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Project guide

How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen in the UK?

A kitchen renovation is several jobs at once: units and worktops, fitting, plumbing and electrics, then the walls, floor and finishes. This guide sets out the typical budget bands, what moves a job up or down, and how to price the materials you can buy yourself.

Updated Based on manufacturer guidance, sources below

The short answer

Published UK cost guides in 2026 put a budget kitchen at roughly £5,000 to £10,000 supplied and fitted, a mid-range kitchen at roughly £10,000 to £20,000, and premium or bespoke kitchens above that. Fitting labour on its own is often quoted at £2,000 to £6,000 for an average family kitchen. These are broad ranges, not quotes: size, region, specification and layout changes all move the figure.

Price ranges on this page are rounded from published UK cost guides (see Sources) and were checked in October 2026. They include VAT, vary by region (London and the South East are usually higher) and are not quotes. For live materials prices, use the calculator, and get at least three written quotes for labour.

The formula

  • Total budget = units and worktops + appliances + fitting labour + trades (plumbing, electrics, gas) + finishes (tiles, flooring, paint) + contingency
  • Contingency = 10 to 15% of the total for anything found once the old kitchen is out
  • Splashback tiles (m²) = width x tiled height - areas not tiled, plus 10% for cuts

Worked example

A like-for-like refit of a medium kitchen, same layout, mid-range units:

  • Units, worktops and appliances: the largest share, usually well over half the total
  • Fitting: one fitter for one to two weeks, plus a plumber and an electrician for connections
  • Finishes you can price yourself: a 2 x 0.6m splashback is 1.2 m², so 2 m² of tiles, 1 bag of adhesive and 1 bag of grout
  • Add 10 to 15% contingency on top of the quotes

Work it out for your job

Change the measurements and the quantities update straight away.

For example, behind a cooker hood splashback panel.
Wall area to tile
1.20 m²
Tiles
33 at 200 x 200mm
Adhesive
3.3 kg
Grout
0.34 kg

Your list

  • 2m² of tiles including 10% (buy whole boxes)
  • 1Flexible tile adhesive, 20kg bags
  • 1Tile grout, 5kg bags
  • 12mm cross spacers, packs of 500
  • 1Silicone sealant, 310ml
Price the splashback materials

Opens SmartBuild with your measurements filled in. Every item is priced from supplier product feeds where we have them, ranked by price.

Materials checklist

  • Wall tiles for the splashbackBought by the box: divide the m² by the coverage on the box and round up.
  • Tile adhesive and groutCement-based adhesive and grout, or ready-mixed adhesive for a very small area.
  • Sanitary siliconeAlong the worktop edge and around the sink, instead of grout.
  • Floor coveringTiles, click vinyl or laminate, laid before or after the units depending on the fitter.
  • Kitchen and bathroom emulsionA washable finish for the walls and ceiling after the fit.
  • Plaster or plasterboardTo make good the walls once the old units and tiles are off.

You'll also need

  • A registered electrician for new circuits or moved sockets
  • A Gas Safe registered engineer for any gas hob or cooker work
  • Skip or waste removal for the old kitchen
  • Dust sheets and floor protection while the trades are in

Step by step

  1. Set the scopeDecide whether the layout stays the same. Moving the sink, cooker or walls adds plumbing, electrical and possibly structural work.
  2. Measure and planMeasure the room, the runs of units and the wall areas to be tiled or painted. Note windows, doors and boxed-in pipes.
  3. Get written quotesAsk for at least three itemised quotes that say what is and is not included: removal, making good, connections and waste.
  4. Price the finishesUse the calculators for tiles, flooring, paint and plaster so you know what the materials should cost before the quotes arrive.
  5. Add contingencyHold back 10 to 15% for surprises such as damp, uneven walls or old wiring.

Tips from the manufacturers

  • Keeping the same layout is the single biggest way to control cost: the plumbing, waste and gas stay where they are.
  • Compare quotes line by line. One quote can look cheaper only because it leaves out removal, plastering or the connections.
  • Order the tiles and flooring early, from the same batch, and keep a box spare for repairs.
  • New electrical circuits in a kitchen must be done by a registered electrician or notified to building control, and gas work by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Budgeting for the units only and forgetting fitting, trades, finishes and waste.
  • Not allowing any contingency, then finding the walls need replastering once the old units are off.
  • Tiling a splashback before the worktop is fitted and level.
  • Treating a single online figure as a quote. Prices vary widely by region and specification.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK?

Published UK cost guides put a budget kitchen at roughly £5,000 to £10,000 supplied and fitted, mid-range at roughly £10,000 to £20,000, and premium or bespoke above that. These are rounded ranges, not quotes.

How much is labour to fit a kitchen?

Fitting an average family kitchen is often quoted at about £2,000 to £6,000 for labour alone, depending on size, region and how much plumbing and electrical work is involved.

How long does a kitchen renovation take?

A like-for-like refit usually takes one to three weeks once everything is on site. Layout changes, plastering and waiting for templated worktops make it longer.

Do I need planning permission for a new kitchen?

A like-for-like replacement inside the house normally needs no planning permission. New electrical circuits and gas work must be carried out or certified by registered people.

What can I do myself to save money?

Many people strip the old kitchen, paint, and tile the splashback themselves. Leave gas and new electrical circuits to registered trades.

Sources

Quantities are estimates for typical jobs, using the coverage figures above. Products vary, so check the data sheet for the product you buy, and talk to a professional for structural, electrical or gas work. SmartBuild is independent and not affiliated with any of the manufacturers listed.

Tiling a wall or splashback: tiles, adhesive and groutMeasure the wall, take off anything you are not tiling, add an allowance for cuts and work out adhesive and grout from the tile size. How many floor tiles do I need for a bathroom?Bathroom floors are small but full of cuts: round the toilet, the basin pedestal and the bath panel. Measure the floor, add the waste allowance and buy whole boxes from one batch. How much paint do I need for new plaster?Fresh plaster is thirsty. It needs a thinned mist coat to seal it before the full coats, so you need more paint than for a repaint. Here is how much, and how to do it.

Get the full priced list

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