A new kitchen is the single highest-value renovation most homeowners undertake, and also the one most prone to budget creep. Costs span a genuine 10:1 range depending on the size of the room, the specification of units and worktops, whether you are moving the sink or altering the layout, and who fits everything. This guide breaks down what you actually get at each price tier, which elements drive cost the most, and how to allocate a realistic budget.
UK Kitchen Cost Tiers in 2026
The most reliable way to think about kitchen costs is in three tiers — budget, mid-range and premium — defined by the quality of the cabinet carcases, doors, worktops and appliances rather than simply the brand name.
Budget Kitchen: £5,000–£10,000
At this tier you are working with flat-pack rigid carcases from the major national retailers (IKEA, Howdens’ lower ranges, B&Q MFC units). Door styles are typically foil-wrapped MDF or melamine-faced chipboard. Worktops are laminate (£80–£200 for a 3 m length) or a thin-edge laminate post-form edge. Sinks are stainless steel composite.
What limits you at this tier is not always quality — IKEA carcases in particular have good structural engineering — but aesthetics, edge thickness, soft-close specification and the range of sizes available. Budget kitchens in small-to-medium rooms (8–12 m²) can look excellent when fitted by a skilled installer.
Typical budget tier: £5,000–£10,000 all-in (supply and fit, no structural changes, existing plumbing and electrics reused where possible).
Mid-Range Kitchen: £12,000–£25,000
This is the most common spend bracket for homeowners doing a proper kitchen renovation on an average semi or terraced house. Cabinet carcases are rigid-built (18 mm solid chipboard or MDF), with real soft-close hinges and drawer runners throughout, and door ranges available in a wider variety of heights and widths. Worktops are typically 40 mm laminate, quartz composite (£200–£400/m) or a basic granite.
At this tier you will typically have a kitchen designer involved (often provided free by the retailer), a separate fitter and possibly a project manager. Appliances (integrated dishwasher, integrated fridge-freezer, induction hob, eye-level oven) are included in many mid-range packages at this level.
Typical mid-range tier: £12,000–£25,000 for a kitchen of 12–20 m², including all appliances, supply and fit, but with the existing layout broadly retained.
Premium and Bespoke Kitchen: £30,000–£60,000+
Premium kitchens use solid hardwood or painted MDF doors with proper routed profiles, frameless or inframe cabinetry, and worktops in engineered stone (Silestone, Dekton), thick Calacatta quartz or natural granite. Cabinet interiors often have soft-close bins, pull-out larder systems, integrated lighting and custom corner solutions.
At £50,000+ you are generally looking at a bespoke kitchen designer with a made-to-measure factory process, hand-painted finishes, and a project that may include a structural opening, underfloor heating and high-end integrated appliances (Sub-Zero, Miele, Wolf). These projects often take 8–14 weeks from order to completion.
What Drives the Price
Units vs Worktops vs Labour
A useful rule of thumb is that the total kitchen cost breaks down roughly as:
| Component | % of Total Budget |
|---|---|
| Cabinet units and doors | 30–40% |
| Worktops | 10–20% |
| Appliances | 15–25% |
| Labour (fitting, tiling, decorating) | 25–35% |
| Electrics and plumbing | 5–15% |
Labour costs have risen significantly since 2022 due to materials inflation, the cost-of-living impact on skilled trades, and ongoing demand. Expect a kitchen fitter to charge £250–£450/day in London and the South East, £180–£320 elsewhere. A straightforward 15-unit kitchen takes 3–5 days to fit. Electrical and plumbing first-fixes add 1–2 days each.
Worktop Material Costs
Worktops are where a large portion of the cost range is determined. Prices below are supply-only per linear metre, including standard cutouts:
| Material | Low (£/m) | Typical (£/m) | High (£/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate (38 mm) | £60 | £110 | £180 |
| Solid wood (oak, 40 mm) | £150 | £250 | £380 |
| Quartz composite (20 mm) | £200 | £320 | £550 |
| Granite (30 mm, polished) | £250 | £350 | £600 |
| Dekton / Silestone ultra-compact | £350 | £550 | £900 |
| Corian / solid surface | £200 | £380 | £600 |
Installation of stone worktops (templating, cutting, fitting) adds £300–£700 per kitchen on top of supply costs.
Layout Changes and Structural Work
If the kitchen layout is staying the same — sink in the same position, cooker on the same wall — costs are contained. The moment you move the sink or reconfigure the drainage, costs rise:
- Moving a sink location: £400–£1,200 for plumbing alterations
- Opening up to a dining room (creating a kitchen-diner): £2,500–£8,000 for a structural opening, RSJ and redecoration
- Underfloor heating: £1,200–£3,500 (electric mat) or £2,500–£6,000 (wet system with pump and manifold)
- New kitchen island (plumbed in): £800–£2,500 for the plumbing and electrical; plus the unit costs
Appliance Costs to Budget For
Appliances represent a surprisingly large slice of the overall budget. Mid-range integrated appliances for a full kitchen:
| Appliance | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated dishwasher | £350–£500 | £600–£900 | £1,000–£2,000 |
| Integrated fridge-freezer (70/30) | £500–£800 | £900–£1,400 | £2,000–£4,000 |
| Induction hob (60 cm) | £250–£450 | £500–£900 | £1,200–£3,000 |
| Single oven (built-in) | £250–£400 | £500–£800 | £1,000–£3,500 |
| Extractor (recirculating) | £80–£150 | £180–£400 | £500–£2,500 |
| Integrated washing machine | £500–£700 | £750–£1,100 | £1,200–£2,500 |
A full suite of mid-range integrated appliances typically adds £3,500–£6,000 to the project.
Additional Cost Drivers
Tiling and Flooring
Most kitchen renovations include new splashback tiling (typically 300 × 300 mm or large-format 600 × 300 mm tiles, £25–£120/m² supply and fit). The floor usually needs addressing too — kitchen floors take punishment from dropped items, water and grease. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring is the most popular choice: £35–£85/m² fitted. Porcelain tile flooring runs £60–£150/m² fitted.
Waste Removal and Skip
Removing an old kitchen generates a substantial amount of waste. A 6-yard skip hired for a week costs £280–£450 depending on location. Many kitchen fitters include waste removal in their quote; confirm explicitly.
Decorating
New kitchens almost always expose bare plaster, damage to existing paintwork or the need to re-skim walls. Budget £400–£1,200 for a decorator to skim, prime and paint the room after installation.
How Long Does a Kitchen Replacement Take?
From placing the order to finishing the final snagging:
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Design and planning | 1–4 weeks |
| Order lead time (rigid-built, retailer) | 3–8 weeks |
| Order lead time (bespoke, made-to-measure) | 6–16 weeks |
| First-fix electrics and plumbing | 1–2 days |
| Unit installation | 3–6 days |
| Worktop templating and return visit | 1–2 weeks (stone only) |
| Tiling, floor, decorating | 3–6 days |
| Total on-site disruption | 2–4 weeks |
Most homeowners find the kitchen unusable for 2–3 weeks. Setting up a temporary kitchen (microwave, camping stove, kettle, small fridge) in another room reduces the stress considerably.
