DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
How much should you spend on a new kitchen in the UK?
There is no single right answer to what a kitchen should cost, only what makes sense for your home and how long you plan to stay. Overspend for the street and you will not get it back; underspend and it can look mean in an otherwise smart house. This guide helps you set a sensible budget and see where the money goes, with the real prices below.
The quick version
- A common rule of thumb ties kitchen spend to your home's value, so a modest house rarely justifies a top-end kitchen you will not recoup.
- The money splits roughly between units, worktops, appliances and fitting, and it is easy to blow the budget on one of those at the expense of the rest.
- If you are selling soon, a clean mid-range kitchen usually shows better value than a lavish one; if you are staying, spend on what you use daily.
- The real prices below span budget flat-pack through to high-end fitted kitchens so you can place your own plans on the scale.
What people actually paid
Real prices, in people's own words
- £2,000“His bill was around £2k”
- £2,000“His bill was around £2k”
- £3,300“I recently paid £3300 for rip out and install.”
- £3,300“I recently paid £3300 for rip out and install”
- £4,500“£3,439 kitchen fitter + £625 electrician + £500 plasterer. So that's about £4,500.”
- £10,000“a Wickes flat pack kitchen which cost just under £4000 totalled just under £10,000 all in”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
Kitchens cover an enormous range because almost every element is a choice. Units alone run from flat-pack chipboard to bespoke solid timber, and worktops from laminate up to stone or quartz that can cost more than the cupboards. Appliances are a budget of their own, with a basic oven and hob a world away from an integrated fridge, wine cooler and range. Then there is the layout: moving the sink, gas or waste means plumbing and electrical work, and any electrics must meet Part P and be signed off by a registered electrician. The size of the room, how much you are ripping out, and whether walls come down or flooring and lighting change all decide where you land within that wide span.
How to pay less
- Set your budget against your home's value first, then divide it across units, worktops, appliances and fitting so no single item runs away with the lot.
- Keep the existing layout where you can, since leaving the sink and appliances roughly where they are avoids costly plumbing and electrical moves.
- Get three quotes and consider buying the units from one supplier while using an independent fitter, rather than a single all-in package from a national chain that quotes above local trades.
- Pay deposits by credit card so Section 75 protects you if a supplier or fitter goes under before the job is finished.
Common questions
How much should I spend on a kitchen relative to my house value?
A widely used guide is somewhere between about five and ten per cent of the property's value, though it is a rule of thumb rather than a law. The point is proportion: a very expensive kitchen in a modest home will not add its cost back at resale, while a cheap kitchen in a high-value house can undersell the property.
Where does the money go in a new kitchen?
Broadly across four buckets: the units and cabinetry, the worktops, the appliances, and the labour to fit it all, plus any building, plumbing and electrical work. It is easy to pour the budget into showy worktops or appliances and skimp on fitting, but a good fit is what makes a kitchen last and look right.
Is it worth spending more if I am selling?
Usually not on the top-end extras. Buyers respond to a clean, neutral, well-fitted kitchen more than to expensive gadgets they did not choose. If a sale is on the horizon, a tidy mid-range kitchen tends to give better value than a lavish one you will effectively leave behind.