So how much does a new kitchen cost on average in the UK? The honest average for a full kitchen replacement — units, worktops, appliances, fitting — is £10,000–£15,000. But “average” hides a range from £5,000 budget refreshes to £30,000+ luxury fit-outs.

Where you land depends on the units, the worktop, the appliances, and — biggest variable of all — how much building work is involved. Here’s the full breakdown so you can budget realistically.

How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost on Average in the UK? Three Tiers

• Budget (£5,000–£8,000): flat-pack or value-range units (IKEA Metod, Howdens budget ranges), laminate worktops, keeping existing layout and appliances where possible. Perfectly functional and can look great.
• Mid-range (£10,000–£18,000): quality rigid-built units, quartz or solid wood worktops, mid-range integrated appliances, maybe minor layout tweaks. This is where most UK kitchens land.
• Premium (£20,000–£35,000+): bespoke or high-end German units, stone worktops, top-brand appliances, structural changes, underfloor heating, designer lighting. The sky’s the limit.

As a rule of thumb: units ~35%, appliances ~20%, worktops ~15%, fitting/labour ~25%, extras ~5%. Labour is the bit people underestimate — a good fitter is worth every penny.

Where the Money Actually Goes

Units: £2,000–£8,000. Flat-pack saves money but takes longer to fit (and fitting time costs money). Rigid pre-built units cost more upfront, less in labour.

Worktops: laminate £500–£1,200; solid wood £1,000–£2,500; quartz £2,000–£4,500; granite £2,500–£5,000+. Worktop choice is the single biggest visible cost lever.

Appliances: £1,500–£5,000. Integrated costs more than freestanding. A Rangemaster-style cooker alone can be £2,000+.

Fitting: £2,500–£6,000 for a straightforward replacement; much more with plumbing/electrical moves or structural work. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas hobs and a qualified electrician for new circuits.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About

• Plastering and making good: £500–£1,500. Old kitchens hide horrors behind the units.
• Flooring: often needs replacing once units move — £800–£2,000.
• Electrical upgrades: new circuits for ovens/hobs, extra sockets — £400–£1,000.
• Plastering the ceiling / new lighting: £300–£800.
• Eating out / takeaways: budget for 2–4 weeks without a kitchen. It adds up frighteningly fast.
• Skip hire and waste removal: £200–£400.

Add a 10–15% contingency on top of everything. Every kitchen project finds something unexpected — dodgy wiring, a leaking pipe, a wall that’s not straight.

How to Cut the Cost Without Cutting Corners

• Keep the layout. Moving plumbing and gas points is where costs explode. Same footprint = dramatically cheaper.
• Keep appliances if they work. A 3-year-old dishwasher doesn’t need replacing because the kitchen’s changing.
• Choose laminate worktops. Modern laminates look remarkably like stone at a fifth of the price.
• Do the rip-out yourself. Removing the old kitchen is satisfying demolition work — save £300–£500 in labour.
• Paint the walls yourself after fitting. Easy saving of £300–£600.
• Shop ex-display and end-of-line: showroom kitchens sell for 50–70% off. Check eBay and local showrooms.
• Get 3+ itemised quotes and check fitters on Which? Trusted Traders.

How Long Does It Take?

A straightforward like-for-like replacement: 2–3 weeks. With layout changes and building work: 4–8 weeks. Add ordering lead times — bespoke units can take 8–12 weeks to manufacture, so order well before your fitter’s start date.

Plan the temporary kitchen: microwave, slow cooker, air fryer and a washing-up station in the utility room or bathroom. Paper plates for two weeks are not a moral failing. And agree a payment schedule tied to milestones — never pay the full balance upfront.

Kitchen Planning Mistakes to Avoid

• Not planning the work triangle. Sink, hob, fridge should form a comfortable triangle — too spread out and you’re hiking; too cramped and you’re colliding. Measure it on the plan.
• Forgetting plug sockets. Kitchens need far more sockets than people plan — kettle, toaster, microwave, phone chargers, plus spares. Adding them later costs £80+ each. Over-provide now.
• Choosing style over storage. That minimalist handleless look is gorgeous until you can’t find anything. Plan storage for how you actually cook, not the showroom.
• Ignoring lighting layers. One central ceiling light creates shadows exactly where you chop. Under-cabinet task lighting is essential, not optional.
• Measuring once. Appliances have standard sizes until they don’t — American fridge-freezers, range cookers, integrated dishwashers all have quirks. Measure the actual appliances, not the brochure.
• Starting demolition before everything’s ordered. Bespoke units take 8–12 weeks. A kitchen ripped out with no units arriving is how families eat takeaway for two months.

Keep in Mind

Kitchen trends cycle every 7–10 years — today’s must-have shaker navy will look dated eventually, just as yesterday’s gloss cream does now. Choose what you love, not what’s fashionable, because you’ll live with it far longer than the trend lasts.

• Visit showrooms at quiet times — weekday mornings get you undivided attention from designers. Weekend visits get you queues.
• Ask to see a 5-year-old installation — showroom kitchens are always perfect. A lived-in one shows how materials actually age.
• Read the appliance reviews, not just the kitchen reviews — a beautiful kitchen with a terrible oven is a daily disappointment.

One Last Thing

The layout decision dwarfs every other cost choice. Keeping plumbing, gas and electrics where they are saves £1,500–3,000+ versus moving them — more than the difference between budget and mid-range units. Fall in love with your existing footprint; spend the saving on worktops and appliances you’ll touch daily.

• Always keep 10–15% contingency — every kitchen finds something unexpected behind the old units.
• Order everything before demolition day — bespoke units take 8–12 weeks.

Final Thought

If there’s one number to remember, it’s this: most UK kitchens land between £10,000 and £15,000 all-in, and the happiest renovators are the ones who budgeted honestly, kept the layout, and kept 15% back for surprises. Kitchens are the hardest-working room in the house — spend where you’ll feel it daily (worktops, appliances, lighting), save where you won’t (cabinet carcasses nobody sees), and you’ll love the result for 15 years.

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Budget Honestly, Then Add 15%

A new kitchen in the UK costs £5,000–£8,000 on a tight budget, £10,000–£18,000 for most mid-range projects, and £20,000+ for premium. Keep the layout, choose worktops wisely, and always keep a contingency. Get itemised quotes, check your fitter’s credentials, and order early — then enjoy the best room in the house.