savings

Does a New Kitchen Add Value?

Kitchen cost	Estimated value added	Return on investment
£5,000 (budget)	£3,000–£5,000	60–100%
£10,000 (mid-range)	£5,000–£10,000	50–100%
£20,000 (premium)	£8,000–£15,000	40–75%
£40,000+ (luxury)	£10,000–£20,000	25–50%

Mid-range kitchens typically offer the best return on investment. Over-spending relative to the property value rarely pays off.