A complete UK kitchen renovation can cost anywhere from roughly £7,400 for a fairly standard fit to £30,000 or more once cabinets, worktop, appliances and any structural work are added up. The most useful budget is not one average number—it is an itemised range that reflects your room, specification, region and how much of the kitchen actually changes.
Reviewed 3 September 2026. These figures are planning allowances, not quotations.
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Kitchen renovation costs at a glance
| Project level | Indicative UK planning range | What it normally means |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | £6,200–£16,800 | Same footprint, flat-pack or budget units, laminate worktop, appliances reused or budget replacements |
| Standard mid-range renovation | £11,500–£30,300 | New rigid or semi-custom units, quartz or granite worktop, mid-range integrated appliances, some plumbing or electrical changes |
| Premium renovation | £28,600–£50,000 | Bespoke units, premium worktop, top-tier appliances, more extensive service changes |
| Premium or structural project | £30,000–£82,000 | Bespoke design, a wall removed or altered, major re-plumbing/re-wiring, engineer-led work |
The ranges overlap because scope matters more than the label. A small kitchen with a wall coming out, a premium stone worktop and a full appliance package can cost more than a larger room where the layout and services stay untouched.
Current 2026 trade guides illustrate the same spread. MyBuilder places typical UK kitchen installation costs (materials and fitting together) at around £7,000–£30,000, while Checkatrade puts a full kitchen renovation between roughly £6,200 for a budget refit and £50,000+ for a bespoke design, noting that units and worktops are usually the largest single cost. RenoTally’s own planning range sits within that spread once cabinets, worktop, appliances, services and any structural work are itemised separately.
Original RenoTally comparison: specification and region
To make the effect of specification and location easier to see, RenoTally calculated three versions of the same 12m² kitchen (4m × 3m) with a 6m run of units. Every example uses a 10% contingency. The only differences are the selected specification and whether the project uses the rest-of-UK baseline or the London and South East labour adjustment.
| Kitchen scenario | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Budget: flat-pack units, laminate worktop, budget appliances, like-for-like services | £7,400–£14,900 | £8,000–£16,050 |
| Mid-range: rigid or semi-custom units, quartz worktop, mid-range integrated appliances, some service changes | £14,950–£30,300 | £16,050–£32,200 |
| Premium: bespoke units, premium worktop, premium appliances, major service relocation, minor structural opening | £28,600–£77,500 | £30,800–£82,000 |
What this shows: cabinet specification and appliance tier move the estimate far more than floor area alone. The regional uplift matters, but a bigger cabinet run, a premium worktop, a full appliance package and any structural opening create the widest movement in the price.
What should a kitchen budget include?
A quote for “fitting a kitchen” may not include everything needed to finish the room. Before comparing prices, check whether each quote covers the same written scope.
| Cost category | Useful early allowance | Common variables |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets and carcasses | £2,000–£8,000+ | Run length, flat-pack vs rigid vs bespoke, number of units and storage features |
| Worktop | £800–£6,500+ | Material (laminate through to quartz, granite or premium stone), run length, cut-outs and edge profile |
| Appliances | £0–£15,000+ | Reusing what’s there through to a full premium integrated package |
| Fitting labour | £1,500–£6,000+ | Project duration, regional rates, number of trades coordinated |
| Plumbing and electrics | £800–£5,500+ | Relocated sink or hob positions, new circuits, extractor and lighting changes |
| Structural work | £0–£15,000+ | Removing or altering a wall, beam installation, engineer sign-off |
| Decor and finishing | £1,000–£3,500+ | Flooring, wall finish, lighting, making good after first-fix |
| Contingency | 10%–20% | Hidden pipework or wiring, uneven walls or floors, specification changes |
These allowances are not designed to be added mechanically to produce a quotation. They show why two kitchens of the same floor area can have very different totals.
Worked example: a 12m² kitchen with a 6m run
Using RenoTally’s current default assumptions—a 12m² kitchen (4m × 3m), a 6m run of units, mid-range rigid or semi-custom cabinets, a quartz worktop, mid-range integrated appliances, some new sockets or service moves, no structural work and a UK-average location with a 10% contingency—the calculator gives a planning range of approximately £14,950–£30,300.
The range is wider than a simple “average kitchen” headline because it keeps cabinets, worktop, appliances, labour, plumbing and electrics, structural work, decor and contingency all visible. Reduce the scope to flat-pack units, laminate worktop and budget appliances and the estimate falls; add a wall removal, bespoke units and a premium appliance package and it rises sharply.
How RenoTally produced these figures
- Each comparison uses the same 12m² room (4m × 3m) with a 6m run of units and a 10% contingency.
- Cabinets, worktop, appliances, labour, plumbing and electrical services, structural work and decor/finishing are calculated as separate categories.
- The London and South East option adds 25% to labour and installation-heavy categories—not automatically to cabinet or worktop material costs.
- Scenario totals are rounded to practical planning figures rather than presented with false precision.
- The model was checked against the external 2026 cost guides cited below and reviewed on 3 September 2026.
This is RenoTally’s own planning comparison, not a survey of completed projects. We will only add real quotation examples when we have permission to use suitably anonymised, like-for-like data; we will not invent case studies.
Do you need planning permission or building control sign-off?
Most kitchen renovations that keep the existing footprint and don’t touch structural walls do not need planning permission. Building control and other approvals become relevant once the work goes further than a like-for-like refit.
- Removing or altering a load-bearing wall or chimney breast needs Building Regulations approval, and usually a structural engineer’s calculations and a steel or beam installation.
- Moving or adding a gas appliance—a hob or a gas point—must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- New electrical circuits in a kitchen are notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations and should be certified by a registered electrician or signed off by building control.
- Extending the kitchen or building outwards typically needs full planning permission, separate from the fit-out itself.
- Leasehold flats and conservation areas can carry extra restrictions—check your lease and local planning rules before committing to structural changes.
RenoTally does not provide structural, planning or Building Regulations advice. Confirm requirements with your local authority building control team and a suitably qualified structural engineer before any wall comes out.
Do kitchen renovation prices include VAT?
Never assume VAT is included. GOV.UK states that most work on houses and flats by builders and similar trades is charged at the standard 20% VAT rate, although limited exceptions can apply. Some small trades are not VAT registered, while product prices shown to consumers usually include VAT.
Ask every contractor to state clearly whether the quotation includes VAT. When comparing quotes, place the VAT-inclusive totals side by side. RenoTally figures are planning allowances, so confirm the tax treatment for your specific suppliers and project.
How much contingency should you allow?
- 10%: a sound kitchen with good access, no structural change and a straightforward like-for-like layout.
- 15%: an older kitchen, some plumbing or electrical relocation, or uncertainty behind existing units and tiles.
- 20%: suspected damp or rot, a wall coming out, or other structural or major service changes.
Contingency is not a target to spend. Keep it separate from the agreed scope and use it only for genuine unknowns or approved changes.
Seven questions to ask before accepting a quote
- Is VAT included in the total?
- Does the price include removing the old kitchen and disposing of waste?
- Who is responsible for supplying the units, worktop and appliances?
- Are plumbing, electrics, gas work and ventilation itemised?
- What preparation is allowed for uneven walls, floors or hidden pipework?
- Which items are specifically excluded?
- What payment stages, timescale, insurance and guarantees apply?
Compare at least three itemised quotes against the same written scope. A cheaper headline can become the expensive option if essential preparation, waste, electrics, gas work or VAT appear later as additions.
Planning more than one project?
Bring estimates, VAT, trade quotes and actual spending into one editable plan.
Ways to control the cost without cutting the essentials
- Keep plumbing and gas in their existing positions. Moving a sink or hob can trigger new pipework, drainage and re-tiling.
- Choose where the spend shows. A quality worktop and handles read as premium even with mid-range cabinets.
- Agree the specification before work starts. Late unit or appliance changes create delays and re-ordering costs.
- Buy compatible products. Check appliance dimensions and cabinet carcass sizes before ordering.
- Protect the contingency. Do not use the emergency allowance to upgrade finishes during the build.
Plan the materials as well as the renovation
Once the scope is clear, use RenoTally’s free tile calculator, flooring calculator and paint calculator to estimate quantities and wastage for splashback tiling, new flooring and redecorating. Keep those material figures beside the main kitchen estimate so product upgrades do not disappear inside the overall total.
Frequently asked questions
Is £15,000 enough for a new kitchen?
It can be enough for a fairly standard 10–12m² kitchen with mid-range units and appliances and no structural change, particularly outside higher-cost regions. It leaves little room for bespoke cabinetry, a premium stone worktop or moving plumbing and electrics.
What is usually the most expensive part?
Cabinets and worktop together are often the largest single cost, followed by appliances and fitting labour—especially where units are bespoke or the worktop is stone. Structural work, when it’s needed, can overtake all of them.
How long does a full kitchen renovation take?
A straightforward like-for-like refit often takes one to two weeks. A full renovation involving new services or structural work more commonly runs three to six weeks, depending on appliance lead times, trades coordination and any building control sign-off. Ask for a written sequence, not only a completion date.
Turn several estimates into one renovation plan
RenoTally Pro combines project scenarios with a budget tracker, VAT allowance, quote comparison, timeline and hidden-cost checklist. It is £39 as a one-off purchase.
Related guides: Also planning a bathroom refit or a loft conversion? See our Bathroom Renovation Cost UK guide and our Loft Conversion Cost Per m² guide. Renovating the whole house? See our UK renovation and refurbishment cost guide. New flooring as part of the job? Read How Much Flooring Do I Need?
Sources and limitations
External reference points include Checkatrade’s 2026 kitchen renovation cost guide, MyBuilder’s 2026 new kitchen cost guide, and GOV.UK guidance on VAT for builders. You can also read how RenoTally’s estimates are calculated.
Published cost guides use different definitions and inclusions. RenoTally does not provide quotations, tax advice, design, structural, planning or Building Regulations advice. Confirm project-specific costs and requirements with suitably qualified local professionals.