How much does it cost to fit a kitchen? In 2026, labour-only kitchen fitting costs £1,700–£5,000, while a full supply-and-fit kitchen typically runs £6,000–£25,000+, depending on size, units, worktop material and where you live in the UK. A kitchen fitter’s day rate sits between £150–£350, and most standard kitchens take 5–10 working days to install.
This guide breaks the number down properly by unit, by trade, by region and by hidden extra so you walk into your first quote already knowing what a fair price looks like.
Quick Answer: Kitchen Fitting Costs at a Glance
| Job | Typical UK Cost (2026) |
| Labour only (fitting an existing kitchen) | £1,700 – £5,000 |
| Small kitchen, full supply + fit | £5,000 – £8,000 |
| Medium kitchen, full supply + fit | £8,000 – £15,000 |
| Large / bespoke kitchen, full supply + fit | £15,000 – £30,000+ |
| Kitchen fitter day rate | £150 – £350/day |
| Cost per cabinet/unit fitted | £100 – £150 |
| Worktop fitting (laminate, per linear metre) | £35 – £60 |
| Worktop fitting (granite/quartz, per linear metre) | £250 – £500 |
| Old kitchen removal & strip-out | £250 – £500 |
| Skip hire (7 days) | £150 – £320 |
| Sink & tap installation | £100 – £300 |
Want the exact figure for your kitchen rather than a range? Get a free, itemised quote here no obligation.
What Does Cost to Fit a Kitchen Actually Mean?
Before comparing quotes, it helps to know which job you’re actually pricing. Three different questions get mixed up constantly:
- Labour-only fitting: you supply the kitchen (units, worktop, sink, appliances); a fitter installs it. This is the cheapest route and the number most “day rate” quotes refer to.
- Supply-and-fit: a company sells you the kitchen and installs it as one price. This is what most homeowners mean by “how much does a new kitchen cost.”
- Full renovation: supply-and-fit plus structural work, rewiring, replastering, flooring and decorating. This is where £15,000+ projects come from.
Knowing which bracket you’re in stops you comparing a £2,000 labour-only quote against a £9,000 supply-and-fit quote and thinking someone is ripping you off.
Extra Reading: Kitchen Designer Cost
Kitchen Fitting Cost by Region: London vs Midlands vs North
| Region | Fitter day rate | Typical fitting-only cost* | What pushes it up |
| London & South East | £250 – £450 | £3,500 – £6,000 | Parking, congestion charges, restricted access, flat/period property delays |
| Midlands | £180 – £310 | £2,300 – £4,000 | Layout changes, specialist trades, larger kitchens |
| North of England | £150 – £300 | £2,000 – £3,800 | Travel time, specialist stonework, complex installs |
Indicative ranges for a medium kitchen; your actual quote depends on size, spec and access.
London costs more largely because of time, not skill a fitter loses hours to parking, lift access and narrow hallways that a driveway in the Midlands simply doesn’t cost. If you’re in a city and want to keep your budget down, the single biggest lever is keeping your existing layout, because moving pipework and cabling is what actually drives London quotes upward.
Kitchen Fitting Cost by Kitchen Size
| Kitchen size | Labour-only cost | Full supply + fit cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 10m², 6–8 units) | £1,500 – £2,500 | £5,000 – £8,000 |
| Medium (10–16m², 10–15 units) | £2,200 – £3,500 | £8,000 – £15,000 |
| Large (16m²+, 16+ units) | £3,000 – £5,000+ | £15,000 – £30,000+ |
Cost Per Kitchen Unit / Cabinet
If you want a fast way to sanity-check any quote, count your units. Fitters typically price installation at £100–£150 per base or wall unit, which is also the quickest way to spot an inflated quote a straightforward 10-unit kitchen quoted at £4,000 for fitting alone should raise a question about what else is included.
A couple of things that catch people out:
- An island counts as 3–4 units’ worth of labour, not one, because of the extra plinths, end panels and worktop joints involved.
- Rigid, pre-built units (like Howdens or Magnet) fit faster than flat-pack, which can shave a day off the job.
What Pushes Kitchen Fitting Costs Up
- Moving the sink, hob or appliances: every metre a pipe or cable has to travel adds plumber or electrician time.
- Old wiring or plumbing: properties with outdated systems often need upgrades before a new kitchen can safely go in.
- Structural changes: knocking through a wall adds building-control and structural costs on top of fitting.
- Worktop material: laminate is the budget option; granite and quartz cost several times more to supply, template and fit.
- Location: London and the South East typically run 15–25% above the UK average.
- Stone worktops: these need a separate templating visit before fitting, which adds time even before installation day.
Trades You’ll Actually Need (and What They Charge)
A kitchen fitter rarely works alone on a full installation. Depending on scope, you may also need:
| Trade | Typical day rate | What they cover |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | £250 – £350 | Sockets, lighting, extractor fan, appliance wiring |
| Plumber | £50/hour (approx. £180 – £300/day) | Connecting taps, sinks, dishwashers to the mains |
| Gas Safe engineer | £150 – £400 per connection | Disconnecting/connecting gas hobs and ovens |
| Tiler | Around £300/day | Splashbacks and floor tiling |
Put together, a realistic all-in labour figure fitter plus supporting trades plus strip-out lands around £3,500–£5,000 for a standard kitchen. This is the number people forget to budget for: a fitter can hang your cabinets beautifully, but they generally won’t touch your gas supply or rewire a socket, and you wouldn’t want them to.
Worktop Costs
| Material | Supply cost (per linear metre) | Fitting notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £20 – £60 | Cut and fitted on site, usually same day |
| Solid wood | £150 – £500 per unit | Needs sealing; more durable long-term |
| Granite | £250 – £500 | Requires templating visit before fitting |
| Quartz | £250 – £500+ | Requires templating; heavier, longer install time |
If you want the stone look without the stone bill, ask your fitter about composite laminate worktops they’ve improved considerably and cost a fraction of the price.
Old Kitchen Removal, Waste & Skip Hire
This line item gets left off more quotes than any other. Expect to pay:
- Strip-out and removal of the old kitchen: £250 – £500
- Skip hire (7 days): £150 – £320
- DIY removal: possible, but you’ll still need to arrange disposal it doesn’t disappear on its own
Always ask upfront whether removal and disposal are included in your quote, because “labour only” means different things to different fitters some include strip-out, some don’t.
Dry Fit vs Wet Fit: What’s the Difference?
- Dry fit: assembling and installing cabinets, worktops and doors only. No plumbing or electrical connections.
- Wet fit: the full job: connecting the sink, taps, dishwasher and appliances to the mains.
A quote described as “dry fit” will always look cheaper make sure you’re comparing like for like.
Kitchen Installation Cost UK: Trades You’ll Actually Need
A kitchen fitter rarely works alone on a full installation. Depending on the job, you may also need:
- An electrician: for lighting, extractor fans, and appliance wiring
- A plumber: to connect taps, sinks, and dishwashers to the mains
- A gas engineer: if you’re disconnecting or connecting gas appliances
According to MyBuilder’s 2026 cost data, electricians typically charge £250 to £350 per day, while plumbers charge £180 to £300 per day. Combined with the kitchen fitter’s own rate, MyBuilder estimates total kitchen fitter labour costs across all trades at roughly £2,200 to £4,600 for a standard project.
This is the part people forget to budget for. A kitchen fitter can hang your cabinets beautifully, but they generally won’t touch your gas supply, and you wouldn’t want them to.
Kitchen Worktop Installation Costs
Worktops are often where a “reasonable” budget quietly becomes an expensive one. According to MyBuilder, typical supply costs per metre look like this:
- Laminate: £20–£50 per metre
- Granite: £250–£500 per metre
- Solid wood cabinets: £150–£500 per unit
Fitting adds to these figures, and heavier materials like granite or quartz take longer to cut and install, which naturally increases labour time. If you want the marble look without the marble bill, it’s worth asking your fitter about composite alternatives.
Plumbing and Electrical Costs for a Kitchen
Beyond the day rates already mentioned, plumbing and electrical work for a kitchen usually covers:
- Connecting new taps, sinks, and waste pipes
- Wiring for ovens, hobs, and extractor hoods
- Installing new sockets and lighting circuits
These costs rise fastest when appliances move location, since that means new pipe runs or cable routes rather than simple reconnections. If your current layout works, keeping the sink and cooker roughly where they are is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
Average Cost for Fitting a Kitchen: By Kitchen Size
To put real numbers against real kitchens, based on combined data from Checkatrade and MyJobQuote:
| Kitchen Size | Labour-Only Cost (approx.) |
| Small (under 10m²) | £1,500–£2,200 |
| Medium (10–16m²) | £2,200–£3,000 |
| Large (16m²+) | £3,000–£4,600+ |
These are UK averages, not fixed prices. Your actual quote depends on layout, condition of the room, and the trades involved.
Bespoke Kitchens: A Different Cost Bracket
Bespoke kitchens sit in their own category entirely. According to Checkatrade, a bespoke kitchen can cost anywhere from £20,000 to £75,000, with cabinetry alone often running £12,000 to £25,000. Fitting is usually charged at around £275 a day per fitter, and jobs are typically done in pairs since bespoke joinery takes precision, not shortcuts.
This is where working with an experienced team matters most. Bespoke cabinetry doesn’t forgive rushed measurements or guesswork, and getting it wrong once usually costs more than getting it right the first time. Companies that specialise in tailored kitchen design, such as ABL Design and Build, typically handle the coordination between designers, fitters, and trades as part of the process, which removes a lot of the back-and-forth homeowners otherwise manage themselves.
Hidden Kitchen Fitting Costs: What Could Add to Your Budget?
The quoted kitchen fitting price is not always the final amount you pay. Once the old kitchen is removed, problems hidden behind cabinets, floors or walls can become visible. Outdated wiring, damaged plaster, uneven floors, plumbing problems and waste disposal can all add to the final bill.
Example: How a £5,000 Kitchen Fit Could Become £6,500
Imagine you’ve received a £5,000 fitting quote for a medium-sized kitchen.
The initial quote covers:
- Removal and installation of units
- Basic appliance connections
- Standard plumbing connections
- Basic worktop fitting
During the strip-out, the contractor discovers several issues:
| Unexpected item | Example additional cost |
|---|---|
| Old kitchen removal & additional waste disposal | £350 |
| Damaged plaster behind existing units | £450 |
| Floor levelling and repairs | £300 |
| Plumbing alteration | £250 |
| Electrical upgrade | £500 |
| Potential additional costs | £1,850 |
This could take the project from £5,000 to around £6,850, depending on the actual condition of the kitchen.
This doesn’t mean every kitchen will have these problems. It shows why it’s sensible to keep a 10–15% contingency budget for unexpected work, particularly when renovating an older property.
How to avoid unexpected kitchen fitting costs
Before accepting a quote, ask your contractor to confirm:
- Is the old kitchen removal included?
- Is waste disposal included?
- Are plumbing alterations included?
- Are electrical works included?
- Is plastering or making good included?
- Is flooring included?
- Is tiling included?
- Are appliance connections included?
- Is VAT included?
- What happens if hidden problems are discovered?
A detailed quote should clearly separate included work, exclusions and provisional costs. This makes it much easier to compare quotes and avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Hidden Kitchen Fitting Costs to Watch For
Once the old kitchen comes out, problems that were hidden behind cabinets and flooring can suddenly become your problem. Here’s a realistic example.
Example: How a £5,000 Kitchen Fit Can Become £6,850
A £5,000 quote typically covers unit removal and installation, basic appliance connections, standard plumbing, and basic worktop fitting. During strip-out, a contractor might find:
| Unexpected item | Typical added cost |
|---|---|
| Additional waste disposal | £350 |
| Damaged plaster behind old units | £450 |
| Floor levelling and repairs | £300 |
| Plumbing alterations | £250 |
| Electrical upgrade | £500 |
| Total potential extras | £1,850 |
That takes the project from £5,000 to roughly £6,850. Not every kitchen will hit every one of these but it’s exactly why a 10–15% contingency budget is standard advice for anyone renovating an older property.
Questions to Ask Before You Accept Any Quote
- Is old kitchen removal and waste disposal included?
- Are plumbing and electrical alterations included, or costed separately?
- Is plastering or making good included?
- Is flooring or tiling included?
- Are appliance connections (including gas) included?
- Is VAT included in the price shown?
- What happens if hidden problems are found during strip-out?
A proper quote separates included work, exclusions, and provisional sums clearly enough that you could hand it to a different fitter and get a like-for-like comparison.
How Long Does It Take to Fit a Kitchen?
Most standard kitchens take 5–10 working days to fit. Bespoke kitchens often need 10–15 days of on-site fitting, with the wider project design, ordering, delivery, finishing stretching to several months. If a fitter finishes your kitchen in two days flat, that’s either a very small kitchen or a reason to ask a few more questions.
How ABL’s Pricing Compares
If you’re comparing prices, checking a Checkatrade kitchen fitting cost UK 2026 estimate is a good starting point trade platforms generally show labour-only fitting costs between £1,500 and £5,000, and full supply-and-install kitchens between £6,000 and £25,000, depending on size and specification. At ABL Design & Build, our quotes sit within these same market ranges but are fully itemised, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for labour, materials, and any additional trades before work starts get a free, no-obligation quote here.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does it cost to fit a kitchen? For most UK homes, labour alone sits between £1,700 and £5,000, and a full installation typically runs £6,000–£15,000+ once units, worktops and appliances are included. Bespoke projects go higher but they also go further in terms of design, materials and how long the kitchen lasts.
The safest way to get an accurate figure is still the simplest: get a written, itemised quote from a fitter who has actually seen your kitchen. Averages are a starting point, not a promise.
FAQs
Can I fit a kitchen myself?
You can fit basic flat-pack units yourself if you’re confident with DIY, potentially saving £500–£1,000 on strip-out and basic assembly. Worktop joints, gas connections and any electrical work must legally be done by a certified professional.
Do I need planning permission for a new kitchen?
Most kitchen refits don’t need planning permission unless you’re extending the property or altering external walls. You’ll still need to meet building regulations for electrics (Part P) and any structural work (Part A).
What’s the difference between a dry fit and a wet fit?
A dry fit covers cabinets, worktops and doors only, with no plumbing or electrical work. A wet fit is the full job, including connecting the sink, taps, dishwasher and other appliances to the mains.
How long does it take to fit a kitchen?
A standard kitchen usually takes 5–10 working days. Larger or bespoke kitchens, or projects involving structural work, can take 2–4 weeks from strip-out to final finishing.
Do I need an electrician and plumber as well as a kitchen fitter?
Yes, in most cases. A kitchen fitter installs units and worktops, but a qualified electrician handles sockets and lighting, and a Gas Safe engineer connects any gas appliances. Budget for these separately unless your fitter is multi-skilled.
How much does it cost to fit a kitchen, labour only?
Labour-only kitchen fitting typically costs £1,700–£5,000 for a standard UK kitchen, depending on size and complexity. This usually covers removing old units, fitting new cabinets and worktops, and basic finishing not rewiring or replumbing.
What pushes the cost of fitting a kitchen up?
Moving the sink, hob or appliances adds plumbing and electrical costs on top of the fitter’s day rate. Structural changes, outdated wiring, and premium worktop materials like granite or quartz also increase the total.