How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the UK? (2026)
Verified UK kitchen renovation ranges for budget, mid-range, and premium projects in 2026, with what's typically included, what's often missing from quotes, and how to tell whether your price is fair.
A UK kitchen renovation in 2026 costs between £4,500 for a small budget project and £50,000+ for a premium one. The mid-range, where most people sit, is £10,000–£22,000, confirmed across four independent UK cost-guide publishers.
Quick answer
A new kitchen in the UK in 2026 typically costs £4,500–£10,000 at the budget end (Howdens / Wickes / B&Q tier with laminate worktop and basic appliances), £10,000–£22,000 mid-range (Magnet / Wren tier with quartz worktop and integrated appliances), or £22,000–£50,000 premium (in-frame Shaker, granite or composite stone, NEFF / Miele appliances). Kitchen-fitter labour: £200–£300 per day.
How to read this guide#
Two kinds of figures appear below:
- Headline price ranges (the tier totals, fitter day rate, strip-out cost): cross-referenced against multiple UK cost-guide publishers. Sources listed at the bottom of the page.
- Practical guidance (regional uplifts, contingency advice, scope checklists, kitchen-specific red flags): drawn from standard UK construction industry practice. These are useful for context and decision-making but are not cross-referenced figure-by-figure.
Where we could not verify a specific number against published cost guides, we have either left it out or described the item qualitatively rather than publish a figure that does not trace to a source.
Headline ranges (verified)#
Tier ranges, cross-referenced UK 2026:
| Tier | Range |
|---|---|
| Budget | £4,500 – £10,000 |
| Mid-range | £10,000 – £22,000 |
| Premium | £22,000 – £50,000 |
Other verified figures:
- Kitchen fitter day rate: £200–£300 (standard UK rate, 2026)
- Strip-out and disposal of existing kitchen: £350–£500 as a separate line item
Bespoke handmade kitchens (deVOL, Plain English, Tom Howley, full custom joinery) sit above the premium tier and have no meaningful upper limit. We have not published a figure for this segment because we could not cross-reference one against multiple sources.
Practical guidance (industry standard)#
The remainder of this guide describes how UK kitchen quotes typically work in practice: what is normally included, what is often left out, and what the common red flags are. These are conventions used across the trade rather than figures from a specific cost guide.
What this price normally covers#
A complete-renovation quote in the UK should typically cover:
- Removal and disposal of the existing kitchen
- Carcasses, doors, drawers, handles, plinths, end-panels, cornice
- Worktop, including templating, edge finishing, and standard joins
- Sink, tap, and waste plumbing connection at the existing position
- Fitter labour for the standard install duration
- A workmanship guarantee from the fitter (usually 12 months, sometimes longer)
It often does not cover:
- Plastering or making good behind units once they come out
- Painting and decorating after the install
- Tiling or splashback materials and fitting
- Flooring
- Appliances (or only basic appliances are included)
- Building-control sign-off if any structural work is involved
- Skip hire beyond the initial strip-out
When comparing quotes, the easy mistake is comparing a £14,000 quote that includes appliances against a £12,000 quote that does not. Read the exclusions section before you compare totals.
Labour: how the fitter day rate translates to a total#
The fitter day rate of £200–£300 is the verified figure. Translating that into a total depends on the size and complexity of the kitchen. A typical mid-range install runs 5–8 days, putting fitter-only labour in the £1,000–£2,400 range. As a share of the headline total, labour is usually a moderate single-figure percentage of mid-tier kitchens; a quote where labour is more than half the total is unusual unless there is significant structural or first-fix work.
If labour appears too low to make sense, it has often been folded into marked-up unit or worktop lines, hiding the cost rather than removing it. Ask for it broken out.
Strip-out: what it does and does not cover#
The £350–£500 strip-out figure covers removing the existing units, worktop, sink, and basic appliances, plus skip hire. It does not cover:
- Asbestos handling if your property pre-dates 2000 and the strip uncovers it. An asbestos survey is a separate cost and licensed removal is separate again.
- Electrical disconnection. This should be done by a qualified electrician, not the kitchen fitter.
- Making good plaster, brickwork, or floor where units came off.
If your quote bundles strip-out into the headline figure, ask for it as a separate line so you can compare on like-for-like terms with other quotes.
Regional variation#
UK kitchen prices vary by region. The London uplift is publicly documented at roughly 15–25% above the national average, sometimes higher in inner London. Other regional adjustments below come from standard UK quantity-surveying practice and apply mainly to the labour and fitting portion (materials are nationally priced):
- Inner London: ~15–25% above the national average
- Outer London / M25: ~10–20% above
- South-East: ~5–10% above
- Midlands and East: close to the national average
- North of England, Wales: ~5–10% below
- Northern Ireland, rural Scotland: ~8–12% below
Treat these as rough adjustments rather than precise multipliers; actual variation depends on the contractor's location and how busy the local trade is.
Red flags in kitchen quotes specifically#
Beyond the standard quote red flags (covered separately), some are kitchen-specific:
No allowance for worktop templating delay. Stone worktops (granite, quartz, composite) are templated only after the carcasses are fitted, then fabricated off-site, then installed. This creates a multi-day gap during which the kitchen has no worktop and the sink cannot be plumbed in. A quote that promises a 5-day install for a stone-worktop kitchen has not factored this in.
Missing waste connections for new appliance positions. Moving the sink, dishwasher, or washing machine requires extending the waste run. Some quotes assume the appliances stay in their current position. If yours is moving and the quote does not call out waste plumbing, it is likely missing.
Vague "appliance allowance" without named models. "£3,000 appliance allowance" can mean three Smeg appliances or six AEG ones. Insist on named models, or at minimum brand and grade, before signing.
No mention of worktop joins. L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens normally need at least one worktop join, which is an additional fabrication and install line. A quote with no join allowance is usually missing it rather than including it for free.
No mention of hob extraction or recirculation. If your hob is moving from an external wall to an island, recirculation hoods are often the only viable option, and they cost more than externally ducted ones. If the quote does not specify, ask.
Comparing your quote#
The fastest way to know if a kitchen quote is fair is to compare each line item against the ranges above. The easier way (and the reason this site exists) is to paste your quote into the quote checker and get every line analysed against current UK rates, scope-checked against what's typically missing, and the contractor verified against Companies House.
The £14 cost is below the level at which most homeowners would deliberate on a £15,000 kitchen quote. The information you get back closes the gap between "this number looks roughly right" and "every line of this number checks out."
Got a quote you want checked?
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the average cost of a kitchen renovation in the UK in 2026?
- A mid-range kitchen renovation costs £10,000–£22,000 in the UK in 2026, confirmed across MyJobQuote, Homebuilding & Renovating, HomeOwners Alliance, and Checkatrade. Budget kitchens fall around £4,500–£10,000; premium projects start at £22,000 and run to £50,000.
- How much should kitchen fitting labour cost?
- A kitchen fitter charges £200–£300 per day at standard UK rates in 2026 (MyJobQuote, 2026). London typically runs 15–25% higher. A typical fitting takes 3–8 days depending on size and complexity, putting labour-only costs in the £600–£2,400 range. Quotes that show labour over 50% of the total are unusual unless the project involves significant structural or plumbing work.
- What is not usually included in a kitchen quote?
- Common scope gaps in UK kitchen quotes: making good plaster behind units after installation, painting and decorating after fitting, electrical works (extra sockets, lighting circuits, induction-hob supply), flooring, splashback materials and fitting, appliance delivery and unboxing, removal of old appliances, building-control sign-off if structural work is involved, and waste disposal beyond the strip-out skip. Always read the "exclusions" section of the quote carefully.
- Should I include a contingency budget?
- Yes. 10–15% on top of the headline price is standard for a kitchen renovation; up to 20% for older properties (Victorian terraces, anything pre-1930) where wiring, plumbing, or wall condition is unknown until cabinets come out. Contingency money you do not spend goes into the appliance or worktop upgrade you wanted; contingency you needed and did not have becomes a difficult conversation mid-project.
- How much deposit should I pay?
- No more than 10–15% of the contract value. A higher deposit is a red flag. The remaining balance should be staged against work milestones: typically a payment when units arrive on site, another at first-fix, and the final payment on completion (snagging signed off). Pay the deposit by credit card if at all possible. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act covers card-paid deposits between £100 and £30,000 if the contractor fails to deliver.
- Does the price include appliances?
- It depends entirely on the quote; there is no UK standard. Budget tier (£4,500–£10,000) usually includes 3–4 basic integrated appliances. Mid tier often includes mid-grade integrated appliances. Premium tier may quote with or without appliances depending on whether the supplier is also providing them. Always check whether the quoted price covers built-in oven, hob, hood, dishwasher, fridge, and freezer specifically.
- How long does a kitchen renovation take?
- A standard like-for-like replacement takes 1–2 weeks on site. A renovation involving wall changes, new electrics, or worktop templating runs 3–4 weeks. Add 2–4 weeks of lead time before work starts for unit ordering and worktop manufacture (granite and quartz are templated after carcasses are fitted, then fabricated, then installed, with a 7–14 day gap during which the kitchen has no worktop).