How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost? A UK Price Guide for 2026
A new kitchen in the UK typically costs between £7,000 and £15,000 in 2026 for a like-for-like replacement, and most projects land around £10,000 to £12,000. That typically covers units, worktop, fitting, the necessary electrical and plumbing work, and a basic appliance package such as a built-in oven, hob and extractor. A facelift with new doors and a worktop costs far less, and a full refit with moved services can pass £40,000. This guide shows what decides the price, where the money goes, and where you can save without gambling on the technical work.
What do different types of kitchen project cost?
As with bathrooms, the price is decided by how deep you go. Three levels cover most projects:
| Type of project | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Facelift (new doors, worktop, handles) | £1,500-£6,000 |
| Like-for-like replacement in the same layout | £7,000-£15,000 |
| Full refit with moved services or bespoke cabinetry | £15,000-£40,000+ |
A facelift keeps the carcasses, the cabinet boxes themselves, and swaps what you see and touch: doors, worktop, handles and new lighting under the wall units. If the carcasses are square and dry, this is by far the cheapest route to a kitchen that feels new. See our dedicated facelift price guide for the details, including a respray as an even cheaper option.
A like-for-like replacement renews all the cabinetry, but the sink, hob and fridge stay roughly where they are, so you avoid the big plumbing and electrical jobs. This is the project most people actually buy, and what the widely quoted UK averages measure: units, worktop and fitting in the same layout, often with a basic appliance bundle, never the heavy building work.
A full refit moves the services: the sink to the island, the hob to another wall, new extraction, and often a rewire, replastering and new flooring in the same job. This is where the price runs, for the same reason as in bathrooms: moved pipework and wiring cost more than anything you can see. Expect London and the South East to run 15 to 30 per cent above all the figures here.
A facelift keeps your existing appliances, and a like-for-like swap usually comes with a basic set built in. Upgrading to premium integrated models costs more on top, anywhere from a few hundred pounds to well over £10,000.
Why a new kitchen costs more than people expect
The kitchen brands advertise the price of the units. Your bill contains much more: fitting, electrics, plumbing, rip-out, waste, and the small jobs that appear once the 1990s kitchen is off the wall. As a rule of thumb, the cabinetry is rarely more than half the total on a complete project.
Two lines surprise people most. The electrician, because new circuits, downlights and moved sockets quickly reach £500 to £2,500, and new kitchen circuits are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. And the worktop, where the step from laminate to quartz or granite can cost more than the doors themselves.
Where does the money go?
The typical split on a like-for-like replacement:
- Units: £1,500-£8,000. An IKEA-class kitchen runs £1,500 to £2,500, trade and mid-market brands such as Howdens, Wickes and Wren £3,000 to £6,500, and premium showroom brands £7,000 to £9,000. Bespoke starts where the brands stop.
- Worktop: £200-£3,500. Laminate is cheapest and perfectly serviceable at £200 to £500 supplied and fitted. Quartz and granite lift both the look and the bill at £1,200 to £2,500, fitted by specialist teams. See our dedicated worktop price guide for the full breakdown by material, including solid wood, Dekton and ceramic.
- Fitting: £2,000-£5,000. The UK average for kitchen fitting labour is around £3,500, at day rates of £250 to £350. Large kitchens, wonky walls and bespoke details push it up.
- Electrician: £500-£2,500. New sockets at £80 to £150 each, new circuits and under-cabinet lighting. A full kitchen rewire runs £1,000 to £4,000, and new circuits must be certified under Part P.
- Plumber: £300-£1,000 with the sink staying put. Moving the sink adds £400 to £800 before you touch the drainage, and any gas hob work legally requires a Gas Safe engineer.
- Rip-out and waste: £300-£1,000. The old units, tiles and worktops have to come out, and a skip costs £200 to £300.
Add a 10 to 15 per cent contingency. Behind a 1990s kitchen there are usually uneven walls, mystery wiring and the odd damp patch to deal with first. Skipping that contingency is one of the most common ways a budget overruns, and our full rundown of the seven reasons covers the others too.
How to save money on a new kitchen
- Keep the layout. Sink, hob and extractor in the same place is the biggest single saving. Moving water, drainage and gas is the most expensive metre-for-metre work in the whole project.
- Consider a facelift before a full replacement. If the carcasses are square and dry, new doors and a new worktop give you 80 per cent of the effect for a fraction of the price.
- Fit what you can yourself. Flat-pack assembly, plinths and handles are good DIY territory. Circuits and gas are not: Part P and Gas Safe work belongs with registered trades.
- Buy appliances in the sales. Last year's models do the same job. Check the integrated dimensions against the units before you order the kitchen.
- Get at least three quotes for fitting and electrics together. Ask for a fixed price and an itemised description of what is included, so there are no arguments later.
- Plan everything before the rip-out. Changing your mind mid-job is the most expensive way to decide. Lock layout, units and appliances before the old kitchen comes out.
Don't cut corners on the electrics and gas
The electrics and the gas and water connections. New circuits must be certified, gas hob work is legally Gas Safe territory, and a slow leak from a dishwasher connection is one of the most common home insurance claims in the UK. Done properly, this is cheap insurance against the two things that actually wreck kitchens: fire and water. Use registered trades and keep the certificates. They matter to your insurer, and they matter the day you sell.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an IKEA or Howdens kitchen cost fitted?
IKEA cabinets for a typical 10 to 12 unit kitchen run £1,500 to £2,500, and a fitted total of £6,000 to £10,000 is realistic once worktop and electrics are in, with appliances extra. Howdens units come pre-assembled through your fitter at £3,500 to £6,500, with fitted projects commonly £8,000 to £14,000 including own-brand appliances. Always check what a quote covers.
Can I fit a kitchen myself?
The cabinetry, yes. Flat-pack carcasses, doors, plinths and handles are realistic DIY for anyone with tools and patience. New circuits belong with a registered electrician, gas work with a Gas Safe engineer, and stone worktops with the specialists who template and fit them.
How long does a new kitchen take?
Fitting the units and worktop takes about a week. The whole project lands at 1 to 2 weeks for a like-for-like replacement, and 3 to 6 weeks for a full refit with rewiring, plastering and flooring.
Does a new kitchen add value to my home?
Yes. Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms buyers weigh most heavily. If you are planning both, it is worth reading our bathroom renovation price guide too, not least on sequencing and budget.
What is Part P, and does my kitchen fall under it?
Part P of the Building Regulations covers domestic electrical work, and new kitchen circuits are notifiable under it. Use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme: they self-certify the work and issue a certificate. Keep it, because your insurer and your buyer's solicitor will both ask for it.
Keep the whole kitchen project in one place
A kitchen project is quotes, invoices, measurements and messages all at once. Pilt keeps everything in one place: the budget with receipts, the tasks, and the before and after photos. You can also upload a photo of your kitchen and see it in new styles with AI, before you order anything at all.
Download Pilt on the App Store