Kitchen renovation cost uk 2026

A kitchen renovation is often the most significant home improvement project UK homeowners undertake, and it also entails the widest range of potential costs. A simple cosmetic update can cost a few thousand pounds, whereas a full structural overhaul with bespoke cabinetry can exceed £50,000. There is no single "correct" figure; costs vary depending on the size of the kitchen, the materials chosen, whether plumbing needs to be altered or partition walls removed, and the property's location in the UK.

This guide breaks down the costs step-by-step so you can see exactly where the money goes and create a realistic budget for your project, rather than relying on an average figure that might not suit your household's needs.

Quick Answer: Kitchen Renovation Cost at a Glance

In the UK in 2026, most kitchen renovations fall into one of these bands:

Renovation type	Typical cost (fitted)	What's included
Kitchen refresh (cosmetic)	£1,500 – £6,000	New doors/handles, worktop, paint, no layout change
Budget renovation	£6,000 – £16,000	Flat-pack or entry-level rigid units, laminate worktop, standard appliances
Mid-range renovation	£12,000 – £28,000	Rigid/semi-custom units, stone-effect or solid worktop, integrated appliances, some layout changes
High-end renovation	£28,000 – £50,000+	Bespoke or in-frame cabinetry, natural stone, premium appliances, possible structural work
Full structural/layout renovation	£30,000 – £60,000+	Everything above plus wall removal, rewiring, replumbing, and a kitchen island

These are estimated ranges for planning purposes, not definitive quotes. The only way to determine the actual cost of your kitchen is to request detailed quotes from two or three trusted local professionals or specialized kitchen companies.

How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in the UK?

In the UK, a kitchen renovation typically costs between £6,000— for a basic, budget-friendly update— and £50,000 (or more) for a bespoke kitchen involving structural changes. Most homeowners undertaking a standard, mid-range renovation— featuring new cabinetry, worktops, flooring, and integrated appliances, but without knocking down walls— spend between £12,000 and £25,000.

This wide price range exists because the term "kitchen renovation" encompasses projects of vastly different scales. Replacing cabinet fronts and worktops counts as a renovation, just as knocking down a partition wall to open up the space to the dining area, completely rewiring the electrics, or installing bespoke joinery does. Although these projects share the same name, their costs are not comparable; consequently, the "average" figures often cited online can be misleading if one does not know exactly what they include.

Kitchen Renovation Cost by Project Type

Not every kitchen project needs the same level of investment. Here's how the main categories differ.

Kitchen refresh

This is the lightest-touch option: new cabinet doors or a spray-paint respray, new handles, a replacement worktop, and perhaps new flooring or a lick of paint. No units are replaced, and the layout stays exactly as it is. Typical cost: £1,500–£6,000.

Budget renovation

New flat-pack or entry-level rigid units (think IKEA, Wickes or B& Q ranges), a laminate worktop, and standard freestanding or integrated appliances. The layout usually stays the same to avoid extra plumbing and electrical work. Typical cost: £6,000–£16,000.

Mid-range renovation

This is where most UK households land. Semi-custom rigid units from suppliers such as Howdens, Wren or Magnet, an upgraded worktop (solid laminate, wood, or a budget stone-effect composite), integrated appliances, and possibly a minor layout tweak such as moving a sink or adding an island unit. Typical cost: £12,000–£28,000.

High-end renovation

Bespoke or in-frame cabinetry from a specialist joiner or premium brand, natural stone or engineered quartz worktops, premium integrated appliances, and often some structural or layout change. Typical cost: £28,000–£50,000+.

Bespoke kitchen

Fully custom-designed and hand-built cabinetry, made to the exact dimensions and specification of your kitchen. Bespoke kitchens from specialist joiners typically start from around £15,000–£20,000 for units alone, before worktops, appliances, fitting and any building work.

Full layout or structural renovation

Any project that involves removing a wall, extending the kitchen, relocating the position of a sink, hob or drainage, or reconfiguring first-fix electrics and plumbing throughout adds building, plastering, and possibly structural engineering costs to the kitchen itself. Typical costs range from £30,000 to £60,000 or more, depending heavily on the scale of the structural work involved.

Kitchen Renovation Cost Breakdown

A kitchen renovation isn't one cost — it's a collection of separate trades and products that add up. Here's what each element typically contributes.

Kitchen Cabinets and Units

Cabinetry is usually the single biggest line item in a kitchen budget, often accounting for 30–40% of the total spend.

Cabinet type	Typical supply-only cost
Budget flat-pack (e.g. IKEA, Wickes, B&Q)	£1,500 – £3,500 for a typical 10–12 unit kitchen
Mid-range rigid (e.g. Howdens, Wren, Magnet)	£3,000 – £7,000
Premium bespoke or in-frame joinery	£8,000 – £25,000+

Flat-pack furniture ranges are supplied as panels intended for assembly by the customer or a professional; they are an excellent option for tighter budgets, as the structures are robust and the modular design simplifies installation. Pre-assembled (or "rigid") units are delivered fully built and are the preferred choice of most kitchen specialists in the UK. Custom-made furniture is made to precise dimensions and with maximum flexibility in design but is substantially more costly.

Worktops

Worktop cost varies enormously by material:

Worktop material	Approximate cost range (supplied and fitted)
Laminate	£300 – £900
Solid wood (oak, walnut)	£900 – £2,200
Engineered quartz	£1,800 – £4,500
Natural granite or marble	£2,000 – £5,500+

Appliances

Appliance tier	Typical cost
Budget integrated set (oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer)	£1,500 – £3,000
Mid-range integrated set	£3,000 – £6,000
Premium/branded integrated set	£6,000 – £15,000+

Appliances are always charged at the standard 20% VAT rate, even on projects that qualify for reduced VAT elsewhere (more on this below), so it's worth keeping this line separate when comparing quotes.

Kitchen Fitting and Labour

Kitchen fitting is priced either as a day rate or as a fixed price for the whole installation. As of 2026, UK kitchen fitters typically charge a day rate of £150–£300, with the full fitting labour for a standard kitchen coming to somewhere between £1,500 and £5,000, depending on size and complexity. A standard-sized kitchen installation usually takes a fitter (or small team) between 5 and 10 working days on site, longer if an island, bespoke units or stone worktops are involved.

Plumbing

If your sink, dishwasher or washing machine stay in the same position, plumbing costs are minimal — largely reconnection. Moving a sink, adding a second sink, or repositioning a hob supply typically adds £400–£1,500. Plumbers commonly charge £180–£300 per day, and any gas connection work (for a gas hob or range cooker) needs a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Electrical Work

New sockets, under-cabinet lighting, and appliance circuits are standard in most renovations. A full rewire of the kitchen circuit — common in older properties still running on an outdated consumer unit — typically costs £800–£2,000. Electricians generally charge £250–£350 per day, and any new circuit or consumer unit work should be certified to the current wiring regulations.

Flooring

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) has become the most popular kitchen flooring choice in the UK, thanks to its water resistance and realistic stone or wood finish. For a medium-sized kitchen (around 12m²), expect to pay roughly £500–£1,000 supplied and fitted. Porcelain or natural stone tiles cost more, both in materials (£20–£60+ per m²) and labour, and take longer to lay.

Tiling and Splashbacks

Wall tiling for splashbacks and surrounds typically costs £20–£60 per m² for materials, plus labour of around £150–£350 per day or £110 per m² for a specialist tiler, depending on the tile type and pattern complexity.

Painting and Decorating

Once the kitchen is fitted, making good the surrounding walls and ceiling — filling, sanding and repainting — typically adds £300–£800 for a standard kitchen, more if you're using specialist paint finishes or wallpaper.

Removal and Waste Disposal

Stripping out the old kitchen and disposing of it typically costs £200–£1,000, depending on whether asbestos checks are needed (common in properties built or renovated before 2000) and how much needs to go to a licensed waste facility.

How Much Does Kitchen Fitting Cost?

It's worth separating "kitchen fitting" (labour only) from the total renovation cost, because this is where quotes are easiest to compare like-for-like. In 2026, kitchen fitters typically charge:

• Day rate: £150–£300 per day
• Per-unit rate: roughly £70–£150 per cabinet, occasionally used for simpler, dry-fit jobs
• Fixed price for a full kitchen fit: £1,500–£5,000, covering unit installation, worktop fitting, and connecting appliances

Fitting costs alone don't usually include plumbing, electrics, tiling or flooring — these are typically quoted separately unless you're using a kitchen company that manages the whole project. Always check exactly which trades are included before comparing two quotes, since a "fitting only" quote from one company and a "full installation" quote from another can look wildly different for the same job.

How Kitchen Size Affects Renovation Cost

Kitchen size matters, but it isn't the only factor — a small kitchen finished to a high specification can easily cost more than a larger kitchen finished simply. That said, size does set a rough baseline, because it determines how many units, how much worktop and how much flooring you need.

One counterintuitive point: small kitchens often cost more per square metre than large ones. That's because plumbing, electrical work and labour are largely fixed costs regardless of room size — a plumber charges a similar day rate to connect a dishwasher in a compact galley kitchen as in a large open-plan space. Small kitchens simply have less scope to spread that fixed cost across more square metres.

How Much Does a Small Kitchen Renovation Cost?

A small kitchen (broadly under 8m², such as a galley layout) typically costs £5,000–£18,000 fully fitted, depending on finish level. Galley kitchens tend to sit at the lower end of this range, around £6,500–£12,000, since there's less wall run to fill with units and worktop. The advice for small kitchens is usually to spend more per unit on quality materials and clever storage, rather than spreading a modest budget thinly across a full renovation.

How Much Does a Medium Kitchen Renovation Cost?

A medium kitchen (roughly 10–15m²) typically costs £10,000–£25,000 for a mid-range renovation, and this is the size and budget bracket most UK households fall into. At this size you have room for a reasonable run of units, a full-height larder or pantry cabinet, and potentially a small breakfast bar, without triggering major structural costs.

How Much Does a Large Kitchen Renovation Cost?

A large kitchen (15m²+, including open-plan kitchen-diner layouts) typically costs £20,000–£45,000+. Costs rise here not just because of extra units and worktop, but because larger kitchens more often include an island, additional appliances (wine fridges, second ovens, boiling-water taps), extended lighting circuits, and sometimes structural work to create the open-plan space in the first place.

What Makes a Kitchen Renovation More Expensive?

Several factors push a kitchen renovation budget up beyond the baseline for its size and tier:

• Moving plumbing — repositioning a sink, dishwasher or hob supply away from existing pipework
• Moving electrical points — relocating sockets, extractor wiring, or the cooker circuit
• Changing the layout — even without removing a wall, reconfiguring where units sit adds design, plumbing and electrical work
• Removing walls or structural work — opening up a kitchen-diner is one of the biggest single cost drivers, and may require building regulations approval and a structural engineer's calculations for any load-bearing wall
• Adding a kitchen island — extra cabinetry, worktop, and often a dedicated electrical and/or plumbing supply run to the middle of the room
• Premium worktops — natural stone and large-format quartz slabs cost significantly more than laminate or wood
• Bespoke cabinetry — made-to-measure joinery costs more than standard modular units, both to build and to fit
• Premium appliances — branded ranges, integrated wine coolers, and built-in coffee machines add up quickly
• Flooring upgrades — natural stone or large-format porcelain costs more in materials and labour than LVT or standard tiles
• Underfloor heating — a popular addition, but one that adds both material and installation cost, plus potential floor build-up implications
• Lighting design — multiple lighting circuits (task, ambient, feature) mean more first-fix electrical work
• Unexpected repairs — older properties frequently reveal issues once units are stripped out: damp, outdated wiring, uneven floors, or asbestos-containing materials that need specialist removal

Does Keeping the Existing Kitchen Layout Save Money?

Yes, generally. Keeping your sink, hob, and major appliances in their current positions avoids the cost of moving plumbing and electrical supplies, which can otherwise add anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds depending on how far things need to move and what's involved in accessing the pipework or cabling.

This doesn't mean you're stuck with a poor layout — you can still upgrade units, worktops, and finishes substantially while keeping the "wet" services (water, waste and gas) where they are. If budget is tight, this is one of the most effective ways to get a genuinely new-feeling kitchen without paying for a full replumb and rewire.

Kitchen Renovation Cost by Material and Finish

Element	Budget	Mid-range	Premium
Cabinets	Flat-pack, melamine finish	Rigid units, painted or foil finish	Bespoke joinery, in-frame or hand-painted
Worktop	Laminate	Solid wood or budget composite stone	Natural granite/marble or premium quartz
Appliances	Budget integrated	Mid-range integrated	Premium branded, additional specialist appliances
Flooring	Vinyl sheet or budget LVT	Mid-range LVT or ceramic tile	Natural stone or large-format porcelain
Splashback	Painted wall/basic tile	Standard tiling	Glass, stone, or bespoke splashback

Mixing tiers is common and often sensible — many homeowners choose mid-range cabinets with a premium worktop, or budget flooring with mid-range units, to prioritise spend where it's most visible or most used.

Kitchen Renovation Cost in London vs Other Parts of the UK

Location has a real and measurable effect on kitchen renovation costs, mainly through labour rates rather than material prices — most kitchen suppliers charge broadly similar prices nationwide, but tradespeople's day rates vary significantly by region.

As a general guide, London and the South East typically run 15–35% above the UK national average for a comparable kitchen renovation, largely reflecting higher labour costs and, in some cases, higher costs of access (parking, congestion charging, building access in flats). Other major cities and the South of England tend to sit somewhat above the national average, while rural areas and parts of the North, Midlands and Scotland are often closer to or below it.

These are general directional patterns rather than fixed percentages, and the gap can narrow or widen depending on the specific trades and suppliers involved. The only reliable way to know the local cost is to get quotes from tradespeople actually working in your area.

How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?

A kitchen renovation has two separate timelines: the planning and ordering period, and the on-site work itself. Homeowners are often surprised that the on-site build is the shorter part.

• Planning and design: 2–4 weeks, covering measuring up, layout design and choosing your units, worktop and appliances
• Ordering and manufacture: 2–6 weeks for units, plus a further 1–2 weeks specifically for stone worktop templating and manufacture once units are fitted
• Preparation: 1–3 days for strip-out, first-fix electrics and plumbing
• Installation: 5–10 working days for a standard kitchen; 2–3 weeks for larger or more complex projects involving an island, bespoke units, or replumbing
• Finishing: A few additional days for tiling, flooring, decorating and snagging

Altogether, most homeowners should budget for a total project timeline of roughly 6–12 weeks from final decision to a finished kitchen, even though the disruptive, "no working kitchen" phase is usually closer to 1–3 weeks.

How to Create a Kitchen Renovation Budget

• Set a total ceiling first. Decide the absolute maximum you're prepared to spend before you start looking at units or worktops — it's much easier to hold a line than to claw back an overspend later.
• Add a contingency. Set aside 10–15% of your total budget for unexpected issues, particularly in older properties where problems often only become visible once the old kitchen is stripped out.
• List every element separately. Cabinets, worktop, appliances, fitting, plumbing, electrics, flooring, tiling, decorating, and removal — cost each one individually rather than working from a single lump-sum figure.
• Decide your must-haves versus nice-to-haves. Knowing in advance which elements you're willing to downgrade if the budget gets tight avoids difficult decisions mid-project.
• Get like-for-like quotes. Ask each tradesperson or company to quote against the same specification, so you're comparing equivalent work rather than different scopes.
• Confirm what's included in each quote. VAT, appliance connection, waste removal, and making good after the work are common areas where quotes differ without being obviously wrong.

How to Reduce Kitchen Renovation Costs

• Keep the existing layout where your plumbing and electrics already sit, avoiding the cost of moving supplies
• Reface or repaint existing cabinets instead of replacing them entirely, if the carcasses are structurally sound
• Choose a mid-range worktop material such as laminate or solid wood instead of natural stone, without compromising on unit quality
• Buy appliances separately rather than through a kitchen company's bundled package, and compare prices
• Get multiple independent quotes rather than accepting the first showroom price, particularly for fitting labour
• Phase the project if your budget is limited — for example, fitting units and worktop now, and upgrading flooring or a splashback later
• Avoid last-minute changes once work has started, since variations to an agreed scope are one of the most common causes of budget overruns

None of these should mean cutting corners on anything safety-related — always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas work and a qualified, ideally Part P registered, electrician for kitchen wiring, regardless of budget.

Should You Renovate or Replace Your Kitchen?

A full replacement (new units, appliances, worktop and finishes) makes sense when the existing units are outdated, the layout no longer suits how you use the space, or you're changing the room's structure. A lighter renovation or refresh — new doors, a new worktop, updated appliances — makes sense when the carcasses and layout are sound but the kitchen looks tired, or the appliances are ageing.

As a general rule, if you're planning to stay in the property for many years and the current layout genuinely doesn't work for you, a fuller renovation is usually worth the extra investment. If you're renovating primarily to sell, a well-executed mid-range update often gives a better return relative to spend than a top-of-the-range bespoke kitchen, since resale value gains tend to plateau above a certain specification.

How to Get Accurate Kitchen Renovation Quotes

To make sure quotes are genuinely comparable, ask each tradesperson or company to confirm, in writing:

• Whether the price is supply-only, labour-only, or supply-and-fit
• Which trades are included (plumbing, electrics, tiling, flooring, decorating) and which you need to arrange separately
• Whether VAT is included, and at what rate
• What happens if unexpected issues are found once the old kitchen is removed
• The expected start date and how long the installation will realistically take
• What's included in "making good" after the main work — filling, patching, and repainting around the new kitchen
• Payment schedule and what deposit, if any, is required upfront

Getting at least two or three quotes against the same written specification is the single most effective way to avoid comparing incompatible numbers.

Use a Kitchen Renovation Cost Calculator

Working out a realistic budget from scratch can be time-consuming, especially when trying to combine cabinet, worktop, appliance, and labour costs into one figure. HomeCostly's Kitchen Cost Calculator lets you enter your kitchen's approximate size, chosen finish tier, and any layout changes to get an initial planning estimate.

It's worth being clear about what a calculator like this can and can't do. An online estimate is a starting point for budgeting — it can't account for the specific condition of your property, the exact products you choose, or local labour rates in your area. Actual costs will always vary based on your property, location, materials, labour market, and the final specification you agree with your chosen tradespeople. Use it to sense-check your budget before you start requesting quotes, not as a substitute for getting one.

If you're planning wider work alongside the kitchen — a new floor throughout the ground floor, for example, or a broader renovation — HomeCostly's Home Renovation Cost Calculator and Flooring Cost Calculator can help you budget those elements too.

Kitchen Renovation Cost FAQs

What is the average cost of a kitchen renovation in the UK?

There isn't a single reliable "UK average" because renovation scope varies so widely, but most mid-range renovations — new units, worktop, and integrated appliances without structural work — fall somewhere between £12,000 and £25,000.

Does kitchen renovation cost include VAT?

Most tradesperson and kitchen company quotes include VAT at the standard rate of 20%. If your property has been unoccupied for two years or more before work starts, some elements of the work — including fitted kitchen furniture, classed by HMRC as a "building material" — may qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate, though standalone appliances remain at 20% regardless. If the property has been empty for 10 years or more, some renovation work may qualify for the zero rate. Evidence of the vacancy period (such as council tax records) is required, and rules can be detailed, so it's worth confirming your eligibility with HMRC guidance or an accountant before work starts, and making sure your builder applies the correct rate from the outset.

How much does it cost to renovate a small kitchen in the UK?

A small kitchen renovation, broadly under 8m², typically costs £5,000–£18,000 fully fitted, depending on the finish level and whether any plumbing or electrics need to move.

Is it cheaper to keep the same kitchen layout?

Generally yes. Keeping your sink, hob and appliances in their existing positions avoids the cost of moving plumbing and electrical supplies, which can add anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand pounds depending on the extent of the changes.

How much should I budget for kitchen fitting labour alone?

Kitchen fitting labour for a standard-sized kitchen typically costs £1,500–£5,000, on top of plumbing, electrical, tiling and flooring costs, which are usually quoted separately.

Do I need planning permission for a kitchen renovation?

Most kitchen renovations, including replacing units and appliances, don't require planning permission. However, removing a load-bearing wall requires building regulations approval and often a structural engineer's calculations, and any extension to create a larger kitchen may require planning permission depending on its size and your property's planning history. Always check with your local authority or a qualified professional before structural work begins.

How much more expensive is a kitchen renovation in London?

In London and the South East, the cost of a comparable kitchen renovation is generally 15% to 35% higher than the UK national average; this difference is primarily due to higher labour rates rather than material costs.

---

This guide provides approximate cost ranges for planning purposes, based on current UK trade pricing patterns as of 2026. Actual costs vary by property, location, specification and the tradespeople or company you choose. For an accurate figure, always obtain itemised quotes from two or three local, vetted professionals. For gas, electrical, plumbing and structural work, always use appropriately qualified and, where required, registered professionals (e.g. Gas Safe, NICEIC/Part P).

Frequently asked questions