Cost calculator

Kitchen renovation cost calculator

Kitchen quotations are the hardest of all to compare, because a showroom price and a builder's price cover completely different things. One includes units and installation; the other may exclude appliances, worktop templating, tiling, flooring and making good.

Kitchen floor area

Floor area of the kitchen. Unit run length matters more, but area is a reliable proxy.

14 m²

Region

Broad trade availability keeps day rates near the national average.

Estimated range, ex VAT

£14,000 – £38,500

Labour (typical): £10,500
Materials (typical): £15,500

Guidance only. A real quotation depends on site conditions, specification and access — which is exactly what an independent review of your own quote will tell you.

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What affects the cost

Carcass and door quality

Rigid 18mm carcasses with soft-close hardware cost noticeably more than flat-pack, and the difference shows within three years.

Worktop material

Laminate from around £60/m, quartz £350–£600/m, sintered stone and granite higher again, plus templating and cut-outs.

Moving services

Relocating the sink, hob or boiler means new waste runs, gas work and consumer unit changes — commonly £1,200–£3,000.

Appliance level

Integrated appliances need housings and precise cut-outs; a premium range cooker can cost more than the units around it.

Structural changes

Removing a wall to open up the kitchen brings a steel, building control and a new ceiling and floor junction.

Regional pricing differences

Materials cost roughly the same everywhere in the UK; labour does not. Use the region selector above to apply a local index — London and the South East typically run 15–30% above the national average, while the North East, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire sit below it.

Labour vs materials

Roughly 40% of this type of work is labour and 60% materials. Roughly 40% of a kitchen budget is trade labour — electrician, plumber, plasterer, tiler and fitter — with units, worktops and appliances making up the rest.

Common hidden costs

Removal and disposal of the old kitchen, including asbestos-containing floor tiles in some pre-1985 homes.
Plastering and levelling after strip-out — old walls are rarely straight enough for tall units.
Electrical upgrades: a modern kitchen often forces a consumer unit change and RCD protection to meet regs.
Worktop templating and a second visit — fitting is almost never a single day.

How to save money

Keep the sink and hob roughly where they are; drainage moves cost more than any door upgrade.
Spend on worktops and handles, save on carcasses — nobody sees an inside panel.
Buy appliances yourself if the quote applies a supply margin, but check who then carries the warranty and fitting risk.
Ask for the quote to be split into supply, fit and trades so you can compare like with like.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a new kitchen in the UK?

A small fitted kitchen typically runs £8,000–£14,000 all in; a mid-sized family kitchen £15,000–£30,000; a large bespoke kitchen well beyond that.

Should I use a kitchen company or a builder?

Kitchen companies control the units and fitting; builders control the trades and making good. Whichever you choose, get the other side priced in writing so nothing falls between them.

What percentage of a kitchen budget is labour?

Around 35–45% once you include electrician, plumber, plasterer, tiler and fitter.

How long does a kitchen fit take?

Typically 2–4 weeks including strip-out, first fix, plastering, fitting, worktop templating and second fix.

Independent

We do not sell leads, take commission or work with contractors.

Evidence-linked

Every finding points back to the exact page and wording in your quote.

Private

Your quotation is used to produce your report and nothing else.