The short answer
A new kitchen typically costs £5,000–£10,000 for a budget fit, £10,000–£20,000 mid-range, and £20,000–£40,000+ at the high end in 2026 — all-in for units, worktops, appliances and fitting. Fitting labour alone is usually £3,000–£6,000. The main variables are unit quality, worktop material, appliances and how much the layout changes. See the labour cost guide and worktops compared for the detail behind these figures.
A kitchen is one of the most significant single purchases most UK homeowners make, and the range of prices quoted — from a few thousand pounds to well over thirty — can make it hard to know what is reasonable. This guide sets out realistic 2026 all-in ranges for budget, mid-range and luxury kitchens, explains what each tier buys, and flags the scenarios that push costs up so there are no surprises in a quote.
New kitchen costs at a glance
- Budget kitchen (all-in) £5,000–£10,000
- Mid-range kitchen (all-in) £10,000–£20,000
- High-end / luxury (all-in) £20,000–£40,000+
- Fitting labour alone £3,000–£6,000
- Typical timescale 1–3 weeks
- Layout change / knock-through Adds £ones-to-tens of thousands
What a new kitchen actually includes
An “all-in” kitchen price covers four broad areas, and quotes vary because each can be specified up or down. The first is the units, or cabinets — the carcasses, doors, drawers and worktop framework. The second is the worktops, where the material choice alone can swing the price by thousands. The third is appliances: oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and sometimes a wine cooler or boiling-water tap. The fourth is fitting labour and the associated trades — the fitter who installs the units, plus an electrician, a plumber, often a plasterer and a tiler. On top of these sit flooring, lighting, splashbacks, sinks and taps, and removal of the old kitchen. A budget kitchen keeps every line modest; a luxury kitchen upgrades all of them at once, which is why the totals separate so sharply.
| Tier | All-in cost (units + worktops + appliances + fitting) | Typical profile |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £5,000–£10,000 | Flat-pack or entry rigid units, laminate worktop, mid-range freestanding appliances |
| Mid-range | £10,000–£20,000 | Rigid units, soft-close, quartz or solid-wood worktop, integrated appliances |
| High-end / luxury | £20,000–£40,000+ | Bespoke or premium units, stone worktops, top-tier appliances, island, structural work |
Where the money goes: a typical mid-range breakdown
For a mid-range kitchen of around £15,000, a rough split helps you sanity-check a quote. Units and worktops together usually account for roughly 40–50% of the total; appliances another 15–25% depending on whether they are integrated; fitting labour and trades 25–35%; and the remainder covers flooring, tiling, lighting, plumbing fixtures and removal. The proportions shift as you move up: at the luxury end, worktops and appliances take a larger share, while at the budget end labour can be the single biggest line because the materials are kept cheap. See the units guide and appliances cost guide for how each line is built up.
What pushes costs up
Several scenarios push a kitchen above the typical range for its tier:
- Changing the layout — moving the sink, hob or units to new positions means new plumbing, electrics and sometimes a new gas run, which adds labour and trade costs. A like-for-like replacement is always cheaper.
- Going open-plan — removing a wall to create a kitchen-diner usually needs building control, often a steel beam and structural engineer’s calculations. See open-plan considerations.
- Stone worktops — quartz and granite are templated and fitted by specialists; a large run or an island worktop adds materially to the bill. See worktops compared.
- Premium appliances — a single high-end range cooker or integrated column fridge can cost more than a whole budget appliance package.
- Adding an island — an island needs floor space and often power, water or extraction routed under the floor. See our island cost guide.
Regulations that affect the cost
Some costs are not optional. Electrical work in a kitchen — new circuits, sockets or a cooker connection — is notifiable under Building Regulations Part P, so it must be done by a registered electrician who can self-certify it, or signed off by building control. If you have a gas hob, the gas connection must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. New or altered drainage and extraction also fall under Building Regulations. These requirements are why a proper quote includes named trades rather than a single “fitter” line. See our Building Regulations guide for what is notifiable and who certifies it. A planning application is usually not needed for an internal refit — see do I need planning permission.
Is a new kitchen worth it?
A new kitchen is consistently one of the highest-return home improvements, both for resale value and for daily use. That said, over-specifying beyond the ceiling for your street rarely returns its full cost if you are fitting purely to sell — a £35,000 kitchen in a modest terrace will not add £35,000 to the asking price. Matching the kitchen tier to the property and your own length of stay is the sensible approach. See our guide on whether a new kitchen adds value. This is general information; costs vary with your specific home, the specification you choose and the quotes you receive, and notifiable electrical and gas work must be carried out by appropriately registered tradespeople.
Compare kitchen quotes
Prices vary significantly between specialists for the same kitchen and job. Use our service to compare quotes from kitchen design and fitting specialists in your area.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a new kitchen fitted in the UK?
A mid-range kitchen typically costs £10,000–£20,000 all-in for units, worktops, appliances and fitting in 2026. Budget kitchens run £5,000–£10,000 and high-end or luxury kitchens £20,000–£40,000 or more. The range reflects unit quality, worktop material, appliances and how much the layout changes.
How much of the cost is labour?
Fitting labour alone is typically £3,000–£6,000, plus separate trades for electrics, plumbing, plastering and tiling. On a mid-range kitchen, labour and trades together usually account for roughly 25–35% of the total, though on a budget kitchen the share can be higher because the materials are kept cheap.
Why are some kitchen quotes so much higher than others?
Usually because they cover different specifications or scopes. One quote may include quartz worktops, integrated appliances and a layout change; another may assume laminate, freestanding appliances and a like-for-like fit. Itemise each quote and compare on the same units, worktop and appliance package before deciding.
Do I need building control or planning permission for a new kitchen?
A straightforward internal refit usually does not need planning permission. Electrical work is notifiable under Building Regulations Part P and must be certified by a registered electrician or building control. Gas hob connections need a Gas Safe registered engineer, and removing a wall for open-plan needs building control and often a structural engineer.
Sources & further reading
- KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association) — consumer guidance on planning and budgeting a kitchen
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Document P — electrical safety in dwellings
- Gas Safe Register — rules for gas hob and appliance connections
- TrustMark — finding and checking government-endorsed tradespeople
This is general information, not advice for your specific property or installation. Costs, timescales and outcomes vary with your home, specification and chosen specialist. Notifiable electrical work must be carried out by a registered electrician, and gas work by a Gas Safe registered engineer.