Average kitchen cost in the UK, 2026
Most UK kitchens land between £8,000 and £20,000 all in, but that range hides four very different products. Here are the real bands by retailer tier and by kitchen size, what should be inside each figure, and where German factory-direct pricing sits against them.
Last updated 14 August 2026
Four tiers, four different products
An average is only useful once you know which tier you are shopping in. These are cabinet-and-front figures for a mid-size kitchen, excluding worktops and appliances.
Trade-counter and DIY-shed cabinets, usually 15mm to 18mm carcases assembled on site. Fine for a rental refit or a short-term fix. Doors and hinges are the first things to show wear.
The national showroom chains. Rigid or semi-rigid carcases, wide colour choice, heavy discounting from a high list price. Installation is often bundled, which makes like-for-like comparison harder.
Nobilia and Schüller cabinets built and finished in Germany on 19mm carcases with Blum or nBox hardware, supplied direct without high street showroom overhead. Same product a UK studio sells, typically up to 30% less.
Hand-built cabinetry made to order, often painted on site. Genuinely different from a modular kitchen, and priced accordingly. Lead times run to months rather than weeks.
What your room size means for the budget
Cabinet cost tracks linear metres far more closely than floor area. Measure the runs you intend to fill, then read across. Figures are supply-only, inc VAT, for genuine German cabinets.
| Kitchen | Run length | Cabinets, supply-only | Typical specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small galley or single-run kitchen | 3 to 4 linear metres | £5,000 to £9,000 | Around 8 to 11 cabinets. Usually one tall unit, a run of base drawers and wall cupboards over. |
| Mid-size family kitchen | 5 to 7 linear metres | £9,000 to £16,000 | Around 14 to 18 cabinets, often an L-shape with a bank of tall units and a full drawer specification. |
| Kitchen with island | 8 to 10 linear metres | £15,000 to £25,000 | Perimeter run plus island. Island cabinets, seating panelwork and a second worktop drive most of the increase. |
| Large open-plan or broken-plan | 11 metres and up | £25,000+ | Tall unit walls, larder or pantry runs, utility, integrated appliance housings and multiple worktop materials. |
Six lines that decide your total
Cabinets and fronts
The only line that reflects the factory. Price group, carcase thickness and hardware brand should all be named on the quotation.
Worktops
Laminate from around £400 fitted, quartz and composite typically £2,000 to £5,000, natural stone higher. Templated after cabinets are in, so early figures are estimates.
Appliances
Usually £3,000 to £12,000 depending on specification. Locally sourced, so this is where two quotes for the same kitchen diverge fastest.
Panelwork and plinths
End panels, plinths and cornices in a door-matched finish sit in the door price group. Laminate equivalents are cheaper but will not match texture under raking light.
Interior fit-out
Cutlery inserts, pan drawer dividers, corner pull-outs and LED lighting are separate order lines, not assumed extras.
Installation
Supply-only and supply-and-fit are different products. Fitting a mid-size kitchen properly is a real cost and should never be assumed either way.
Budget questions
- What is the average cost of a new kitchen in the UK in 2026?
- Most UK households spend between £8,000 and £20,000 on a new kitchen including worktops and appliances. Cabinets alone are typically £5,000 to £16,000 depending on size and finish, with worktops and appliances adding the rest.
- How much should I budget per linear metre?
- For genuine German cabinets, roughly £850 to £3,200 per linear metre supply-only depending on price group and finish. Multiply your run length by that figure for a quick sanity check, then add worktops and appliances separately.
- Is a German kitchen more expensive than a UK retailer kitchen?
- Not usually, when bought factory-direct. A German kitchen at £12,000 supply-only is frequently specified above a UK showroom kitchen quoted at the same figure, because there is no display floor or commissioned sales overhead in the price.
- What percentage of the budget goes on cabinets?
- On a typical project, cabinets and fronts are around 50 to 60% of the total, worktops 10 to 20%, appliances 20 to 30%, with installation on top if you are not supplying only.
- How do I know if my quote is fair?
- Compare cabinet cost separately from worktops and appliances, and check the unit schedule rather than the total. Send us the quotation and we will rebuild the same specification factory-direct so you can see line by line where the difference sits.
Get a real figure for your room
Averages only take you so far. Send your rough dimensions or a plan and we will send back a CAD layout, 3D render and an itemised factory-direct figure so you can budget against a real specification rather than a range.
Up to 30% below a showroom quote
Same factory, same finishes, same hardware, same warranty. Delivered nationwide in 6 to 8 weeks.