German kitchens vs Howdens
Two very different buying models rather than two versions of the same thing. This is what to line up on each quotation so the comparison is fair, and where a factory-direct German kitchen usually lands against a UK trade-counter figure.
Last updated 14 August 2026
What differs, line by line
We state what we supply. For the trade-counter column, treat each row as a question to put to your own quotation, since specification varies by range and by branch.
| UK trade counter, e.g. Howdens | LindenHaus, factory-direct German | |
|---|---|---|
| Buying model | Trade-counter supply, normally arranged through your builder or fitter, who holds the account and the pricing. | Authorised UK importer buying direct from the German factory, quoting you the itemised specification yourself. |
| Carcase | Ask for the board thickness and whether cabinets arrive rigid or need assembling. Both exist in the UK market at this price point. | 19mm rigid carcase built and drilled in the factory, delivered assembled. |
| Hardware | Confirm the hinge and runner brand on the quotation rather than assuming it. It is a real cost line and varies by range. | Blum on Schüller, Nobilia nBox drawers and Sensys hinges on Nobilia, soft-close throughout as standard. |
| Finishes | Broad UK-market range, strong on painted shaker and wood-effect styles. | Very wide programme including true handleless, perfect matt anti-fingerprint lacquer, real veneer and specialist glass fronts. |
| Pricing visibility | Pricing typically reaches you via a third party, so the discount level applied is not always visible to you. | One itemised quotation, unit by unit, with no showroom or intermediary margin on top. |
| Who designs it | Depends on the branch and on your builder's involvement. | Senior German-kitchen designers producing CAD plans and 3D renders before you commit. |
| Lead time | Often quick, since stock ranges are held locally. | Typically 6 to 8 weeks from order to UK delivery, made to your specification. |
Six checks on your quote
Get the unit schedule
Every cabinet code, width and height. A cheaper total with three fewer tall units and a shallower larder is a smaller kitchen, not a better price.
Split the three columns
Cabinets, worktops and appliances. Only the cabinet column tells you anything about the factory behind the kitchen.
Name the hardware
Hinge and drawer brand should be written on the quote. If it is not stated, ask, then compare like for like.
Check who is fitting
A trade-counter kitchen usually arrives with your builder pricing the fit separately. Make sure both quotes are on the same supply-only or supply-and-fit basis.
Read the panelwork
Door-matched end panels and plinths sit in the door price group. Laminate substitutes cut cost but not texture match.
Confirm the warranty
Ask for the cabinet and hardware warranty in writing on both quotes. Nobilia carries 10 years and Schüller 5 years on cabinets.
Common questions
- Are German kitchens more expensive than Howdens?
- Not necessarily. Bought factory-direct, a genuine Nobilia or Schüller kitchen frequently lands in the same budget as a mid-specification UK trade kitchen, because there is no showroom or intermediary margin in our price. Send both quotes and we will show you the cabinet column side by side.
- Can I buy a German kitchen without going through a builder?
- Yes. We quote you directly, supply-only, with an itemised specification you own. You can then have it fitted by your own installer or by a fitter we recommend.
- Is the build quality really different?
- The things to compare are board thickness, whether cabinets arrive rigid or flat-pack, the hinge and runner brand, and the warranty length. Both Nobilia and Schüller use 19mm rigid carcases with Blum or nBox hardware as standard, and we state all of it on the quotation.
- What about lead times if I need it quickly?
- Locally stocked UK ranges can be faster off the shelf. German kitchens are made to your specification with a typical 6 to 8 week lead time from order to delivery, which most projects absorb inside the building schedule.
- Will you compare my existing quote?
- Yes, free and with no obligation. Send the quotation or plan and we rebuild the same specification factory-direct, flagging where the difference is overhead and where it is genuinely a different kitchen.
Send your quote for a comparison
Attach the quotation or plan and we rebuild the same kitchen factory-direct, then send back a CAD plan, 3D render and itemised figure with the differences flagged.
Up to 30% below a showroom quote
Same factory, same finishes, same hardware, same warranty. Delivered nationwide in 6 to 8 weeks.