How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost? | An In-Depth Guide
When starting to plan for a new kitchen, the question I get asked probably more than any other is: how much does a new kitchen cost?
It’s a question that doesn’t really have a set answer. The honest response is that it can cost as much or as little as you like. It all depends on what you want to achieve and what you want to be included in your new kitchen.
I know that’s probably not a very useful answer and is quite an obvious thing to say, but it’s the truth. I wanted to tell you this upfront before we start to dive into exactly what these costs are and start breaking everything down so I can help you get a more realistic idea.
How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
According to a Houzz study, the average overall amount spent on a new kitchen is £11,500, with that amount increasing or decreasing slightly depending on the size of the room.
What Are The Costs For A New Kitchen?
When talking about how much a kitchen costs, I like to break it down into a few sections so you can see where your money is going and how much you can expect to pay for each.
Use the links below to quickly jump to the relevant sections:
I’ve created the table below to give a quick idea of prices you might expect for each section.
Quick price guide:
Now, let’s get into the details!
1. Kitchen Cabinet – How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
The cost of your kitchen cabinets can vary hugely depending on several factors but can be anywhere in the range of £2k – £80k.
That being said, you would have to buy quite a few of the most expensive branded cabinets to be reaching the £80k mark. Likewise, it would most likely be a small kitchen with budget cabinets to only spend around the £2k point.
There are a number of things that can affect the cost of your kitchen cabinets. Understanding what they are, what the differences are and if there are any potential ways to save money can be very useful knowledge.
Flat-Packed vs. Rigid Kitchen Cabinets
This is how your cabinets arrive when they are picked up or delivered and can make a big difference to the initial cost. Flat-packed cabinets will always be cheaper to purchase but – you guessed it – you have to assemble these yourself.
This self-assembly can cost you time and/or money, so it’s important to weigh up the cost/benefit of having cabinets flat-packed. Some companies only supply the cabinets flat-packed, so you have no choice.
Conversely, some companies only supply cabinets as rigid. The technical term for the opposite of flat-packed. Rigid cabinets mean that they have already been constructed in the factory and will arrive fully built with the doors and drawers already fixed in place, ready to be fitted in your kitchen.
Having cabinets supplied as rigid (or constructed) will add to the overall cost of them, but can save you time and money when it comes to fitting them. Again, weigh up the pros and cons for your particular situation and budget.
Thickness And Construction Of Kitchen Cabinets
The thickness and type of materials used to construct the cabinets also play a part in the price due to the effects it will have on their quality and longevity.
On the lower end, you may be looking at 15mm thick boards made from MDF (medium-density fiberboard) with a rather thin melamine layer that acts to protect against moisture, which can cause damage.
A cabinet with this construction will cost much less, but may not hold up to very much day-to-day use and you could be looking to replace it in a year or two.
In the middle range, and what most good brands or independent kitchen showrooms offer, is an 18/19mm board, usually made from HDF (high-density fiberboard) and a thicker melamine layer to protect the board.
Now I know a few
At the top end of the market, you could be looking at 18-23mm solid wood, handmade cabinets. Cabinets constructed in this way can be extremely strong and last a lifetime if treated properly. H
Bespoke Sized Kitchen Cabinets
Most cabinets are supplied in a series of standard sizes. Such as 300mm, 450mm, or 600mm wide. Depending on the supplier of the cabinets, there will be a wider or smaller choice of these sizes available. This goes for the heights of tower and wall cabinets as well.
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Most of the time you can usually make these standard sizes work for your space. It may mean that you have a rather large filler (a piece of finished material that goes between the last cabinet and wall to fill dead space) at the end because it doesn’t work out precisely, but it uses the sizes available to you.
Using the standard sized cabinets (especially the most common sizes, such as 600mm wide) will save you money. These are often more cost-effective to produce and are therefore more cost-effective to buy.
Where you start to add cost is when you want bespoke sizes, if this is available for your chosen cabinet, to fit a particular space.
Usually, anytime you make a cabinet a bespoke size, it can add anywhere from 30-100% of the cost of that cabinet (or more). This amount will depend on the company and style of cabinet and door that is being made bespoke.
So if you want to be as cost-effective as possible, stick to the standard sizes.
Type Of Kitchen Cabinet Door
The type of door is probably the biggest factor that will affect the overall cost of your cabinets. There are many different styles of door available and with each style, there are many different qualities on the market.
As a general rule, a thinner (15-18mm thick) door that with a simple melamine wrap will be much cheaper than an in-frame solid wood painted shaker door.
The material and construction method of the door will have a direct impact on the cost.
However, you may be able to get a timber painted door from one supplier that costs less than the basic matt slab melamine wrapped door from another. Simply because of the material and construction methods used or the brand and quality associated with it. As with most products, you pay more for branded items.
A lower cost door may also end up peeling or wearing easier than a higher quality (and more expensive) counterpart.
Kitchen Cabinet Runners And Hinges
The quality of the drawer runners and door hinges on a cabinet are very important, as these are the mechanisms that will get used again and again, every single day. The make of these mechanisms and the quality associated will impact the cost of the overall cabinet.
Brands such as Blum and Grass (available worldwide) are very good, reputable manufacturers and mechanisms made by them will last a very long time. – Often they will come with a 25-year guarantee as well.
Lesser known brands, generic or own/unbranded mechanisms can start to wear and break down after time. On the lower end as well, you may not be getting soft close hinges (a must-have if you have small children) or drawer runners, or you will have to pay extra to have them.
Most of the independent showrooms and brands all have soft close hinges as standard in their cabinets, another reason why they may cost more.
Kitchen Cabinet Storage Solutions
Another factor that can affect the price of your cabinets is whether they include any storage solutions, and if so, what make they are.
Storage solutions are things like the metal wirework baskets that pull out of a cabinet or the ‘le-mans’ corner solutions that pull out of your corner base cabinets.
As with your hinges and runners, the manufacturer of the storage solution will impact the cost and the quality. It goes without saying really that the more storage solutions /storage mechanisms you have, the more expensive your cabinets will be.
2. Kitchen Worktop – How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
The next chunk of your new kitchen budget we are going to look into is your worktop/countertop. Depending on your budget and what you want this can be a relatively small or quite hefty purchase.
The Type Of Kitchen Worktop
The number one factor deciding the cost of your worktop is the type of worktop you pick. The material, construction method and availability of your choice all impact the overall cost.
On the lower end, you have your laminate worktops, which are available in almost all kitchen shops or online and can cost as little as £100 depending on what you pick and how much of it you need.
Moving up the scale you have timber worktops, which are usually a little more than laminate.
Then you start to work up to your granite, quartz, acrylic and up to compact surfaces (porcelain). For these types of worktop, you could be looking at paying anywhere from £2k – £10k or beyond if you have a lot of worktop space and pick the most expensive thing going.
Top tip: Most granite, quartz and porcelain worktops come in slabs 3m long. So if you don’t want any joint lines or have to pay for two slabs keep an eye on your kitchen design and make sure your run or island isn’t longer than 3m. If it is, chances are you will need a joint and which may require another slab, which can make the price jump up.
Features Cut Into The Worktop
The next cost consideration for your worktop is if you want any features in the worktop itself.
Now, these are usually only available for solid worktops, so not laminate, and consist of features such as
All of these extra features will cost more money. Every time you make a cut out for a sink, hob or pop-up socket you will have to pay more, as it’s more work for the fabricator.
So consider these things if you are trying to save money.
Worktop Installation
Lastly, but ultimately tied into the type of worktop you have, is the installation method required to fit the worktop.
Laminate and timber worktops can be fitted by a carpenter or builder and don’t require super-specialist equipment, making them quite cost-effective to install.
However, anything like granite or quartz will require a specialist to not only template and measure out what is needed to be fabricated, but also to install the worktop itself. These services will cost more, on top of what is already a more expensive product.
If you would like more information on the types of worktop available, have a read of my other post for a more detailed look. – What is the Best Kitchen Worktop for Your Budget?
3. Kitchen Appliances – How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
The next section is about the appliances needed/wanted for your new kitchen. This cost is again one that can be relatively low or very high depending on what you want.
Do You Need New Appliances?
The first consideration is how many appliances you will actually need. Are you reusing any existing appliances in your new kitchen, or buying everything you need brand new?
Along with this is what I would perhaps consider additional appliances, ones that aren’t the usual necessary ones for a kitchen, but are extras, just because.
These are appliances such as a warming drawer or a built-in coffee machine, double ovens, or separate fridge and freezer, things of that nature.
It may seem obvious but the number of appliances you want will have an impact on the cost of your project, so think hard about what you need versus what you want, and if you’re willing to spend the extra.
Appliance Brand And Specifications
The manufacturer (brand) and the specification (how fancy) of an appliance will greatly dictate the price you will pay.
Brands such as Miele and Sub Zero are very well made but also come with a larger price tag. More budget brands will cost you a fraction of the price.
Are you particularly brand loyal or do you need to have the most up to date, all singing and dancing appliance?
Again, this comes down to your budget and what you need out of your appliances. You can get all the regular appliances (including a sink and tap) needed for a new kitchen for around £1.5k on the budget end, or you could spend £50k upwards if you want the very best of the best.
4. Kitchen Fitting – How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
The cost of fitting a kitchen can vary somewhat, although perhaps not quite as dramatically as the other sections we’ve talked about. However, it’s still something to consider and it’s good to know what options you have.
Cost To Remove Your Old Kitchen
Before you can have that lovely new kitchen, you have to get rid of the existing one. You could be paying a builder to do this or it may be part of your contract with a kitchen showroom. Although not all kitchen showroom installations include removing the old kitchen. It’s a cost that’s quite easily overlooked, so don’t forget about it.
If you want to save a bit of money and are at least a little DIY handy, then you could do this yourself. Hire a skip or van to dispose of the old kitchen, or try and sell /reuse items elsewhere. Just be mindful of any electrics and plumbing, and if in doubt, leave it.
Fitting The Kitchen – Showroom or Local Tradesperson
There are normally two directions to take when having your kitchen fitted, and this could be decided by where you bought everything from and if they even offer an installation service.
The first and usually more cost-effective way is to hire a local tradesperson to carry out the kitchen fit. This could be a builder and their team, or individual tradespeople you have selected for the various tasks at hand. Fitting the cabinets, sorting the plumbing, fixing electrics, etc.
Hiring a tradesperson can usually work out more cost-effective than going with the in-house fitting team at a kitchen showroom. However, there is more risk involved when not using the in-house team.
The benefits of going with the showroom’s fitters are that they know the product very well and if anything goes wrong, or is damaged during the installation, it is their responsibility. If you have hired a third-party, it’s then up to you and them as to where the blame and cost lies.
What’s Included In The Fitting Price?
Make sure it’s very clear what the price you are paying to have your kitchen fitted includes, and more importantly, what it doesn’t include. Many kitchen showrooms offer what is called a ‘dry fit‘ when it comes to fitting a kitchen.
Usually, this means that they are only fitting the cabinets and worktop and are not doing any electrical connections, gas or plumbing work. If this is the case, then you will need to hire separate tradespeople to finish the job.
Always check what your price includes to avoid any confusion and upset later on.
5. Additional Building Work – How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
The last factor to consider, and one that isn’t linked to the kitchen itself but still plays a role in the overall cost of a project, is the building work involved.
Obviously, this can vary hugely depending on the project and not all of the below will apply to everyone.
As such, I won’t go into too much detail but I think it’s important to highlight some of the main areas building work can come into a project and where they can impact the cost.
- Architect – If you’re having an extension or planning on major works, you will need the expertise of an architect to help with the design, planning application and build of the project. This can be a large cost, but ultimately a necessary one.
- Demolition – I touched on this already above, but removing or demolishing the existing kitchen is often an additional cost.
- Steelwork – Depending on the project, steel beams are often required to support new and existing structures. These supports can come at quite a high cost.
- Windows/doors – New windows and doors are a regular feature with new kitchens or extensions. You may have to factor in the cost of these when working out your budget.
- Flooring – A new floor is also a regular feature and the cost can vary depending on what material you choose and how difficult it is to install.
- Plumbing/electrics/plastering – You may need to hire separate tradespeople for all of these tasks depending on how you choose to fit your new kitchen, with costs varying considerably depending on what needs to be done. Having new electrics installed may highlight other areas that need improvement, such as a new fuse board to comply with regulations, which will add to your costs.
- Decorating – Usually, the last piece of the puzzle, once the dust has settled. You may want to hire a professional decorator to come in and finish off those little details.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that make up and contribute to the cost of a new kitchen, as well as many ways to save money along the way by making certain choices at each stage.
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Why Invest In A New Kitchen?
There can be a few reasons, personal or financial, why you would spend money on a new kitchen.
In the same Houzz study we looked at in the beginning, they identify the main reasons why people start a new kitchen renovation.
There are a few reasons and some I feel overlap slightly, so I have divided them into four sections.
Adding Value To The Property
In a report from the Nationwide Building Society (UK), it’s estimated that a new kitchen will improve the value of your property by around 6%.
This makes it particularly important that the price bracket of your kitchen matches the price bracket of your home if you’re looking to get a good return on your investment.
If you’re looking to build the value of your home, there’s no point investing £20,000 in a fancy new kitchen if your property is worth £200,000 – you just won’t get your money back.
Equally, if your house is worth £700,000 or more, but you scrimp on the cost of renovations, you risk dragging the price of your property down.
Making The Property Your Own
Many people these days are choosing to stay where they live and invest in their property, rather than move. Committing to a property for the long-term means you often want to make your mark and stamp your particular style on the property.
With the kitchen being the hub of the home, it’s often the room that people want to make their own the most.
Family Circumstance Change
One of the most common scenarios I see with this one is with new families.
Often the goal is to create a bigger, more open-plan kitchen with a social feel to cater to a family lifestyle. A kitchen island with breakfast bar seating is very popular in achieving that open social feel.
Old Kitchen Falling Apart Or Not Safe
As with most things in life, a kitchen can slowly fall apart making it frustrating and impractical to use, not to mention unsafe.
Whether someone has just purchased an old property and it needs a new kitchen, or you’ve lived with the same kitchen for 20 years and it’s finally kicked the bucket. Replacing an old kitchen can be a popular reason for a renovation.
Are There Ways To Save Money On A New Kitchen?
There are so many factors that go into the cost of a new kitchen that answering the
However, because there are so many factors that contribute to the cost, this also means that there are lots of ways you can save money when buying a new kitchen, as every choice you make more often than not has varying cost options.
If you would like to know more about how you can save money on a new kitchen, have a read of my post 12 Ways to Actually Save Money on a New Kitchen
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Author
Michael is a kitchen designer from the UK. He's been designing and project managing new kitchen installations for over 10 years. Before that, he was an electrician and part of a team that fitted kitchens. He created Kitchinsider in early 2019 to help give people advice when it comes to getting a new kitchen.
