# Cost of a New Kitchen in the UK 2026: Units, Worktops, Fitting and Where to Save > A new kitchen in the UK costs anywhere from £5,000 for a basic DIY refresh to £30,000+ for a bespoke fitted kitchen in a period home. Here is what you get at every price point in 2026. *Section: Lifestyle — By Priya Anand (Lifestyle & Travel Editor) — Published June 21, 2026 — 4 min read* Canonical URL: https://dailyjunction.org/lifestyle/cost-of-a-new-kitchen-uk-2026 Tags: kitchen renovation, home improvement, kitchen costs, DIY kitchen, fitted kitchen, lifestyle, UK homes, interior design ## Key takeaways - A mid-range fitted kitchen from a high-street retailer — including units, worktops, sink, tap, appliances and professional fitting — typically costs £10,000–£15,000 for a medium-sized UK kitchen in 2026. - Flat-pack kitchens from retailers such as IKEA, B&Q and Wickes start at around £1,500–£3,000 for units and worktops, with fitting adding £2,000–£4,000 depending on complexity. - The single biggest cost variable is the worktop: laminate costs £30–£80 per linear metre, while quartz or granite runs £250–£500 per linear metre, adding thousands to the total. # Cost of a New Kitchen in the UK 2026: Units, Worktops, Fitting and Where to Save A new kitchen is the most popular major home improvement in the UK — and also one of the easiest to overspend on. The price range is enormous: a basic refresh using flat-pack units, a laminate worktop and budget appliances can be done for £5,000, while a bespoke kitchen in a large period property with stone worktops and premium integrated appliances routinely exceeds £30,000. Understanding where the money goes at each price tier — and which upgrades genuinely add value versus those that simply add cost — makes the difference between a kitchen that works for your budget and one that works against it. --- ## What You Get at Each Price Point The table below shows typical all-in costs for a medium-sized kitchen (roughly 12–15 square metres) in 2026, including units, worktops, sink and tap, appliances, flooring, tiling or splashback, and professional fitting. | Price tier | What is included | Typical total | |---|---|---| | Budget (flat-pack, own-fitting) | Flat-pack units (IKEA/B&Q), laminate worktop, basic freestanding appliances, vinyl flooring, DIY or handyman fitting | £5,000–£8,000 | | Mid-range (high-street fitted) | Rigid-built units (Wren/Howdens/Magnet), laminate or solid-wood worktop, mid-range integrated appliances, ceramic-tile floor, retailer fitting | £10,000–£18,000 | | Premium (bespoke) | Bespoke or German-engineered units (Siematic/Poggenpohl/Plain English), quartz/Corian/granite worktops, premium appliances (Miele/Gaggenau), porcelain-tile or engineered-wood floor, specialist fitter | £25,000–£50,000+ | These are for a kitchen that is being replaced like-for-like without structural work. Moving walls, relocating plumbing or gas points, adding new windows or bi-fold doors, or rewiring adds £2,000–£8,000 depending on the scope. --- ## The Cost Breakdown: Where the Money Goes For a typical mid-range fitted kitchen costing £14,000, the split is roughly: | Component | Approximate cost | Share | |---|---|---| | Units and cabinetry | £4,500 | 32% | | Worktops | £1,800 | 13% | | Appliances (oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine) | £2,500 | 18% | | Fitting (including plumbing, electrics, tiling) | £2,800 | 20% | | Sink and tap | £350 | 3% | | Flooring | £900 | 6% | | Splashback / wall tiling | £600 | 4% | | Lighting | £350 | 3% | | Waste removal | £200 | 1% | | **Total** | **£14,000** | **100%** | --- ## The Worktop Decision Worktops are the single item where spend varies most dramatically. A laminate worktop costs £30–£80 per linear metre and is durable, easy to clean and available in a huge range of finishes. Solid wood (oak, beech, walnut) runs £100–£200 per linear metre but requires regular oiling and is susceptible to water damage around the sink. Quartz, granite and composite stone run £250–£500 per linear metre and are virtually indestructible, heat-resistant and low-maintenance — but on a kitchen with six metres of worktop, choosing quartz over laminate adds roughly £1,500–£2,500 to the bill. The same principle applies to appliances: a mid-range integrated oven and hob from a brand such as Bosch or AEG costs £600–£900, while a premium Miele or Gaggenau equivalent can cost £2,000–£4,000. The performance difference is real but marginal for most home cooks; the price difference is not. --- ## Fitting Costs and the DIY Trade-Off Professional kitchen fitting typically costs £2,000–£4,000 for a straightforward replacement, more if the room needs plastering, new pipework or electrical upgrades. The fitting cost includes: removing and disposing of the old kitchen, assembling and installing units, cutting and fitting worktops, connecting the sink and appliances, tiling splashbacks, and fitting flooring. Fitting a kitchen yourself — or hiring a local handyman or kitchen fitter rather than using the retailer's installation service — can save £1,500–£3,000. The critical constraints are: gas connections must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer (legal requirement), electrical work in a kitchen is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, and cutting worktops — especially mitring corners in laminate or cutting sink apertures in stone — is skilled work that is easy to get wrong. --- ## Does a New Kitchen Add Value? A well-executed kitchen renovation in the right price bracket for the property typically adds 5–10% to the resale value, according to estate-agent surveys. But the return is not linear: spending £30,000 on a kitchen in a £200,000 terrace house is unlikely to be recovered on sale, while a £15,000 kitchen in a £500,000 home may well pay for itself. The rule of thumb is to spend roughly 3–5% of the property's value on the kitchen if resale is a consideration. --- One area where it is genuinely worth spending more is on the fitting. A poorly fitted kitchen — units not level, worktop joints visible, drawer runners sticking — undermines the look and function of even the most expensive cabinetry. A good independent kitchen fitter, found through personal recommendation or a trusted trade directory such as Checkatrade or Which? Trusted Traders, is worth every pound. Ask to see photographs of previous work and speak to a recent customer before booking. The difference between a fitter who rushes the job in three days and one who takes five days to get every detail right is visible for years. A new kitchen is a significant investment, but it does not need to be a financial leap of faith. Getting three like-for-like quotes, understanding the worktop and appliance trade-offs, and deciding early whether you are renovating for yourself or for resale keeps the project anchored to a number you can live with. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does a new kitchen cost in 2026? The total installed cost ranges from roughly £5,000 for a basic budget kitchen (flat-pack units, laminate worktop, basic appliances, own-fitting) to £30,000+ for a bespoke kitchen with quartz or stone worktops, premium appliances and professional fitting in a larger room. Which? suggests a realistic budget for a medium-sized kitchen from a mid-range supplier is £10,000–£15,000, fully fitted. ### Should I buy a flat-pack kitchen and fit it myself? You can save £2,000–£5,000 in fitting costs by doing it yourself or hiring a local handyman rather than using the retailer's installation service. However, kitchen fitting involves plumbing, electrics and gas connections that must comply with Building Regulations — gas work legally requires a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you are not confident with levelling units, cutting worktops and connecting appliances, the saving may not be worth the stress and rework risk. ### What is the most expensive part of a kitchen renovation? Cabinetry and worktops typically account for 40–50% of the total cost. Appliances come next at 15–25%, followed by fitting at 15–20%. Splurging on quartz or granite worktops — at £250–£500 per linear metre compared with £30–£80 for laminate — is the single fastest way to inflate the budget. ## Sources - [Which?: Kitchen Costs Explained](https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/fitted-kitchens/article/how-much-does-a-new-kitchen-cost) - [Checkatrade: Kitchen Fitting Cost Guide 2026](https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/kitchen-fitting-cost/) - [MoneyHelper: Home Improvements Budgeting](https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/budgeting/budget-planner/home-improvements) --- Daily Junction — https://dailyjunction.org/lifestyle/cost-of-a-new-kitchen-uk-2026