Updated 26 October 2026 · SK Home Improvements
A kitchen renovation replaces the units, worktops and usually the appliances, flooring and lighting in your kitchen. A fitted kitchen typically costs £8,000–£22,000 including VAT. The size of the room, the quality of the units and worktops, and whether the layout, plumbing or walls change are the main cost drivers.
How much does a new kitchen cost?
A new fitted kitchen typically costs £8,000–£22,000 including VAT, covering the units, worktops, fitting and the trades needed to finish the room. The lower end suits a small kitchen with budget units, laminate worktops and the same layout. The upper end reflects larger rooms, made-to-measure or premium units, stone or quartz worktops, built-in appliances and layout changes that move plumbing, gas or electrics.
Because kitchens vary so much, a guide range only takes you so far. Our guide-price tool narrows it down, and after a free site survey we confirm a fixed price for the agreed specification in writing.
Where does the money go in a kitchen renovation?
In a typical kitchen renovation, the units take the largest share of the budget, followed by fitting and trades, worktops and appliances. The split below is typical and varies with your choices.
| Item | Typical share of budget | What changes the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Units, doors and handles | 30–40% | Rigid or flat-pack carcasses, door finish, drawers and storage fittings |
| Fitting, plumbing and electrics | 20–30% | Layout changes, new circuits, extraction ducting |
| Worktops | 10–20% | Laminate, solid wood, quartz, granite or composite |
| Appliances | 10–20% | Built-in or freestanding, number and specification |
| Flooring, plastering, tiling and decoration | 10–15% | Floor area, wall condition, splashback choice |
What makes a kitchen cost more?
The biggest jumps in cost come from changing the layout and choosing premium materials. Moving the sink, hob or cooker means new pipework, waste runs, gas supply or electrical circuits, and moving an island into the middle of the room needs services under the floor.
- Worktops: stone and quartz are templated after the units are fitted and cost much more than laminate.
- Extraction: a ducted extractor that vents outside is more effective than a recirculating hood, but needs a route through the wall or ceiling.
- Electrics: new circuits for ovens, induction hobs or extra sockets must be installed and certified by a suitably qualified electrician.
- Gas: any work on gas pipes or appliances must be carried out by a registered gas engineer.
- Walls: opening the kitchen into a dining room may mean removing a load-bearing wall and fitting a steel beam.
- Floors: levelling an uneven floor or adding underfloor heating adds cost and time.
Which kitchen layout suits your room?
The right layout for your kitchen is the one that fits the room's shape and keeps the sink, hob and fridge within easy reach of each other. The common layouts are:
- Galley: two parallel runs of units. Efficient in narrow rooms, with a clear walkway of around 1.2 m between runs.
- L-shaped: units along two adjoining walls, leaving space for a table. Suits most medium-sized rooms.
- U-shaped: units on three walls, giving the most worktop and storage in a compact space.
- Island or peninsula: a freestanding or attached block that adds worktop and seating. An island usually needs at least 1 m of clear space around it to work comfortably.
Plan for enough worktop either side of the hob and sink, and think about where bins, small appliances and tall units go before the design is fixed.
How long does it take to fit a new kitchen?
A straightforward kitchen replacement typically takes one to three weeks on site, and longer if walls are removed, the room is replastered or the layout changes significantly. A typical order of work is:
- Strip out the old kitchen and protect the rest of the house.
- First fix: new pipework, wiring, ducting and any wall changes.
- Plastering and making good, then flooring if it runs under the units.
- Fit units, then template stone or quartz worktops.
- Fit worktops, splashbacks, sink, hob and appliances.
- Second fix electrics and plumbing, testing, then decoration.
Stone worktops usually take one to two weeks from templating to fitting, which is often the longest wait in the programme.
Do you need permission to fit a new kitchen?
Replacing a kitchen in the same layout does not usually need planning permission or Building Regulations approval, but some parts of the work are controlled. New electrical circuits, work on gas, new drainage connections and removing structural walls all fall under Building Regulations in some form, and are certified or approved as part of the job. Extraction is also covered: a kitchen should have mechanical extraction or another acceptable form of ventilation.
Listed buildings are the exception for planning, because listed building consent can be needed for internal changes. Our Building Regulations guide explains how approval works in each UK nation.
Can you live at home while a kitchen is fitted?
Yes, most people stay at home during a kitchen renovation, though you will be without a working kitchen for some or all of the time. Setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere helps: a microwave, kettle, toaster, fridge and a table, ideally near a sink in a utility room or bathroom.
Water, gas and electricity are usually off only for short periods while connections are made, and we tell you in advance. Dust sheets, sealed doorways and daily tidying keep the rest of the house usable, but expect some dust on the days walls are cut for cables or plastered.
How can you save money on a new kitchen?
The most effective way to save money is to keep the existing layout, so plumbing, gas and drainage stay where they are. Other savings that make a real difference:
- Choose rigid carcasses in standard sizes and spend on the doors and worktops you see.
- Use laminate or solid wood worktops instead of stone, or stone only on an island.
- Reuse appliances that are in good condition.
- Replace only doors, worktops and handles if the carcasses are sound.
- Decide everything before work starts, because changes mid-job cost more.
What should a kitchen quote include?
A good kitchen quote sets out exactly what is supplied, what is fitted and which trades are included, so you can compare like with like. Check that it covers strip-out and disposal, plumbing, electrics with certification, plastering, tiling, flooring, appliance fitting, worktop templating and decoration, and that VAT is included.
Our written quotes follow a free site survey and list the agreed specification and any exclusions. Read more on our kitchens page, or compare guide figures for related work on the prices page.
Related services
- Kitchens: guide £8,000–£22,000 inc VAT
- Wall removal and steel beams: guide £3,000–£8,000 inc VAT
- Flooring: guide £1,200–£4,000 inc VAT
Figures in this guide are typical UK ranges including VAT where it applies. They are not quotes. Rules on planning and building control differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and change over time, so we check what applies to your property before quoting.