How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost in 2026? Full UK Price Guide

A new kitchen is one of the biggest investments a homeowner can make — and one of the most common projects UK tradespeople quote for. Whether you are a kitchen fitter pricing a job, a builder managing a full renovation, or a homeowner trying to understand what you should be paying, getting the numbers right matters.

Kitchen costs vary enormously depending on the size of the room, the quality of materials, and how much of the existing layout you are changing. A budget kitchen refresh in a small terraced house costs a fraction of a full redesign in a large detached property. This guide breaks down every cost element so you know exactly where the money goes and how to price the work accurately.

Kitchen Cost Summary by Budget Level

Before diving into the detail, here is a quick overview of what a new kitchen costs at three different specification levels in 2026. These figures cover everything — units, worktops, appliances, fitting labour, plumbing, electrics, tiling, and flooring for a typical three-metre by four-metre kitchen.

Budget Level	Total Cost	Units	Worktops
Budget	£5,000 – £8,000	Flat-pack / basic rigid	Laminate
Mid-range	£10,000 – £20,000	Quality rigid carcasses	Quartz / solid wood
Premium	£25,000 – £50,000+	Bespoke / handmade	Granite / Dekton / marble

Kitchen Units

Kitchen units are usually the single largest cost in any kitchen project. The price depends on the type of carcass construction, the door material and finish, and the number of units required.

Flat-Pack Units

Flat-pack kitchens from retailers like IKEA, Wickes, and B&Q are the most affordable option. A full set of base units, wall units, and tall units for a standard kitchen costs one thousand five hundred to four thousand pounds. Flat-pack units require more assembly time on site, which adds to labour costs. However, the total installed cost is still significantly lower than rigid or bespoke alternatives. IKEA kitchens in particular offer surprisingly good quality for the price, with solid construction and a wide range of door styles.

Rigid Pre-Built Units

Rigid units arrive fully assembled and are quicker to install. A mid-range rigid kitchen from a manufacturer like Howdens, Wren, or Masterclass typically costs three thousand to eight thousand pounds for units alone. The carcasses are usually eighteen-millimetre chipboard or MDF with a melamine finish inside. Door options range from simple vinyl-wrapped to painted solid wood. Rigid units are the most popular choice for the mid-range market and offer the best balance of quality, durability, and value.

Bespoke and Handmade Units

Bespoke kitchens are built to exact specifications by specialist joinery workshops. Prices start from around eight thousand pounds and can exceed thirty thousand pounds for a large kitchen with complex cabinetry. Handmade kitchens from premium brands like deVOL, Neptune, or Smallbone can cost twenty thousand to sixty thousand pounds for units alone. The difference is in the materials — solid hardwood carcasses, hand-painted finishes, dovetail joints, and soft-close hardware throughout.

Worktops

Worktops have a huge impact on both the look and the cost of a kitchen. Here are the main options and what they cost in 2026 for a typical L-shaped kitchen with around four to five linear metres of worktop.

• Laminate: two hundred to six hundred pounds. Affordable and available in hundreds of finishes including realistic stone and wood effects. Lifespan of ten to fifteen years with normal use.
• Solid wood: five hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds. Oak, walnut, and iroko are popular choices. Requires regular oiling to maintain the finish. Can be sanded and refinished if damaged.
• Quartz composite: one thousand two hundred to three thousand pounds. Engineered stone that is extremely hard-wearing, heat-resistant, and available in a wide range of colours. Silestone, Caesarstone, and Compac are well-known brands.
• Granite: one thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred pounds. Natural stone with a unique pattern in every slab. Very durable but needs sealing annually. Heavier than quartz so may need additional support.
• Dekton / sintered stone: two thousand to four thousand five hundred pounds. Ultra-compact surfaces that are virtually indestructible — resistant to heat, scratches, stains, and UV. Popular for premium kitchens.
• Marble: two thousand five hundred to five thousand pounds or more. Beautiful but high-maintenance — marble stains and etches easily. Best suited to areas that will not be subject to heavy use.

Appliances

Appliance costs vary dramatically depending on the brands and features chosen. For a full set of kitchen appliances — oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, and washer-dryer — expect the following ranges.

• Budget appliances: one thousand five hundred to three thousand pounds. Brands like Beko, Candy, and Indesit. Perfectly functional but with fewer features and shorter warranties.
• Mid-range appliances: three thousand to six thousand pounds. Brands like Bosch, Neff, AEG, and Samsung. Better build quality, longer warranties, and more features including pyrolytic cleaning and induction hobs.
• Premium appliances: six thousand to fifteen thousand pounds or more. Brands like Miele, Gaggenau, Sub-Zero, and Wolf. Professional-grade performance, whisper-quiet operation, and extended warranties.

Integrated appliances — where the appliance sits behind a matching kitchen door — cost slightly more than freestanding equivalents but create a much cleaner look. Most mid-range and premium kitchens use fully integrated appliances.

Fitting Labour

Kitchen fitting labour is typically the third largest cost after units and appliances. The cost depends on the complexity of the installation, whether you are changing the layout, and your location in the UK.

Kitchen Fitter

A dedicated kitchen fitter charges one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds per day. A straightforward like-for-like kitchen replacement takes five to eight days of fitting. A more complex installation with layout changes, island units, or bespoke elements takes eight to twelve days. Some fitters quote a fixed price per kitchen — typically one thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred pounds for a standard installation — rather than a day rate.

Plumbing

Plumbing work for a new kitchen typically costs five hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds. This covers disconnecting and reconnecting the sink, dishwasher, and washing machine. If you are moving the sink to a different location — which is common in layout changes — the cost increases because new waste pipes and water supply pipes need to be routed. Adding a boiling water tap or water filter adds two hundred to five hundred pounds in plumbing labour on top of the tap cost. For more on plumbing pricing, see our guide on how to quote for plumbing work.

Electrics

Electrical work for a kitchen installation costs six hundred to two thousand pounds. At minimum, you need existing circuits checking and any new sockets or switches wired in. If you are upgrading to an induction hob, a dedicated thirty-two-amp circuit is required, which adds two hundred to four hundred pounds. LED under-cabinet lighting, pendant lights over an island, and additional double sockets all add to the cost. All electrical work must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations — use a registered electrician who can self-certify. See our guide on how to write a quote for electrical work for more detail.

Tiling

Kitchen wall tiling — typically a splashback area behind worktops and the hob — costs four hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds for labour and materials. The cost depends on the tile type, the area to be covered, and the complexity of the layout. Metro tiles are the most affordable option. Large-format porcelain tiles cost more to buy and to fit. Full-height tiling behind the hob or around the entire kitchen increases costs significantly.

Flooring

Kitchen flooring costs three hundred to two thousand pounds depending on the material and room size. Vinyl and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) are the most popular choices at eight hundred to one thousand five hundred pounds for a typical kitchen. Porcelain floor tiles cost one thousand to two thousand five hundred pounds installed. Engineered wood flooring costs similar to porcelain. Laminate is the cheapest option at three hundred to seven hundred pounds but is less suitable for kitchens due to moisture sensitivity.

Full Cost Breakdown Example

Here is a realistic cost breakdown for a mid-range kitchen renovation in a typical UK three-bedroom semi-detached house. The kitchen is three metres by four metres with an L-shaped layout and no structural changes.

Item	Cost
Kitchen units (rigid, mid-range)	£4,500
Quartz worktops (supplied and templated)	£2,200
Appliances (Bosch/Neff integrated)	£3,800
Sink and tap	£350
Kitchen fitting labour (8 days)	£2,000
Plumbing	£800
Electrics	£1,000
Wall tiling (splashback)	£650
Flooring (LVT)	£1,100
Decoration (walls and ceiling)	£400
Skip hire and waste removal	£300
Total	£17,100

This is a realistic mid-range figure. A budget version of the same kitchen using flat-pack units, laminate worktops, and budget appliances could come in at seven thousand to nine thousand pounds. A premium version with handmade units, granite worktops, and Miele appliances could easily exceed forty thousand pounds.

Regional Cost Variations

Kitchen costs vary across the UK, primarily driven by differences in labour rates. Material costs are broadly similar nationwide because most kitchens are delivered from central distribution centres. Here are approximate total costs for a mid-range kitchen installation in different regions.

• London: eighteen thousand to twenty-five thousand pounds
• South East England: sixteen thousand to twenty-two thousand pounds
• South West England: fourteen thousand to nineteen thousand pounds
• Midlands: thirteen thousand to eighteen thousand pounds
• North West England: twelve thousand to seventeen thousand pounds
• North East England: eleven thousand to sixteen thousand pounds
• Wales: eleven thousand to sixteen thousand pounds
• Scotland: twelve thousand to seventeen thousand pounds

How to Save Money on a New Kitchen

There are practical ways to reduce the cost of a new kitchen without compromising on quality where it matters most.

Keep the existing layout. Moving the sink, cooker, or boiler significantly increases plumbing and electrical costs. If the current layout works well, keeping it can save one thousand to three thousand pounds in labour.

Choose rigid units from a trade supplier. Howdens and other trade-only kitchen suppliers offer excellent value for rigid units. A Howdens kitchen typically costs thirty to forty per cent less than an equivalent from a high-street showroom, partly because they do not include design fees or sales commissions.

Spend on worktops, save on units. The worktop is the most visible and most-used surface in a kitchen. A good quartz worktop on mid-range units looks better than cheap worktops on expensive units. Prioritise the things you see and touch every day.

Buy appliances during sales. Kitchen appliance prices drop significantly during Black Friday, Boxing Day, and bank holiday sales. Buying during these periods can save twenty to thirty per cent on the same products.

Do some work yourself. Stripping out the old kitchen, removing tiles, and decorating the finished kitchen are all tasks a competent homeowner can handle. This can save five hundred to one thousand pounds on labour. However, plumbing and electrics should always be done by qualified tradespeople.

How to Quote a Kitchen Installation

If you are a kitchen fitter or builder quoting kitchen work, accuracy is critical. Kitchen projects have many moving parts and it is easy to miss something that eats into your margin.

Survey the room properly. Measure everything — room dimensions, window and door positions, ceiling height, pipe locations, existing electrics, and floor condition. Photograph the existing kitchen from every angle. Note the location of the boiler, gas meter, consumer unit, and stop cock. Check the walls are plumb and the floor is level — these issues add time and cost if discovered during fitting.

Confirm the specification in writing. Get the customer to sign off on the exact units, worktop material, appliances, tiles, and flooring before you quote. A vague brief like "mid-range kitchen" means different things to different people. Specific product choices eliminate scope creep and prevent disputes later. For guidance on writing clear specifications, see our guide on how to write a scope of work.

Price every trade separately. If you are managing the whole project, get firm prices from your plumber, electrician, tiler, and flooring fitter before quoting the customer. Do not guess subcontractor costs — this is where builders most commonly lose money on kitchen projects. Read more in our guide on how to calculate labour costs.

Allow for access and logistics. Delivering a kitchen to a first-floor flat is harder than to a ground-floor house. Narrow hallways, tight stairwells, and limited parking all add time. Factor these into your quote.

Present a professional proposal. A kitchen installation is a significant investment — homeowners expect a professional quote, not a text message. Break the costs down clearly, include a timeline, specify what is and is not included, and set out payment terms. QuoteSmith generates these proposals automatically, producing a branded PDF that gives you a professional edge. See our guide on why professional proposals win more work.

Common Mistakes When Fitting Kitchens

These are the errors that catch tradespeople out most often on kitchen projects.

Not checking walls and floors first. Out-of-plumb walls and uneven floors cause major problems during fitting. Scribe fillers, packing pieces, and floor levelling compound all take time. If the room is significantly out of true, it can add a full day or more to the fitting schedule. Always check during the survey and include remedial work in your quote if needed.

Forgetting the worktop lead time. Template-to-order worktops in quartz, granite, or Dekton typically have a two to three week lead time. The worktops cannot be templated until the units are fitted. This means there is always a gap in the project between fitting units and fitting worktops. Plan the schedule accordingly and make sure the customer understands this.

Underestimating the strip-out. Removing an old kitchen generates a surprising amount of waste, especially if you are removing wall tiles and flooring as well. A typical kitchen strip-out fills one to two skips. Budget for skip hire and waste removal — eight hundred to one thousand two hundred pounds for a builder's skip or three hundred to five hundred pounds for a grab lorry collection.

Not coordinating trades properly. A kitchen installation requires careful sequencing — strip-out, first fix plumbing and electrics, plastering or patching, unit fitting, worktop templating and fitting, second fix plumbing and electrics, tiling, flooring, and decoration. Getting the order wrong causes delays and rework. As the lead contractor, managing this sequence is your responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK in 2026?

A new kitchen in the UK costs between five thousand and fifty thousand pounds or more in 2026, depending on the specification. A budget kitchen with flat-pack units, laminate worktops, and basic appliances costs five thousand to eight thousand pounds fully installed. A mid-range kitchen with rigid units, quartz worktops, and good-quality appliances costs ten thousand to twenty thousand pounds. A premium kitchen with bespoke cabinetry, stone worktops, and high-end appliances costs twenty-five thousand to fifty thousand pounds or more.

How long does it take to fit a new kitchen?

A straightforward kitchen replacement using the same layout typically takes one to two weeks. A full kitchen renovation with new plumbing, electrics, tiling, flooring, and layout changes takes two to four weeks. Larger projects involving structural work such as removing a wall or adding an extension can take four to eight weeks or longer. The most disruptive phase is usually the first week when the old kitchen is removed and first fix work is completed.

What is the most expensive part of a new kitchen?

The kitchen units and worktops are typically the most expensive single element, accounting for forty to fifty per cent of the total cost. Appliances are the second largest cost at fifteen to twenty-five per cent, followed by fitting labour at fifteen to twenty per cent. Prioritising your spending on these three elements has the biggest impact on the finished result.

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

IKEA kitchens are significantly cheaper to buy, with units costing one thousand five hundred to four thousand pounds compared to three thousand to fifteen thousand pounds from a mid-range showroom. However, IKEA kitchens require more assembly time during fitting, which increases labour costs. The total installed cost of an IKEA kitchen is still usually lower, but the gap narrows when fitting is factored in. Showroom kitchens often include design services and project management.

Do I need building regulations approval for a new kitchen?

A straightforward kitchen replacement does not require building regulations approval. However, electrical work such as adding new circuits must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and should be done by a registered electrician. If you are removing a load-bearing wall or altering the structure, you will need building regulations approval and possibly a structural engineer. Plumbing alterations must comply with water regulations but do not typically need formal approval.

How much does a kitchen fitter charge per day?

A kitchen fitter in the UK typically charges one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds per day in 2026. In London and the South East, rates are two hundred to three hundred pounds per day. In the Midlands and North, rates are one hundred and fifty to two hundred and twenty pounds per day. Some fitters quote a fixed price per kitchen, typically one thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred pounds for a standard installation.