Planning a new kitchen and not sure what to budget? Kitchen renovation cost in the UK for 2026 runs from around £6,000 for a basic refresh to £50,000 or more for a full bespoke rebuild.
Where you land on that range depends on size, materials, location, and how much structural work you need. This guide breaks the numbers down including real refurbishment, remodel, and makeover pricing so you can plan with actual figures, not guesswork.
What Is the Average Kitchen Renovation Cost Right Now?
Based on current UK trade pricing, here is what homeowners are actually paying:
- Budget refresh: £6,000 to £16,000 new doors, worktop, and appliances, same layout.
- Mid-range renovation: £12,000 to £30,000 new cabinets, upgraded worktops, some layout changes.
- High-end renovation: £30,000 to £55,000+ bespoke joinery, stone worktops, full structural work.
The average kitchen renovation cost across the UK sits close to £15,000 for a standard mid-range kitchen the same figure applies whether you call it a renovation, a kitchen refurbishment cost, or an average kitchen remodel cost, since UK homeowners use all three terms for the same job. That figure usually covers labour, materials, and fitting. It doesn’t always include VAT or design fees, so ask your contractor what’s included before you sign anything.
If you want a fast reference point, national trade bodies and sites like Checkatrade publish updated cost averages you can check any quote against.
Kitchen Refurbishment, Remodel, Makeover, Refit Same Thing?
Homeowners search for this project under a handful of different names, and it’s worth being clear about what each one usually means in practice because the price tag can shift depending on which one you actually need:
- Kitchen renovation: the broadest term. Can mean anything from a light refresh to a full strip-out.
- Kitchen refurbishment: usually means restoring or updating what’s already there: refacing units, replacing worktops, redoing tiling, without changing the layout. A typical kitchen refurbishment cost sits between £4,000 and £14,000.
- Kitchen remodel: implies a layout change: moving the sink, adding an island, knocking through a wall. Costs track closer to a full renovation, from £15,000 upward.
- Kitchen makeover: the lightest option. New doors, handles, paint, lighting, and worktop, keeping cabinet carcasses in place. A kitchen makeover cost typically runs £3,000 to £9,000.
- Kitchen refit: similar to a refurbishment, sometimes used interchangeably, but often implies swapping in an entirely new kitchen within the existing footprint. Kitchen refit cost usually lands between £8,000 and £20,000.
If you’re only after a kitchen designer cost rather than a full build, expect £500 to £2,500 for a design and layout service alone, depending on complexity some contractors, including ABL, fold this into the overall quote rather than charging separately.
Kitchen Renovation Cost by Size and Per Square Foot
Size drives cost more than most people expect. A bigger kitchen means more units, more worktop, more flooring, and more hours on site.
Small Kitchen Renovation Cost
A small kitchen renovation cost typically falls between £5,000 and £12,000. This covers galley kitchens and compact flats under 8 square metres. A small kitchen remodel price can run slightly higher, from £8,000, if you’re changing the layout rather than just refreshing it. You can still get a full refit here just with fewer units and a tighter layout.
Mid-Size and Family Kitchens
For a standard family kitchen of 10 to 15 square metres, expect £12,000 to £25,000. This size usually allows for an island or breakfast bar without pushing the budget too far. A full kitchen remodel price at this size, including layout changes, typically sits at £20,000–£35,000.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Per Square Foot
As a working guide, kitchen remodel cost per square foot in the UK runs from £150 to £400, depending on finish level. Budget fittings sit at the lower end. Bespoke joinery and stone worktops push you toward the top. If you prefer metric terms, the kitchen renovation price per square metre works out to roughly £1,600 to £4,300, covering the same budget-to-bespoke range.
What Actually Drives Your Kitchen Renovation Cost
Four line items make up most of any quote. Knowing each one helps you spend where it matters and cut back where it does not.
Cabinets
Cabinets usually take the biggest slice of the budget, often 25 to 40 percent of total spend. Flat-pack units start around £1,500 to £4,000 supply-only. Rigid, semi-custom units from mid-tier brands run £4,000 to £10,000. A full kitchen cabinet remodel cost estimate for bespoke joinery can exceed £15,000 on its own.
If money is tight, spend on the cabinet boxes and save on hardware. Handles and hinges are easy to swap later.
Countertops
Laminate worktops start around £100 per square metre and hold up well for the price. Quartz and granite sit higher, often £250 to £500 per square metre installed, but resist heat and stains far better over time.
Pick your worktop material early. Stone templating and manufacture often takes one to two weeks, and it can hold up your whole project if ordered late.
Appliances
A basic freestanding oven and hob might cost £600 to £1,200 combined. Fully integrated appliances from premium brands can run £5,000 to £10,000 for a full suite, including fridge, dishwasher, and range cooker.
Buy energy-rated models where you can. The upfront cost is higher, but running savings add up over a kitchen’s 15 to 20 year life.
Labour Cost for Kitchen Renovation
Labour cost for kitchen renovation typically makes up 20 to 30 percent of your total quote. UK kitchen fitters charge £180 to £280 a day nationally, and £250 to £400 a day in London. Moving plumbing or electrics adds cost fast, since several trades then need to work around each other.
Ask for itemised quotes so you know exactly what labour covers. A single lump sum makes it hard to compare contractors fairly.
This is where a company like ABL Design & Build tends to add real value. Our Bespoke Kitchens London service is built for homeowners who want a one-off design rather than a standard range, with every detail planned around how the household actually uses the space.
Extra Reading: Kitchen Extension Ideas
Does Kitchen Renovation Cost Include VAT?
Most kitchen renovation quotes in the UK include VAT at the standard rate of 20%, charged on both labour and materials. This one detail moves a £25,000 kitchen by £5,000, so always confirm with your contractor whether their quote is VAT-inclusive before you compare it against anyone else’s.
The 5% Reduced VAT Rate for Empty Properties
If the property has been empty for two years or more before work starts, your kitchen renovation may qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate instead of the standard 20%. HMRC generally accepts a letter from your local authority’s Empty Property Officer confirming the two-year vacancy as sufficient evidence on its own.
There’s also a lesser-known second route: if a property stood empty for two years before you bought it, no renovation work happened during that window, and you complete the work within a year of purchase, the 5% rate can still apply but only where the builder contracts directly with you rather than working as a subcontractor.
What’s Included at the Reduced Rate
On a qualifying 5% job, fitted kitchen furniture counts as a building material, so both the units and the labour to install them are reduced-rated. Extractor hoods also qualify, since HMRC treats ventilation equipment as a building material.
Appliances are the exception. Your oven, hob, fridge, and dishwasher stay at the standard 20% rate regardless of how the rest of the job is rated. Carpets are excluded from the reduced rate too.
A Common Mistake That Costs Homeowners Money
On a qualifying 5% job, the reduced rate only applies to materials your builder supplies. If you buy the same kitchen units yourself from a retailer and have your builder simply fit them, you’ll pay the standard 20% on that purchase with no way to claim the difference back. If you’re renovating an empty property and want the VAT relief, let your contractor supply the kitchen rather than sourcing it yourself.
Converting a Property Into Flats (or Back Into One Home)
If your renovation is part of work that changes the number of dwellings for example, converting a house into flats, or two flats back into a single home the qualifying work is also charged at 5% VAT. Converting a single home into a single home doesn’t qualify, and most granny annexe conversions are excluded.
For an ordinary occupied home, expect 20% VAT on your kitchen renovation. Always ask your contractor to confirm the rate applied and whether it’s shown clearly on your written quote.
Kitchen Renovation Cost in London vs the Rest of the UK
Location changes your budget more than most homeowners expect. London labour rates, parking restrictions, and access issues in period properties all add cost.
| Region | Budget Refresh | Mid-Range | Luxury/Bespoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & South East | £8,000 – £15,000 | £20,000 – £45,000 | £60,000 – £120,000+ |
| Midlands & North | £5,500 – £10,000 | £13,000 – £28,000 | £40,000 – £75,000 |
| UK National Average | £6,000 – £12,000 | £15,000 – £32,000 | £45,000 – £90,000 |
If you compare quotes against the national average, expect London prices to run 20 to 35 percent higher for the same scope of work. Parking permits and lift-free deliveries in flats add further cost on top of day rates.
Kitchen Makeovers on a Budget
You do not need to sacrifice quality to bring a number down. Kitchen makeovers on a budget usually rely on a few simple choices:
- Keep the existing layout. Moving plumbing and electrics is one of the biggest hidden costs.
- Reface cabinet doors instead of replacing the whole carcass, if the boxes are sound.
- Choose laminate over natural stone for a similar look at a fraction of the price.
- Buy appliances during seasonal sales rather than bundling them into a contractor’s supply list.
- Phase the project. Do structural work first and upgrade finishes like lighting later.
Cost of Luxury Kitchen Remodel
At the top end, the cost of luxury kitchen remodel work reflects bespoke joinery, natural stone, and integrated smart appliances. Expect £45,000 to £100,000 or more, depending on scale and finish.
This is where a specialist team earns its fee. A luxury kitchen is not just pricier materials. It is a design built around how your household actually cooks, eats, and gathers, with every cupboard and socket placed on purpose.
At ABL Design & Build, our Bespoke Kitchens London service is built for homeowners who want a one-off design rather than a standard range fitted to a template. We handle design, structural work, and installation under one roof, so you get one point of contact from first sketch to final fit.
Ways to Lower Your Kitchen Renovation Cost Without Cutting Corners
You do not need to sacrifice quality to bring a budget down. Try these first.
- Keep the existing layout. Moving plumbing and electrics is one of the biggest hidden costs in any renovation.
- Reface cabinet doors instead of replacing the whole carcass, if the boxes are still sound.
- Choose laminate or block-lay tile over natural stone for a similar look at a fraction of the price.
- Buy appliances during seasonal sales rather than bundling them into your contractor’s supply list.
- Phase the project. Do the structural work first and upgrade finishes like splashbacks and lighting later.
How to Get an Accurate Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimate
A written quote should never be your first data point. Before you call a contractor, walk through these steps.
- Measure your kitchen and note the current layout, including where plumbing and electrics sit.
- Decide if you are keeping the layout or moving the sink, hob, or fridge.
- Pick a rough style and material tier: budget, mid-range, or bespoke.
- Get three separate quotes and compare them line by line, not just the bottom number.
- Ask each contractor what is excluded, since skips, plastering, and decorating are often billed separately.
A good kitchen remodel cost estimate should break down cabinets, worktops, appliances, and labour separately. If a quote gives you one number with no breakdown, ask for detail before agreeing to anything.
Hidden Costs of a Kitchen Renovation
The brochure price rarely tells the whole story. Kitchens sit at the centre of a home’s plumbing, electrics, and structure, so extra work often turns up once the old kitchen comes out. Here’s what these items typically cost on top of your main quote:
| Item | Typical Cost | Usual Range |
|---|---|---|
| Skip hire and waste removal | £900 | £490 – £1,500 |
| Rewiring | £1,200 | £850 – £1,850 |
| Floor levelling or screed | £1,200 | £680 – £2,300 |
| Asbestos survey or removal | £1,350 | £1,000 – £1,800 |
| Consumer unit upgrade | £1,700 | £1,100 – £2,600 |
| Damp treatment or tanking | £2,200 | £1,150 – £3,050 |
| Structural engineer report | £2,400 | £800 – £7,000 |
| Replastering | £2,400 | £1,450 – £3,300 |
Kitchen circuits are notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, so electrical work needs a registered electrician and a certificate on completion anything running on a consumer unit installed before 2008 often needs replacing rather than extending. Gas work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and moving a hob is rarely as simple as it sounds. Asbestos is a genuine risk in properties built before 2000, and floors are rarely as level as they look once the old units are removed.
This is why we always recommend holding back 10% to 15% of your budget as contingency. It turns an unexpected issue into a manageable decision rather than a budget crisis.
Budget vs. Mid-Range vs. Full Renovation vs. Luxury
| Tier | Typical Cost | What’s Included |
| Cosmetic Refresh | £5,000 – £9,000 | New doors, worktop, paint, same layout |
| Mid-Range | £12,000 – £25,000 | New units, quartz worktop, full appliances |
| Full Renovation | £25,000 – £45,000 | Layout change, premium units, flooring, structural work |
| Luxury/Bespoke | £45,000 – £100,000+ | Bespoke joinery, natural stone, smart appliances |
Get an Accurate Kitchen Renovation Quote for Your Project
The only way to know your real number is to Get an Accurate Kitchen Renovation Quote for Your Project based on your actual space, not a generic average.
A proper quote should include:
- A detailed breakdown of materials and labour costs
- A realistic project timeline
- Confirmation of who handles structural work, plumbing, and electrics
- A clear payment schedule tied to project milestones
We offer bespoke kitchens and bathrooms built around how you actually use your home. Our team handles design, structural work, and installation under one roof, so you get one point of contact and one accountable team from start to finish.
Final Thoughts
Your final kitchen renovation cost depends on size, materials, and how much structural change you take on. Use the ranges here as a starting point, then get itemised quotes to compare fairly. A clear budget from day one saves stress and prevents costly surprises later.
If you want a detailed, no-obligation quote built around your exact space, We offers a full consultation through our Bespoke Kitchen London service. Contact us today and we will walk you through real numbers for your project, not guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the UK in 2026?
A UK kitchen renovation typically costs between £6,000 and £50,000, depending on size, materials, and location. Most homeowners spend £15,000 to £25,000 for a mid-range kitchen with new units, worktops, and appliances.
Does kitchen renovation cost include VAT?
Most quotes include VAT at the standard 20% rate. If your property has been empty for two years or more, you may qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate on labour and fitted kitchen furniture though appliances still stay at 20%. Always ask your contractor to confirm whether VAT is included in the quote.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in London compared to the rest of the UK?
London kitchen renovations typically run 20% to 35% higher than the UK average, mainly due to labour rates, parking restrictions, and access issues in period properties. A mid-range kitchen in London usually costs £20,000 to £45,000, compared to £13,000 to £28,000 in the Midlands and North.
What is the average cost of a small kitchen renovation?
A small kitchen renovation (under 8 square metres) typically costs £5,000 to £12,000 for a basic refresh, or from £8,000 if you’re changing the layout. This usually covers a full refit with a compact set of units.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Most kitchen renovations take two to four weeks on site. Bespoke cabinetry or a full layout change can extend this to six to eight weeks, and design, ordering, and lead times can add several more weeks before work even starts.
What adds the most cost to a kitchen renovation?
Cabinets typically account for 25% to 40% of the total budget, making them the single biggest cost item, followed by worktops, appliances, and labour. Moving plumbing or electrics also adds cost quickly, since it affects several trades at once.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen renovation?
Usually no, unless you’re making structural changes such as removing a load-bearing wall or extending the property. If in doubt, check with your local planning office or ask your contractor to confirm before work begins.