How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
When planning a new kitchen, cost is the biggest question for most of us. You might have already searched for things like "how much does a new kitchen cost?" or "what's the average price of a kitchen in the UK?"
The truth is, there’s no single answer. The cost of a new kitchen depends on several factors, including the size of the space, the quality of materials and whether you’re making small updates or opting for a full renovation. And whether you’re doing some of the work yourself, or getting the professionals in.
A new kitchen can mean anything from a simple paint job to ripping everything out and spending on new appliances, flooring and lighting. So a new kitchen, cost-wise, can range from a few hundred pounds (for a light-touch DIY makeover) to tens of thousands of pounds. In this comprehensive guide to new kitchen costs, we’re going to look at all the costs you’ll need to think about, so you can take your new kitchen from idea to reality.
All the figures in this article are estimates based on 2026 UK market rates.
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Working out the cost of a new kitchen
The average cost of new kitchens in the UK varies hugely. What you’ll need to spend will depend on the size, materials and overall design of your new kitchen. Here’s a rough idea of what you could be looking at:
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Budget-friendly new kitchen cost: £500 - £1,000
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Mid-range new kitchen cost: £10,000 - £25,000
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High-end new kitchen cost: £25,000 - £50,000+
What affects a kitchen’s price?
How much your new kitchen costs will depend to a great extent on materials, labour and kitchen size. Materials include all the furniture and fittings of your new kitchen: cabinets, worktops, flooring and appliances. Labour covers installation, plumbing and electrics. When it comes to size it’s no surprise: the bigger the kitchen, the higher the cost to both buy and fit it.
Quick tips for estimating costs:
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Measure your kitchen and your existing units, so you know what to look for in a quote.
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Decide whether you’re redoing everything, just replacing certain things or upcycling your existing kitchen.
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Factor in installation costs if you’re using professional tradespeople.
How much does a new kitchen cost?
Knowing the average cost of new kitchen projects in the UK is useful when it comes to working out your budget. For a completely new kitchen, you could spend anything from £500 to £40,000 upwards, including installation. At the lower end you’d be sourcing cabinets, worktops and appliances from budget-friendly suppliers, and maybe mixing and matching to get the best deals. At the top end you’d have a large, completely new kitchen with a high spec and professional installation with extra sockets, wiring and lighting.
Here’s how it all adds up:
|
Feature |
Budget-friendly (£) |
Mid-range (£) |
High-end (£) |
Average (£) |
|
Cabinets |
1000 - 3000 |
3,000 - 6,000 |
6,000 - 12,000 |
5,100 |
|
Worktops |
200 - 600 |
600 - 1,200 |
6,000 - 12,000 |
1,100 |
|
Appliances |
500 - 1,000 |
1,000 - 2,500 |
2,500 - 5,000 |
2,100 |
|
Flooring |
100 - 1,000 |
1,000 - 2,000 |
3,000 - 6,000 |
1,300 |
|
Labour/ Installation |
1,500 - 2,000 |
2,500 - 4,000 |
4,000 - 5,500 |
3,500 |
|
Total Estimated Cost |
5000 - 10,000 |
10,000 - 20,000 |
20,000 - 40,000+ |
13,100 |
Cabinets and worktops are among the most expensive new kitchen costs because they’re essential, and the most visible part of your kitchen. Appliances and flooring can add up surprisingly quickly, especially if you choose high-end brands or materials. Installation costs come as a shock to many, and are something a lot of us forget to factor in when we’re calculating the cost of a new kitchen. Given that the average kitchen installation cost in the UK is £3,500, it’s important to factor it in from the outset.
Swapping cupboard doors and repainting carcasses for a budget refresh
If you’re keen to save money but still want to update your kitchen, replacing cupboard doors (and painting your existing carcasses to match) will make things much cheaper. And not only do you keep your new kitchen costs down, but by upcycling what you have you’re sending less to landfill. Here’s what that might cost:
|
Item |
Price range (£) |
What’s included |
|
New cupboard doors (8-unit kitchen) |
160 - 800 |
Replacement doors (the cheapest doors start at around £20 each) |
|
Repainting existing carcasses |
200 - 500 |
Paint and painting/DIY materials |
|
Handles/ fixtures |
50 - 150 |
New handles or knobs |
|
Total estimated cost |
410 - 1,450 |
Budget-friendly small kitchen refresh |
Another sustainable solution to refresh your kitchen is painting your kitchen cabinets for a budget friendly refresh.
What are the costs of kitchen units?
Kitchen units are the backbone of your kitchen, but they don’t have to cost a lot. Spending more doesn’t always equal a better result.
|
Material |
Budget friendly (£) |
Mid range (£) |
High end (£) |
Average (£) |
|
Melamine/MDF |
500 - 2,500 |
2,500 - 5,000 |
5,000 - 10,000 |
4,250 |
|
Solid wood |
2,000 - 4,500 |
4,500 - 9,000 |
9,000 - 18,000 |
6,500 |
|
Custom-made units |
5,000 - 10,000 |
10,000 - 20,000 |
20,000+ |
15,000 |
If you’re looking to minimise costs, melamine or MDF units are probably the way to go. Solid wood is more expensive, but adds warmth and should last longer. Custom-made units are less common, but if you’ve got the budget, go for it. You can let your creativity run wild and create a high-quality kitchen that’s completely unique.
How much do kitchen worktops cost?
Like everything else, the cost of a new kitchen worktop varies. But remember that while cost is important, so is quality. Worktops get a lot of use, especially if you’re a keen cook. Some surfaces stand up to heavy use better than others, so think about practicality and durability as well as looks and cost (and remember that solid wood looks gorgeous, but will need oiling every six months to keep it water resistant and looking its best). Laminate is more budget friendly, and it can be hard to tell it apart from quartz or granite. But if you’re going all out for luxury, real quartz or granite are the obvious choices.
To help you figure out what type of worktop to choose, take a look at our guide to buying kitchen worktops. Or to see what you could get for your money, explore our kitchen worktops and worktop fittings.
|
Material |
Budget friendly (£) |
Mid range (£) |
High end (£) |
Average (£) |
|
Laminate |
200 - 600 |
600 - 1,200 |
1,200 - 2,500 |
1050 |
|
Solid wood |
300 - 800 |
800 - 1,500 |
1,500 - 3,000 |
1,300 |
|
Granite |
800 - 2,000 |
2,000 - 4,000 |
4,000 - 8,000 |
3,500 |
|
Quartz |
1,000 - 2,500 |
2,500 - 5,000 |
5,000 - 10,000 |
4,300 |
Breaking down the costs of kitchen appliances
There are some great budget-friendly appliance options around. Spending more doesn’t always mean something’s better. The table below gives you an idea of costs for new kitchen appliances. But price and looks aren’t the only things to consider. Energy efficiency is growing more important these days. Every bit helps when it comes to keeping your bills down. And it’s even worth checking things like noise levels for fridges, if you’re sensitive to sound.
Perhaps you’re even questioning whether you need an oven at all. With the rise of portable kitchen appliances like air fryers and multicookers, some people never switch on the oven, so are reluctant to spend on one. But we’d always recommend including an oven in your kitchen (or at the very least, leaving space for one), especially if you ever want to sell your house.
|
Appliance |
Budget friendly (£) |
Mid range (£) |
High end (£) |
Average (£) |
|
300 - 600 |
600 - 1,200 |
1,200 - 2,500 |
1,000 | |
|
150 - 400 |
400 - 1,000 |
1,000 - 2,500 |
900 | |
|
250 - 500 |
500 - 1,000 |
1,000 - 2,000 |
875 | |
|
150 - 400 |
400 - 1,000 |
400 - 1,000 |
560 | |
|
Electric hob |
100 - 250 |
250 - 700 |
700 - 2,000 |
675 |
|
80 - 200 |
200 - 600 |
600 - 1,500 |
500 |
New kitchen plumbing costs
Plumbing costs are something you might not think about with a new kitchen, but your new sink or dishwasher needs to be properly installed. Here’s what you might be looking at spending:
|
Service |
Average (£) |
|
Sink installation |
100-500 |
|
Pipework |
300-1200 |
Kitchen electrics costs
It’s important to think about kitchen lighting at the beginning of your project, because depending on what you want, it can be hard to work it in later. Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, paying a professional electrician to do the electrical work for your new kitchen is crucial. We recommend that all electrical work is carried out by a competent and suitably qualified electrician, preferably registered with the NICEIC. Here’s what that could cost (these are just the costs for installation, and don’t include the products being installed).
|
Service |
Average (£) |
|
200-1000 | |
|
50-150 | |
|
400-1500 | |
|
Power outlet (one) |
50-200 |
|
Cooker circuits |
80-500 |
|
100-300 | |
|
100-300 | |
|
20-100 |
How much does kitchen installation cost
Labour costs in the UK to install a new kitchen normally range between £2,500 and £8,000, with the average coming in at £3,500. The price you’ll pay obviously depends on the size and complexity of the job, and where you live. Kitchen installation costs don’t always include electrical or plumbing work, so make sure you double check that with your installer. Get three quotes, and get each tradesperson to itemise every piece of work, so you can compare like for like.
How much does it cost to remove an old kitchen
Taking out your old kitchen is often included in your installation cost, check with your installer. If you have to pay for it separately, you can expect to pay between £250 and £800, based on labour costs of £20 to £40 per hour. The bigger and more difficult to access the kitchen, the more pricey this job will be.
How to prioritise spending on your new kitchen
As you’re probably aware by now, costs can spiral quickly. So if you’re working to a budget, concentrate your cash where it matters most. If you spend a lot of time cooking or baking, investing in high-quality worktops is a smart move: they’ll stand up to heavy use and still look great. For busy kitchens with lots of foot traffic, durable flooring is a must to handle the wear and tear of daily life.
When it comes to appliances, prioritise energy-efficient and long-lasting choices to keep your bills low and make sure they’re not breaking down all the time. Think carefully about your cabinets and get clear on the type of storage you need. Is there anything that doesn’t have a place right now that you could store away? Do you need more pan drawers than food storage? Kitchens don’t have to follow a cookie-cutter approach. You’re spending big, so make sure it works for you.
If you want to make a statement without spending a fortune, buying the right kitchen taps to elevate the look of your kitchen doesn’t have to cost a lot. It’s not always obvious how best to spend your money when it comes to new kitchen costs: one person’s splurge is another’s everyday essential. Boiling water taps are a great example. For some, they’re a lifesaver when it comes to juggling dinner prep, tea making and a million other things; for others, they’re an unnecessary extravagance. That’s the brilliant thing about planning your new kitchen: you can tailor it to your own tastes and lifestyle
How to keep new kitchen costs down
New kitchen costs depend to some extent on whether you’re ripping everything out or just freshening up your existing kitchen. If you’re going for new units and appliances, you can keep your new kitchen cost down by going with solid basics and skipping the bells and whistles, especially ones you’re unlikely to use. In order to keep kitchen costs down, it’s easier to save on materials than labour (unless you’re doing it yourself), so think about what really matters. Here are a few tips for keeping your new kitchen costs under control.
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DIY it: Paint cabinets, add new cabinet handles or lay flooring yourself.
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Get a high-class look without an eye-watering price tag: Laminate worktops and new kitchen doors can give you a lot of value for money.
-
Upcycle: Spruce up your existing units with a DIY kitchen paint job, instead of buying new ones.
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Shop around: Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople before committing to an installation.
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Consider vinyl flooring: It’s unbelievably good value, and there are some really modern floor designs around. (Plus, it’s warmer underfoot than tiles).
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Before you press ‘go’ on your new kitchen project, cost up everything, including labour, and set aside a contingency.
Key things to consider when working out new kitchen costs
The way to keep your new kitchen costs down is to set a budget and be ruthless in sticking to it. Prioritise the elements that will have the greatest impact, like high-quality worktops, spacious cabinets or energy-efficient appliances. If something still works and is in good condition, see if you can reuse it. A fresh coat of paint and new handles can refresh cabinets at a fraction of the cost, helping you maximise your budget while creating a really professional look.
Leave a contingency for unexpected expenditure (renovation projects often throw curveballs), and make sure you account for finishing touches like kitchen storage, bins and new tea towels to match your colour scheme. Get your measurements spot on, compare quotes and agree exactly what work is covered before your contractor gets started. And remember: careful planning will help make your dream kitchen a reality.