How Much Does a Kitchen Refit Cost in 2026 UK? £8,000–£35,000 (Real Quote Ranges)
A 2026 UK kitchen refit costs £8,000 for a budget swap-out and £35,000+ for a designer kitchen with structural changes. The figure that lands on your driveway depends on three things: the size of the kitchen, the finish level of the units and worktops, and whether walls, electrics or plumbing move. This is what the BestBuilders quote database shows across spring 2026 — by tier, by region and by what's actually in the spec.
2026 UK Kitchen Refit Cost By Spec Tier
All figures are fitted: cabinets, worktops, sink, taps, splashbacks, basic appliances, electrics, plumbing, plastering and flooring. Excludes structural work, planning, and major appliance upgrades (range cooker, full-size American fridge).
| Tier | 2026 cost | £/m² | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget swap-out | £8,000–£14,000 | £800–£1,200 | Flatpack units, laminate worktop, basic appliances, same layout |
| Mid-range refit | £14,000–£22,000 | £1,400–£2,000 | Rigid units, quartz/laminate worktop, integrated appliances, minor layout change |
| Premium refit | £22,000–£35,000 | £2,200–£3,200 | Bespoke or semi-bespoke cabinetry, stone worktop, full appliance package, layout change |
| Designer / open-plan | £35,000+ | £3,000–£5,000+ | Hand-built, stone island, structural opening, full new electrics |
London and South East add 20–30% to every tier. Rural Scotland, Wales and the North often come in 5–10% under these figures for the same spec.
Where a £20,000 Mid-Range Kitchen Budget Actually Goes
Cabinetry (35–45%)
£7,000–£9,000 on rigid carcasses, painted MDF or veneered doors, soft-close hinges and full-extension drawer runners. Bespoke painted doors push this to £11,000+.
Worktops (10–18%)
£2,200–£3,600 on quartz or Dekton for a mid-size kitchen (5–7m run). Laminate halves this; granite or marble doubles it. Worktop choice is the single biggest visual upgrade per £.
Appliances (15–22%)
£3,000–£4,400 for a full integrated package: oven, hob, extractor, dishwasher, fridge-freezer. Bosch/Neff territory; Miele or Wolf adds £3k–£8k.
Fitting labour (18–25%)
£3,600–£5,000 for 2–3 weeks of fitter + electrician + plumber + tiler + decorator time. Goes up sharply if the layout changes or walls are involved.
Flooring & tiling (5–10%)
£1,000–£2,000 for LVT or porcelain tile flooring, plus splashback tiling. Underfloor heating adds £900–£1,500.
Sundries (5–8%)
£1,000–£1,600 for sink, tap, lighting, handles, waste, sockets, paint, snagging contingency. Easy to under-budget — always add 10% reserve.
Three Real Kitchen Refits From Spring 2026
Composite figures from the BestBuilders quote database. Names anonymised, costs as quoted.
£11,500 · Coventry · 8m² galley
Flatpack units (Howdens), laminate worktop, induction hob, oven, integrated dishwasher, LVT floor. Same layout, two weeks on site. Mid-Midlands rental refurb spec.
£19,800 · Reading · 12m² L-shape
Painted shaker fronts, quartz worktop, full Bosch integrated package, breakfast bar, downlights, porcelain floor. Minor non-structural wall removed. Four weeks on site.
£32,500 · West London · 18m² open-plan
Bespoke painted hardwood units, Dekton island, Neff slide-and-hide, wine fridge, structural opening into dining (steel beam). Six weeks on site, full project management.
Five Things That Quietly Double a Kitchen Quote
- Moving the sink or hob. A 1–2m move of plumbing or extraction adds £700–£1,500 in labour and rework alone.
- Knocking through a wall. Adds £3,500–£8,000 for the structural opening (steel, calcs, building control) before any kitchen work starts.
- Stone worktops with cut-outs and curves. A waterfall island edge or shaped quartz peninsula adds £1,200–£2,800 over a standard rectangular run.
- Bespoke cabinetry vs off-the-shelf. Hand-built painted units are 1.8–2.5× the cost of a rigid Howdens-grade equivalent for the same footprint.
- Premium appliance brands. A Miele or Wolf appliance package adds £4,000–£10,000 over Bosch/Neff for an identical spec list.