DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
Kitchen fitting labour cost in the UK: what the fitter charges on its own
If you have bought the units and just need someone to fit them, the labour is its own line on the bill. Kitchen fitting can be priced as a day rate, a fixed job price, or split across a fitter, plumber and electrician. The real prices below come from actual prices so you can see what fitting alone tends to run to.
The quick version
- Fitting labour is separate from the units and is often quoted on its own once you supply the kitchen.
- A full fit usually pulls in more than one trade, so plumbing and electrics can sit outside the fitter's price.
- Labour attracts 20% VAT when your fitter is VAT registered, so ask whether the quote includes it.
- Removing and disposing of the old kitchen is real work and is not always in the headline figure.
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
Fitting time depends on how much has to happen, not just how many cupboards there are. A straight swap where the layout stays the same is quick. Once the sink moves, walls need making good, or the floor has to be levelled, the days add up. Complex worktops such as stone or solid wood often need a separate template and fit visit, which is another cost. The condition of the room matters too, because dodgy old wiring or plumbing has to be brought up to scratch first. And a full kitchen normally needs a plumber and a qualified electrician alongside the fitter, so what looks like one price can actually be three trades. The distance between buying the units and having them fitted and finished is where budgets slip.
How to pay less
- Have the room clear, the old kitchen stripped out and any rubbish gone before the fitter starts, so you are not paying trade rates for donkey work.
- Keep the layout the same to avoid paying for new plumbing and electrical runs.
- Ask for three written quotes that break out fitter, plumber and electrician separately so you can see each element.
- Book the trades in the right order so nobody is stood waiting, which can end up on your bill.
Common questions
Is kitchen fitting priced per day or per job?
Both are common. Some fitters give a day rate and estimate how many days the job needs, others quote a fixed price for the whole fit. A fixed price gives you more certainty, but make sure it lists exactly what is covered, including worktops, appliance connection and making good.
Does the fitting price include plumbing and electrics?
Often not. Many fitters handle the cabinets and worktops, then bring in a plumber and a qualified electrician for the sink, appliances and any wiring. Those trades may be inside the quote or billed separately, so confirm which before you sign anything.
Should I pay VAT on kitchen fitting labour?
If your fitter is VAT registered, yes, labour carries 20% VAT just like the materials. A sole trader below the threshold may not charge it. Either way, ask whether the number you have been quoted already includes VAT so you are comparing quotes fairly.