Having a new kitchen fitted is a big investment. But a great kitchen can make a house a home and turn your kitchen from a room you cook meals into a room for family and friends to socialise in. Better still, a new kitchen almost always adds real value to your property.
A quick internet search for ‘new kitchen’ will bring up various companies all vying for your attention by offering deals on new kitchen fit outs.
And do you want to go the common route of pre-fabricated cabinets and trimmings or pay more for customisable, bespoke designs?
Either way, the cost of a new kitchen can seem significant at first, as even the most budget options will set you back a few thousand pounds.
The size, layout, and desired appearance of your kitchen are all factors which will cause the price to vary, and if you’re looking at designer brands and appliances, it’ll likely cost a bit more.
On average, the cost of a new kitchen in the UK will sit around the £8,000 mark, including stripping out the old one, materials, labour, and additional expenses.
Click To Compare QuotesIf you’re looking for local tradesmen to fit your kitchen, consider using the Tradesmen Prices form at the bottom of this page for 3-4 quotes from reliable and local kitchen fitters. You can compare these with quotes you’ve already received in order to make sure you choose the company or tradesperson best suited to the requirements of your new kitchen renovation.
New Kitchen Cost
Renovating your existing kitchen takes a lot of time and effort and the labour charges associated with the job will reflect this.
When you hire a kitchen fitter, they may not be qualified to carry out wiring or plumbing work and so they will subcontract or work with an associated electrician and plumber. This will increase labour costs as there will be additional profit margins for each tradesman. However, because the kitchen fitting company will have a long-standing relationship with these tradesmen, it’s likely to be cheaper than hiring each worker individually.
A sole-trader-run, independent kitchen fitting business may quote you upwards of £2,000 for labour alone, but the price breakdown in the example below will explain why.
Click To Compare QuotesNew Kitchen Cost Example
Project Spec: Average sized kitchen, 2 weeks’ work completed by local kitchen fitter including: stripping and disposing of existing kitchen, removal of existing flooring, plastering, rerouting wires and pipes, tiling floor, installing kitchen units, appliances, and worktops, and brick tiling and painting.
Workers needed and wages per day:
- Kitchen fitter – £120 – £180
- Plumber – around £120
- Electrician – around £200
- Plasterer with assistant – £200 to £200
In this case, the plasterer and plumber may only be needed for three days out of the two weeks, meaning their total wages come to around £550. The electrician may be needed at various stages throughout the project with their wage totalling a sum of around £900. The kitchen fitter himself will likely take home around £1,000+ for two weeks’ work.
Add onto this the typical average of £4,000+ for your chosen materials and units, and you’ll see the price start to move towards the £8,000 national average we mentioned earlier.
This example is based on prices quoted by a local kitchen fitter outside of the capital so if you live in the South, expect labour costs to be higher. You may be able to save money by stripping your existing kitchen yourself as many kitchen fitters will quote based on installation only.
Quotes
Get Quotes from Kitchen Experts in your Area by clicking the button below:
Click To Compare QuotesNew Kitchen Cost FAQ
Why would someone want a new kitchen?
A new kitchen will modernise one of the most important areas of your home and potentially add value to your property.
As long as you budget effectively, the range of options you can select when designing your new kitchen can be seemingly endless. You can choose to go pre-fabricated, custom, or a mix of the two, and the broad variety of materials available allow you to put your personal touch onto the project.
Additionally, choosing to work with a local kitchen fitter to complete your renovation project means you may benefit from competitive pricing, without compromising on high standard work. You can use the Tradesmen Prices form at the top of this page to access 3-4 kitchen fitting quotes tailored to you, provided by trusted contractors in your area.
Click To Compare QuotesWhat are the disadvantages of a new kitchen?
The main disadvantage of a new kitchen is, of course, the cost. It’s a significant investment that can easily get out of hand unless you manage your budget effectively.
You may also find that by fitting an entire new kitchen, you’re spending money you don’t need to. Sometimes, just replacing certain features of your existing kitchen can have a transformative effect.
Are there alternatives to a new kitchen?
If your kitchen is in need of renovation but your budget simply won’t stretch as far as a full strip and re-installation, you may wish to consider replacing parts of your existing kitchen with their newer counterparts.
The price of labour for replacing worktops in your kitchen can range between £200 and £450, not including the worktops themselves. If you have a small kitchen, you may be able to find discount materials as cut-offs at a builders’ supply merchants. It’s worth asking potential kitchen fitters if they can find this sort of thing out for you because, if you order through them, you may get a reduction in price.
Sometimes, changing the cabinet doors in your kitchen is all it takes to get the place looking modern and refreshed. Labour for this can range between £100 and £300, depending on who you hire, and as before, it may be possible to find second hand or ex-display materials to fit your kitchen with at a lower price.
Updating the floor of a kitchen – especially if the existing flooring is old linoleum or tiles – can have a significant impact on its appearance. You may be surprised to find that the price of hard-wearing, wood or tile effect linoleum suitable for kitchen flooring can cost from as little as £25 per square metre!
What are the main benefits of a new kitchen?
Not only will a new kitchen modernise your home, but it will provide an opportunity to deal with any old and faulty wiring or plumbing problems you may be experiencing.
A certified plumber or electrician may be able to replumb or rewire your kitchen to fit newer, more efficient appliances while ensuring safety within the room. Since 2008, it is a legal requirement to have a Residual Current Device (RCD) in your kitchen. Having one installed as part of your kitchen renovation project will save costs later down the line.
Who can I buy a new kitchen from?
Most homeowners in the UK choose pre-fabricated kitchen designs when doing up their kitchens. These are, of course, cheaper than having bespoke cabinets made and they are also more readily available.
Having a budget before you start kitchen shopping is important as there are hundreds of companies out there offering tempting additions to your new kitchen that may push up the end price to more than you initially realised.
Using the Tradesmen Prices form at the top of this page will get you in touch with 3-4 local kitchen fitters offering you competitive estimates. Using a local kitchen fitter will save you money more often than not, as they can negotiate unit prices at a tradesperson’s rate and you don’t have to pay the costly overheads that come with being part of a larger company.
Click To Compare QuotesShould my kitchen fitter be a member of anything (trade body, government registration scheme, etc?)
A kitchen fitter does not require any qualifications to carry out their work, but it’s likely you’ll want to check their history and experience levels. If they’re working for a company, check to see if they’re British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) registered.
Additionally, a kitchen fitter will often subcontract or work with an associated plumber and electrician. The plumber should be Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) accredited, and the electrician may be NICEIC certified. You can check the statuses of your potential plumbers and electricians by entering their details into the relevant websites.
Before I get a new kitchen fitted, what should I ask a potential installer?
Having a kitchen fitted is a big decision and it will cause disruption for a little while. So it’s only natural that you’ll want your kitchen fitter to ease any concerns you may have regarding the work taking place.
You may wish to ask them the following questions:
- How long will the work take?
- Will I need to vacate the premises at any point?
- Can I see your cost/wage estimate sheets?
- Do you or your subcontracted associates have the relevant certifications to carry out this work?
- How long have you been in the industry?
A genuine kitchen fitter should be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and they may be interested in suggesting improvements to your design to save you both money, should you ask them to.
Click To Compare QuotesHow long does it take to install a new kitchen?
Depending on the extent of your kitchen renovation project, the time taken to complete it will vary.
As a rule, for an average sized kitchen requiring stripping out, rewiring and replumbing, installation, and redecoration, you should allow around two weeks for the work to be completed.
Though many of the individual jobs involved in fitting a kitchen – namely, stripping out the old units, rewiring, and installing new cabinets – may take no more than two or three days each, you may need to consider time for plastering as this can take up to a week to dry.
Of course, an extremely large kitchen renovation could take much longer depending on what is being done to it. Are you considering getting rid of the old flooring? Will a painter and decorator be adding the final touches? Are the kitchen units pre-fabricated, or will you be hiring an on-site carpenter to construct bespoke cabinets?
Not only do you have to take into account the length of time these jobs will take but also the schedules of the tradespeople. If the contractors you choose are particularly busy, you may be waiting a day or two in between stages of work.
Why should I get new kitchen installation quotes from Tradesmen Prices?
Because kitchen prices can vary so widely, you may find yourself confused with the broad range of quotes and estimates given to you by various kitchen fitters. It’s best to get as many quotes as possible so you can compare them against each other whilst providing an incentive to each fitter to bring their prices down to secure your custom.
Knowing whether you’re being overquoted is a complication many people want to avoid especially if they have no prior knowledge of how much a kitchen should cost.
Industry leading retailers may quote up to £4,000 to fit a kitchen without plastering, flooring, or tiles. An independent fitter would be able to quote between £1,500 and £2,000 for the same plus plastering, tiling, and flooring dependant on the needs of the customer.
Using the Tradesmen Prices form above will give you 3-4 competitive quotes from local kitchen fitters, which you can choose to pursue or compare with estimates you’ve already received. When we look for your quotes, we make sure that the tradespeople we work with are thoroughly vetted, and that whoever they subcontract is qualified to carry out their relevant jobs.
Click To Compare Quotes
catherine norman says
Hi I am having 12 kitchen cupboards replaced, all carcasses remain the same and im being charged 600 pounds plus VAT. Is this reasonable. Literally they are taking the old doors off and rplacing them with new. The workman are from the same company i am buying the doors from, which by the way am rplacing because the quality was so bad. Appreciate your guidance on this. Thanks
Raymondo says
I have being a kitchen fitter for 35 years, if the cabinet doors only are being replaced i would charge £300.00 + vat Max.
jean slater says
How much should a kitchen fitter charge to assemble and fit 8 unit work tops and sink no electrics