Are you planning a tasty new kitchen but don’t want to pay overcooked installation prices? Find out how much it should cost you with our expert article.
Updating or renovating your kitchen can be a costly old business. Unless you’re a dab hand at DIY, you’ll no doubt need someone to fit all those lovely new kitchen units, worktop and kitchen appliances, along with any other jobs that may need doing.
Of course, the amount you pay for a new kitchen installation will depend on the breadth and complexity of the work required. A simple refresh of your existing kitchen layout will cost far less than a project which requires wholesale changes, like rewiring, plumbing work and structural changes, to name but a few.
In this article, we sought advice from kitchen fitters across the UK to find out what the average cost of a new kitchen installation might be in 2024. They also provided us with some great tips on saving money. So, how much does it cost to install a kitchen? Read on...
How much should you pay for a kitchen installation?
Before we try and answer this question, it is worth considering the reasons why new kitchen costs can vary greatly. First off, kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, so for an average figure we based our calculations on an average kitchen size. According to expert sources, the average UK kitchen size is roughly somewhere between 13 and 14 square metres. The average UK kitchen installation cost is around £3,500. This covers the following:
- Ripping out your old kitchen including units, worktops etc. and removing appliances
- Fitting new kitchen units and worktops
- Fitting new kitchen sinks, taps and appliances
- Painting, plastering and tiling walls, floors and ceilings
The cost of installing a new kitchen as quoted by kitchen fitters may not necessarily include the following (for which you may need to hire specialist tradespeople separately):
- Plumb in taps, sinks and appliances
- Add lighting, ventilation or complete other electrical work
- Change the structural layout of your kitchen (e.g. add or remove walls, doors and windows)
Of course, each new kitchen fitting estimate will depend solely on your own unique circumstances. Any unforeseen complications with the room structure, layout, plumbing or electrics, may increase the cost further.
Kitchen installation costs can vary by location
The cost of installing your kitchen can also vary depending on the geographic location of your home within the UK. Those living in London and the South East, may expect to pay a bit extra on top (roughly 10% to 20%), due to a higher than average weekly wage, however in other large cities, you may find the cost is slightly cheaper, due to the number of kitchen fitters competing for your business. Conversely, if you live in a remote part of the UK, like an island or village, your choice of kitchen fitters may be limited, meaning a higher cost.
Typical kitchen installation costs
If you are simply looking to update things with some like-for-like replacements, instead of fitting an entirely new kitchen, we’ve provided some typical kitchen installation costs below.
Install a kitchen worktop
Install a kitchen sink and standard kitchen tap
Change tap on kitchen sink
Install kitchen units or kitchen cabinets
- Price: £40–£55 per kitchen unit/kitchen cabinet
- Typical job time: 1–3 hours
Plastering a kitchen
- Price: £50–£60 per square metre
- Typical job time: 6 hours–3 days depending on coverage required
Tile a kitchen
- Price: Approximately £65 per square metre
- Typical job time: 1–5 days depending on coverage required
Install a radiator
- Price: £300–£360
- Typical job time: 2–4 hours
Install underfloor heating
Install an extractor fan
Installing a ceiling light
- Price: £125–£150
- Typical job time: 1–3 hours
The kitchen costs above should only be used as a rough benchmark. They can vary for several reasons which I have mentioned previously in this guide.
Save money on waste
Whilst you’re bound to experience a bit of mess and disruption in your home when fitting a new kitchen, there are some practical ways to save a little bit of your hard-earned cash. It’s always a good idea to ask your kitchen fitter if they are planning to remove waste for you. Many will build this into their quotes and, if your project only results in a small amount of waste, it could prove expensive.
Could you dismantle the old kitchen yourself? This may save the kitchen fitter a task and leave you with a lower quote. Although, for those who are inexperienced with DIY, it might not be a good idea as you could potentially end up damaging something.
Look into disposing of waste yourself, either by hiring a skip, a waste bag or taking some of it to your local council recycling centre. Would this save you costs in the long run?
Don’t skimp on your finish
The old saying “You get what you pay for” couldn’t be any truer when it comes to fitting your kitchen. If you lump for a cheap and cheerful approach, it may be a recipe for disaster, leaving you sorely disappointed just a short way down the line. However, by hiring an experienced and recommended kitchen fitter, who puts the quality of the finish above everything else, you’ll be left with a seriously tasty kitchen which you’ll love spending time.
Kitchen installers near me
Word of mouth recommendations are one of the best ways to find local kitchen installers or tradespeople near you. However, if none of your friends or family can recommend a good kitchen fitter, you can post your job to MyBuilder.com, where local installers and tradespeople can quote for your kitchen project. Whether you live in one of the UK's largest cities, like London, Birmingham, Liverpool or Glasgow, or even in a remote location, there are plenty of experienced kitchen installers local to your home.
How much do kitchen products cost?
Up to this point, we have looked exclusively at the labour costs of fitting your kitchen, rather than the overall cost with all your products, such as worktops, units and fixtures, included. To give you a good idea of these additional costs, we’ve provided some examples below which are accurate for 2024.
Kitchen worktops
Kitchen worktops can be made from a variety of materials, with laminate worktops being one of the most popular due to their hard wearing nature and easy clean surface. Good quality laminate worktops may cost anywhere between £35 and £60 per square metre.
Kitchen units and kitchen cabinets
As one of your major product costs, you should carefully consider how many kitchen units and kitchen cabinets you need and what purpose they will serve. For large kitchens, you may need a whole variety of different units, including those which house kitchen appliances like fridge freezers and dishwashers, whereas smaller kitchens or those with an awkward layout may require a more minimal collection.
Kitchen units come in all shapes, sizes and styles and you can expect to pay around £120 for a simple wall or base unit up to £600 for something like an oven housing unit.
Kitchen sink
Good quality stainless steel kitchen sinks start at around the £50 mark. Depending on the size and type of material you’d prefer, the cost can rise to beyond £300 for some composite and ceramic sinks.
Kitchen taps
For kitchen mixer taps, you can pay anywhere from £20, rising up to £200 if you wish to purchase a special finish like copper or nickel. Taps with pull out sprays will set you back between £100 and £250, whilst a boiling water tap, which is convenient for hot drinks and cooking, can be purchased for between £305 and £1,600. If this is something you’re considering, it may be worth considering whether the benefits outweigh the set-up costs and cartridge replacement costs. For more information on kitchen appliances like this, check out our handy buying guide.
Kitchen heating
Depending on the type of heating output you need, radiators for your kitchen can cost as little as £45. A designer model may cost anywhere between £100 and £1,600.
Kitchen ventilation
Simple extractor fans can be bought for anything between £20 and £42.
Kitchen lighting
Prices will vary depending on the kitchen lighting you choose. Downlights can be purchased for around £10 per light. Meanwhile, good quality central ceiling light fixtures can be bought for between £50 and £100.
Kitchen tiling
Expect to pay anywhere between £10 and £40 per square metre for ceramic tiles and a little more for porcelain tiles, in the region of £15 to £55 per square metre.
Kitchen flooring
Whilst a roll of lino as a flooring option can be purchased for very little, expect to pay between £45 and £85 per square metre for good quality vinyl or laminate kitchen flooring.
How to prepare for your kitchen installation and assist your tradespeople
Once you have gone through all your kitchen installation quotes and selected your kitchen fitter, there is plenty of preparation work you can carry out, to help your project run smoothly.
First off, if your kitchen appliances and products are being delivered to your home before your tradespeople arrive, you will need to find some suitable storage space for these. If you have space in a shed or garage, this may be suitable, but clearing out a spare room within your home is also worth considering. And don’t wait until it’s time for your kitchen fitting to inspect your items. Open them up immediately and inspect all your items, including units, worktops and appliances for damage, as many retailers will only accept returns for damaged items if it is reported promptly.
The next thing to consider is parking for your kitchen fitters or any other tradespeople visiting your home. If you live in an area where parking is difficult or costly, make sure you discuss this with your kitchen fitter beforehand. It may help if you offer to pay for any parking costs or provide a permit.
If you’ve decided to hire a skip for disposing of waste from your old kitchen, you will need to consider where this is placed. Will it be on your own property or in the street? If it’s the latter, make sure you arrange this with your local council.
Finally, how will your kitchen fitters access the property? Will you be on-site at all times or will they need letting in and out?
Kitchen ideas and advice
At Victoria Plum, we don’t just design, supply and install beautiful bathrooms; we have years of experience in producing and supplying high quality kitchen products, helping you to create your dream kitchen. Head to our kitchen advice centre where you’ll find plenty of expert tips, including buying guides and step-by-step DIY guides. Of course, it’s not all about the practical side of kitchen installation; you’ll also discover plenty of stunning kitchen ideas to inspire you.
Shop kitchens
For a wide range of stylish, high quality kitchens and kitchen products, including units, cabinets, worktops, upstands, sinks, taps and much more, simply click on the image below.
