Most new kitchens in the UK cost between £6,000 and £20,000 to supply and fit in 2026. A typical mid-range project lands between about £8,000 and £14,000. Where your kitchen sits in that range depends on its size, the units and worktops you choose, and whether pipes, cables or walls need to move.
This guide breaks down the kitchen renovation cost UK homeowners can expect, item by item. It covers units, worktops, appliances, fitting labour and the hidden extras that catch people out. It also explains what changes in Birmingham, how a refurbishment compares with a full renovation and how to plan a budget kitchen renovation without cutting the wrong corners.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does a new kitchen cost in the UK? | Typically £6,000 to £20,000 supplied and fitted. Bespoke kitchens can pass £50,000. |
| What does a mid-range kitchen cost? | Around £8,000 to £14,000. |
| How much of the budget is labour? | Roughly 20% to 30% if you hire trades for everything. |
| What does a kitchen fitter charge? | Usually £150 to £300 a day. |
| How long does fitting take? | About 5 to 10 working days for a straightforward kitchen. |
| How much contingency should you allow? | 10% to 15% of the total budget. |
| What is the biggest way to save? | Keep the existing layout so plumbing and electrics stay where they are. |
How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost in the UK in 2026?
The cost of a new kitchen installed in the UK usually ranges from about £5,000 for a small, simple kitchen to £20,000 or more for a large one with premium materials. Size sets the starting point. Your choice of units, worktops and appliances, plus any layout changes, decides the rest.
New Kitchen Cost by Size
| Kitchen size | Typical floor area | Typical cost supplied and fitted |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 8 to 12m² | £5,000 to £8,000 |
| Medium | 12 to 20m² | £8,000 to £15,000 |
| Large | 20m² and over | £15,000 to £20,000+ |
Size matters because it sets how many units, how many metres of worktop and how much flooring and tiling you need. Floor area is only a rough guide, though. A long galley kitchen can need as many units as a wider room, so the number of units is often a better way to compare quotes.
Cost by Budget Level
| Budget level | Typical total | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £5,000 to £7,000 | Standard or flat-pack units, laminate worktops, entry-level appliances and the existing layout |
| Mid-range | £8,000 to £14,000 | Better units and doors, wood or composite worktops, mid-range appliances and some new lighting |
| High-end | £20,000+ | Bespoke or solid wood units, stone worktops, premium integrated appliances and often a new layout |
What Makes Up the Cost of a Kitchen Renovation?
A kitchen renovation is several jobs in one. Units and worktops are usually the biggest items, followed by appliances and labour. Plumbing, electrics, flooring, plastering and waste removal make up the rest. Magnet, quoted by Which?, estimates that plumbing, flooring, electrics and other extras take about 30% of the budget
Kitchen Units and Doors
Units, also called cabinets or carcasses, are the boxes that hold everything. Doors and drawer fronts are the parts you see. Most of the price difference between kitchens comes from the materials used for both.
- Chipboard units are the cheapest. MyJobQuote puts units for a small kitchen at £1,000 to £1,800.
- MDF units (medium-density fibreboard) sit in the middle at around £2,000 to £3,500.
- Solid wood units cost the most, at roughly £5,000 to £7,000 for a small kitchen.
When Which? mystery shopped a 12-unit kitchen in 2025, cabinet prices ranged from about £1,500 to £9,000 depending on the retailer. That was before worktops, sinks, taps and appliances. Some retailers were advertising discounts of more than 70%, so a kitchen's "was" price tells you very little. Compare the final price for the same list of units instead.
Worktops
Worktops have a big effect on both cost and how the kitchen feels to use. In Which? research, worktops were the item members were most often glad they had spent more on.
| Worktop material | Supplied and fitted (average kitchen) | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £500 to £1,200 | Cheapest option with a wide choice of finishes. Edges can swell if water gets in. |
| Solid wood | £1,500 to £2,500 | Warm look. Needs regular oiling, especially near the sink. |
| Composite | £1,500 to £3,000+ | Hard-wearing with a consistent colour. |
| Quartz or granite | £2,500 to £4,500+ | Very durable. Templated and cut after the units are fitted. |
| Solid surface (such as Corian) | £2,800 to £5,000+ | Seamless joins and moulded sinks. |
Appliances
MyJobQuote puts a budget set of appliances at £800 to £1,500, mid-range at £1,500 to £3,000 and high-end at £5,000 or more. Integrated appliances usually cost more than freestanding ones. They also need housing units and matching doors, which adds to the unit cost.
Appliances top the list of regrets in Which? research, both for spending too much and for spending too little. A sensible approach is to put your money into the appliances you use every day and keep the rest simple.
Flooring
Flooring is easy to forget when budgeting. For a 15m² kitchen, MyJobQuote gives these installed prices:
- Vinyl: £375 to £750
- Laminate: £330 to £825
- Porcelain or ceramic tiles: £750 to £1,500
- Solid wood: £975 to £2,200
Ask whether the new floor will run under the units or stop at the plinths. It changes the amount of flooring needed and the order of work.
Plumbing, Electrics and Gas
MyBuilder puts typical electrical work for a kitchen at £500 to £1,500 and plumbing at £300 to £1,000. These costs rise quickly if the sink, hob or oven moves to a different wall.
Any work on a gas hob or gas pipework must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement, not a preference.
When Do Building Regulations Apply to a Kitchen?
Replacing units and worktops like for like does not usually need building control approval. Some kitchen work does.
- New electrical circuits. According to the Planning Portal, adding a new circuit, such as one for an electric oven or induction hob, is notifiable under Part P in England and Wales. In Wales, kitchens are treated as a special location, so more kitchen electrical work is notifiable. A registered electrician can certify the work and give you a certificate.
- Removing or altering a wall. Taking out a load-bearing wall needs building regulations approval and usually a structural engineer's calculations.
- Extract ventilation. If a new extractor is fitted, Approved Document F in England sets a minimum extract rate of 30 litres per second for a cooker hood, or 60 litres per second for an extract fan elsewhere in the kitchen.
Plastering, Tiling and Decorating
Old tiles and units often leave damaged plaster behind. Budget for making good before the new kitchen goes in. MyJobQuote lists typical day rates of £180 to £250 for a plasterer, £200 to £300 for a tiler and £160 to £220 for a decorator.
Removing the Old Kitchen
Taking out an old kitchen typically costs £300 to £500, and a skip starts from around £150 a week. If the skip has to sit on the road, the council must issue a permit. Most skip firms arrange this, but check whether it is included in the price.
How Much Does Kitchen Fitting Cost?
Kitchen fitting cost for labour only usually runs from about £1,500 to £5,000 for a full kitchen, according to MyBuilder. A simple fit of new units costs less. A job with new plumbing, electrics, plastering and tiling costs more because several trades are involved.
Supply Only, Fit Only or Supply and Fit?
Quotes are usually written in one of three ways. Knowing the difference stops you comparing the wrong numbers.
- Supply only. You buy the kitchen from a retailer and arrange fitting yourself.
- Fit only. You supply the kitchen and a fitter installs it. MyJobQuote puts labour-only fitting at £1,700 to £3,000 for a typical kitchen.
- Supply and fit. One company provides and installs everything. This is usually what people mean by the cost of a new kitchen installed.
Supply and fit can look more expensive at first. It does, however, put responsibility for ordering, delivery and every trade in one place. With fit only, missing panels or wrong sizes become your problem to solve.
Typical Trade Day Rates in 2026
| Trade | Day rate | Typical days on a kitchen job |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen fitter | £150 to £300 | 4 to 8 days |
| Electrician | £250 to £400 | 1 to 3 days |
| Plumber or Gas Safe engineer | £250 to £400 | 1 to 2 days |
| Plasterer | £180 to £250 | 1 to 3 days |
| Tiler | £200 to £300 | 1 to 3 days |
| Decorator | £160 to £220 | 1 to 3 days |
Some fitters price by the unit instead of by the day. MyJobQuote gives £100 to £150 per unit for a simple fit. This works well for straightforward jobs but can hide extras such as fitting end panels, cornices and appliances.
Kitchen Refurbishment Cost vs a Full Renovation
A refurbishment keeps your existing layout and cabinet carcasses. It replaces the parts you see and touch: doors, drawer fronts, worktops, handles and sometimes taps, lighting or appliances. A renovation strips everything out and starts again. Kitchen refurbishment cost is usually much lower, but it only works if the units underneath are in good condition.
| Aspect | Refurbishment | Full renovation |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Doors, drawer fronts, worktops, handles, taps and lighting | Everything, often including layout, plumbing, electrics and flooring |
| Main cost driver | Number of doors and choice of worktop | One to two weeks, or longer with structural work |
| Best when | Carcasses are solid and the layout works | Units are damaged or the layout no longer suits you |
According to Homebuilding & Renovating, ready-to-fit replacement doors start at under £20 each, while solid wood or bespoke doors cost £100 to £200 each. A typical eight-cabinet kitchen has around 10 to 16 doors. The same source puts the average cost of having a joiner replace kitchen doors at around £131 per door.
Signs a Refurbishment Will Not Be Enough
- Chipboard has swollen around the sink or dishwasher.
- Doors will not line up because the carcasses have moved.
- There is damp or water damage behind the units.
- The layout does not work for how you cook and live.
- There are too few sockets, or the wiring is old.
If two or more of these apply, a full renovation is usually better value over the long term.
Kitchen Renovation Cost in Birmingham: What Changes Locally?
The kitchen renovation cost Birmingham homeowners pay follows the national ranges for materials, because units, worktops and appliances cost much the same anywhere. Labour is where location shows. MyJobQuote notes that London labour can run 10% to 25% higher, so homeowners in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands generally pay closer to the national ranges in this guide.
How Birmingham Homes Affect the Price
The type of house often has more effect on the kitchen renovation cost Birmingham homeowners are quoted than the postcode does.
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Kitchens are often narrow galleys in the rear part of the house. Layout options are limited, and many owners choose to knock through to the dining room. That adds structural work and a steel beam.
- 1930s semi-detached homes. These usually have a separate kitchen and dining room. Opening them up is a popular choice and may involve a load-bearing wall.
- Post-war homes and flats. Kitchens are often compact and simpler to fit. In a flat, check whether you need permission from the freeholder or managing agent first.
Older homes with solid walls can also hide damp behind old units. A renovation is a good time to deal with it and improve insulation on external walls. Our guide on how to lower energy costs and improve home comfort explains which upgrades fit well alongside renovation work.
Practical Local Costs to Plan For
Many terraced streets have no driveways, so parking for trades and space for a skip need planning. Where a skip must go on the road, the council permit adds a small cost and some lead time. Using a firm based locally can also keep travel costs down.
Hidden Costs That Push Kitchen Budgets Up
Most kitchen budgets go over for the same handful of reasons. Plan for these early and the final bill is far less likely to surprise you.
- Moving the kitchen. MyJobQuote cites one trade quote of £5,000 to £7,500 to relocate a kitchen, including plumbing, electrics and ceiling repairs.
- Structural changes. Knocking through needs a steel beam, a structural engineer and building control fees.
- Electrical upgrades. An induction hob or new oven may need its own circuit. An old fuse box may need replacing.
- Making good. Uneven floors, crumbling plaster and pipes that need boxing in all add time and materials.
- Extraction. Ducting a cooker hood to the outside may mean drilling through an external wall.
- Stone worktop templating. Quartz and granite are measured after the units go in, and cut-outs for the sink and hob are often priced separately.
- Living costs during the work. Takeaways and eating out add up when the kitchen is out of action.
My Builder recommends keeping a contingency of 10% to 15% of the total budget for problems like these.
How to Plan a Budget Kitchen Renovation
A budget kitchen renovation works best when you save on things that are easy to upgrade later and spend on things that are hard to change. Keeping the layout, reusing good appliances and choosing laminate worktops can save thousands without spoiling the finished result.
Where You Can Save
- Keep the existing layout. Which? names this as one of the best ways to save, as it avoids moving plumbing and electrics.
- Reuse appliances that still work. Which? estimates this can save the best part of £1,000.
- Choose standard carcasses with better doors and handles. Doors and handles have the biggest visual impact.
- Pick laminate worktops and luxury vinyl flooring. Both are durable and much cheaper than stone or solid wood.
- Strip out the old kitchen yourself. MyJobQuote notes this can save a day or more of labour. Have a qualified engineer disconnect the gas and electrics first.
- Get at least three quotes. Compare them line by line, not just on the total.
For more saving ideas and retailer price comparisons, see Which?'s guide to how much a new kitchen costs.
Where Not to Cut Corners
- Electrics and gas. Safety work needs qualified, registered trades and the right certificates.
- Sealing around the sink. Poorly sealed worktop joints and cut-outs are where water damage starts.
- Extraction. A weak extractor leads to condensation, grease build-up and mould.
- Fitting quality. Units that are not level cause doors to drift and worktops to crack over time.
How Long Will You Be Without a Kitchen?
MyJobQuote estimates 5 to 10 working days for a straightforward installation. MyBuilder suggests three to four weeks or more when plumbing or structural changes are involved. Setting up a temporary kitchen with a kettle, microwave and fridge in another room makes this much easier.
What Should a Kitchen Quote Include?
A good quote lets you see exactly what you are paying for. Before you sign, check that it covers:
- Units, doors, worktops, sink, taps and appliances, listed separately
- Labour for each trade, including electrics, plumbing, plastering and tiling
- Removal and disposal of the old kitchen
- Making good and decorating
- Electrical and gas safety certificates
- Worktop templating and cut-outs
- VAT, shown clearly
- Payment stages, the deposit and the start date
- The warranty on both workmanship and products
At Greentek, our own kitchen fitters, plumbers and electricians work as one team, so a single quote covers every trade. You can see what is included on our kitchen renovations page.
If the kitchen is one part of a bigger project, a full home renovation lets you plan electrics, plumbing and plastering across the whole house in the right order. If the room is simply too small, a single storey extension can create a larger kitchen diner.
Planning Your New Kitchen With Greentek
A clear budget starts with knowing what each part of the job costs. To recap the main steps:
- Decide whether you need a refurbishment or a full renovation.
- Set a realistic budget using the ranges in this guide.
- Keep 10% to 15% aside for surprises.
- Compare itemised quotes, not just totals.
- Check certificates for electrical and gas work.
With those in place, the kitchen renovation cost UK homeowners face becomes much easier to control. Greentek Energy Ltd is based in Birmingham and carries out kitchen renovations alongside wider building and energy work for homeowners across the UK. We offer a free survey and an itemised quote, and you can spread the cost with finance through our credit broker partners, subject to status.
