Kitchen Renovation Cost (2026 UK Guide)
A kitchen renovation typically costs £8,000 to £30,000+ in 2026 depending on the size and spec, with budget makeovers starting around £3,000 to £6,000 and luxury kitchens exceeding £20,000. The average mid-range kitchen renovation lands around £12,000 to £15,000 supplied and fitted. Your final cost depends on the cabinets, worktops, appliances and how much you change. The figures here are typical 2026 UK ranges to help you budget; for a firm price, compare quotes from a few kitchen fitters and renovation builders.
We’re an independent directory, not a kitchen retailer. We don’t sell kitchens or push one brand — we compare your options and route you to multiple vetted fitters so you can choose what suits your home and budget.
Kitchen renovation cost at a glance (2026)
Here’s a price-at-a-glance summary of kitchen renovation costs by quality tier in the UK as of 2026. Figures are supplied and fitted, including units, worktops, appliances and labour.
| Tier | Units / cabinets | Worktops | Appliances | Fitting / labour | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Flatpack | Laminate | Basic / reused | £1,500 – £3,000 | £3,000 – £6,000 |
| Mid-range | Rigid units | Quartz / solid wood | Mid-spec branded | £2,500 – £4,000 | £8,000 – £18,000 |
| Luxury | Bespoke | Granite / natural stone | Premium / integrated | £4,000 – £6,000+ | £20,000 – £50,000+ |
Typical 2026 UK ranges, supplied and fitted. Prices are guide figures, not guaranteed quotes — get a free quote for your kitchen.
A useful distinction is “supply only” vs “supply and fit”. Supply-only is the units, worktops and appliances delivered flat; supply-and-fit adds the labour to install everything. Fitting labour alone typically runs £2,000 to £5,000 depending on size and complexity. To turn these figures into a firm number, compare quotes from kitchen fitters near you.
Kitchen renovation cost by quality tier
The biggest factor in your kitchen renovation cost is the quality tier you choose, because it sets the price of nearly every component at once.
Budget kitchen renovation cost
A budget renovation keeps things simple: flatpack carcasses, laminate worktops, and often reusing appliances. It’s ideal for a refresh, a rental, or a first home.
- Typical total: £3,000 to £6,000
- Best for: cosmetic refresh, keeping the existing layout
You can go even cheaper with a cosmetic makeover — replacing just doors, handles and worktops while keeping the carcasses — sometimes for under £5,000.
Mid-range kitchen renovation cost
The most common choice: rigid (pre-built) units, a quartz or solid-wood worktop, and mid-spec branded appliances. It balances quality and cost and suits most family homes.
- Typical total: £8,000 to £18,000
- Best for: a long-lasting, good-quality family kitchen
As a citable headline: the average mid-range kitchen renovation costs around £12,000 to £15,000 in 2026, supplied and fitted.
Luxury / high-end kitchen renovation cost
Bespoke or premium-brand cabinetry, natural-stone worktops, integrated premium appliances, and often structural changes or an island.
- Typical total: £20,000 to £50,000+
- Best for: high-value homes, open-plan living, statement kitchens
At this level, costs are driven by bespoke joinery, stone worktops and premium appliances as much as by the size of the room.
Kitchen renovation cost breakdown
One of the most useful things to understand is where the money actually goes. As a rough guide for a typical mid-range kitchen, the spend splits roughly like this:
| Component | Approx. share of budget |
|---|---|
| Units / cabinets | ~30% |
| Appliances | ~20% |
| Fitting / labour | ~20% |
| Worktops | ~15% |
| Electrics, plumbing, flooring, tiling, plastering, removal | ~15% |
Typical 2026 mid-range split. Bespoke cabinetry or stone worktops shift the balance toward those lines. Get a quote for your breakdown.
This breakdown is genuinely useful for budgeting: cabinets and appliances together are about half the cost, so that’s where the biggest savings (or splurges) are found. Labour — the kitchen fitter’s price — is typically £2,000 to £5,000 and is a separate line from the units and appliances, which is why a clear quote always itemises supply and fit separately.
Kitchen renovation cost by size
Size affects how many units, how much worktop, and how long the fit takes. Worked examples at a mid-range spec:
| Kitchen size | Description | Typical total (mid-range) |
|---|---|---|
| Small / galley | Compact, single run or galley | £6,000 – £12,000 |
| Medium | Standard family kitchen | £10,000 – £18,000 |
| Large / open-plan | Island, open-plan, more units | £15,000 – £30,000+ |
Typical 2026 UK ranges, supplied and fitted. Get a quote for your exact kitchen.
A small kitchen renovation can still hit mid-range totals if you choose premium worktops or appliances — tier matters as much as size.
What affects kitchen renovation price
Two kitchens of the same size can carry very different quotes. The main cost drivers are:
- Cabinet quality — flatpack is cheapest, rigid (pre-assembled) units cost more, and bespoke cabinetry is the most expensive.
- Worktop material — laminate is budget-friendly; quartz and granite cost considerably more; natural stone tops the range.
- Moving plumbing or gas — relocating the sink, hob or appliances means new pipework and adds cost (and may need a Gas Safe engineer).
- Structural changes — removing a wall for open-plan living adds a steel beam, building control and significant cost.
- Appliance spec — integrated premium appliances cost far more than freestanding budget ones.
- Finish level — tiling, flooring, lighting and decoration all scale with the spec you choose.
- Removal and disposal — stripping out the old kitchen and skip hire is a real, if smaller, cost.
Kitchen renovation cost by region (2026)
Where you live affects what you pay, mainly through local fitting and labour rates. London and the South East run roughly 15 to 25% above the national average, while the North, the Midlands, Wales and Scotland sit below it. Our own demand data backs this up: kitchen-fitting advertiser costs in London are notably higher than in Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham or Cardiff, reflecting higher labour rates and overheads in the capital.
| City / region | Cost vs national average | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London | Highest (15 – 25% above) | Premium fitting and overheads |
| Bristol & South West | Around / slightly above average | Mid-to-upper range |
| Birmingham | Around average | Mid-range Midlands |
| Manchester | Around average | Mid-range North West |
| Leeds | Below average | Lower fitting rates |
| Sheffield | Below average | Among the lower-cost cities |
| Glasgow | Below average | Lower fitting rates |
| Nottingham | Below average | Lower fitting rates |
| Cardiff | Below average | Lower fitting rates |
Directional 2026 guide based on regional labour costs, not fixed quotes. Get free local quotes for your area.
The practical takeaway: if you’re in London or the South East, comparing three or more quotes matters even more, because the spread between fitters is wider. Wherever you are, comparing local kitchen fitters is the surest way to find a fair price.
Does a kitchen renovation add value?
A well-chosen kitchen renovation can add value and is consistently one of the strongest selling points of a home — buyers often judge a property by its kitchen. A fresh, well-fitted kitchen can make a home easier to sell and support a higher asking price.
The caveat is over-spending: fitting a £40,000 luxury kitchen into a modest home rarely pays back in full. Match the kitchen to the home and the local market, and you’re more likely to see a return. If your project involves enlarging the room, see our kitchen extension costs guide for the building side of the budget.
How to save on a kitchen renovation
A few sensible moves can bring your kitchen renovation cost down without compromising the result:
- Keep the layout — leaving the sink, hob and appliances where they are avoids costly plumbing and gas moves.
- Mix high and low — splurge on the worktop (the thing you see and touch most) and save on cabinets, or vice versa.
- Consider a makeover — replacing doors, handles and worktops while keeping sound carcasses can transform a kitchen for under £5,000.
- Reuse appliances — keep appliances that still work well rather than replacing everything at once.
- Compare 3 or more quotes — prices for the same kitchen vary widely between fitters, so always get at least three.
We don’t sell kitchens, so we have no reason to steer you toward the most expensive option — our job is to help you compare and choose.
How to get free kitchen quotes
The figures in this guide are typical 2026 ranges to help you plan. For a price you can rely on, you need quotes for your specific kitchen from vetted fitters.
Here’s how to compare well:
- Get at least three quotes so you can spot a fair price and an outlier.
- Separate supply and fit — make sure each quote itemises units, worktops, appliances and labour, so you can compare like with like.
- Check insurance and reviews — use fitters who are insured and reviewed by other homeowners.
- Confirm what’s included — removal, electrics, plumbing, tiling, flooring and making good should all be listed.
- Ask about Gas Safe and Part P — any gas work needs a Gas Safe engineer, and notifiable electrical work needs a qualified electrician.
Through Trusted Tradesmen Quotes, you can request free, no-obligation quotes from kitchen fitters and renovation builders near you in minutes. Because we’re independent, we connect you with multiple fitters and every brand — not a single retailer’s product.
You can also find a trusted tradesman for any other job, or browse our other home improvement cost guides — including house extension cost and loft conversion cost.
Get free quotes from kitchen fitters near you and compare your kitchen renovation cost today.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in 2026?
A new kitchen typically costs £8,000 to £30,000+ in 2026. Budget renovations start around £3,000 to £6,000, mid-range projects run £8,000 to £18,000, and luxury kitchens exceed £20,000. Size, cabinet quality, worktops and appliances drive the price. The best way to get an accurate figure is to compare a few local quotes.
What is the average cost of a kitchen renovation in the UK?
In 2026 the average mid-range kitchen renovation is roughly £12,000 to £15,000 supplied and fitted, including units, worktops, appliances and labour. Budget projects come in lower and luxury kitchens considerably higher.
How much does it cost to fit a kitchen (labour only)?
Kitchen fitting labour typically costs £2,000 to £5,000 in 2026, depending on the size and complexity of the job. That’s separate from the cost of the units and appliances — which is why a good quote always itemises supply and fit.
How can I renovate a kitchen on a budget?
Keep the existing layout to avoid moving plumbing and gas, choose flatpack units or just replace the doors and worktops, and reuse appliances that still work well. A cosmetic makeover along these lines can cost under £5,000 while transforming the look of the room.
Does a new kitchen add value to a house?
A well-chosen kitchen renovation can add value and is one of the strongest selling points for buyers. However, over-spending beyond your area’s ceiling price rarely pays back in full — match the kitchen to the home and the local market for the best return.