Kitchen Renovation Cost UK: What Builders Actually Charge
The kitchen renovation cost UK question is one I get asked more than any other. And it's one where the figures you find online are all over the place — some sites quote £5,000 for a "full kitchen renovation" while others are talking about £40,000. They're both right, just for completely different jobs.
I've been quoting and managing kitchen renovations in the UK for over 30 years. In 2026, a full kitchen renovation on a standard semi — new units, worktops, electrics, plumbing, plastering, tiling, flooring and waste removal — costs £12,000–£22,000 at mid-range specification. A basic dry-fit swap without moving anything runs £5,000–£10,000. A high-spec bespoke kitchen with structural changes can reach £35,000–£50,000.
This guide breaks the cost down properly — element by element, specification by specification — so you've got real numbers before anyone comes to quote.
Dry Fit vs Full Renovation — What's the Difference?
This distinction matters more than almost anything else when you're pricing a kitchen renovation. Get it wrong and your budget will be completely off.
Dry Fit Kitchen
A dry fit means fitting new kitchen units into exactly the same positions as the old ones. The sink stays where it is. The gas hob stays where it is. The sockets and switches stay on the same walls. All you're doing is swapping the cabinet carcasses, doors, worktops and appliances — without any first-fix plumbing or electrical work.
This is the fastest and cheapest route. Typical timeline: 2–4 days. Typical cost: £4,500–£8,500 supply and fit for a standard 10–15 unit kitchen at mid-range specification. It works well when the existing layout is functional and the plumbing and electrics are already compliant.
What dry fit doesn't address: outdated wiring, non-compliant gas pipework, poor ventilation, inadequate socket provision, or a layout that genuinely doesn't work. If the kitchen was poorly designed to begin with, swapping units won't fix it.
Full Kitchen Renovation
A full kitchen renovation starts from strip-out and rebuilds the room from scratch: new plumbing positions, new electrical layout (including additional circuits for modern appliances), new plastering, new flooring, new tiling, then the kitchen itself. This is the appropriate approach when the layout is changing, when you're combining kitchen and dining room, or when the existing services are outdated.
It takes 2–4 weeks and costs significantly more. But it also delivers a genuinely different result — a kitchen that works the way you designed it to, not just a fresher version of the old one.
Budget for a full kitchen renovation: £12,000–£22,000 at mid-range specification on a standard UK kitchen footprint.
Kitchen Renovation Cost by Specification Level
Here's the overview before we get into the detail. These are full renovation costs — supply and fit, all trades, all materials — for a standard UK kitchen of approximately 12–16 m².
| Specification | Units and Worktops | Trade Work | Total Project Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget — dry fit, basic units, laminate worktops | £2,500–£4,500 | £2,000–£4,000 | £4,500–£8,500 |
| Mid-range — full reno, rigid units, quartz or solid surface worktops | £4,500–£9,000 | £7,500–£13,000 | £12,000–£22,000 |
| High spec — bespoke or premium units, stone worktops, full structural work | £10,000–£30,000+ | £10,000–£20,000 | £20,000–£50,000+ |
The trade work column covers all labour and associated materials: strip-out, plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, flooring, fitting and decoration. The units and worktops column covers the kitchen furniture and surfaces only. In reality these are often purchased separately — the client buys the kitchen from a retailer or manufacturer and the builder does the trade work.
Cost by Element: Every Trade Accounted For
This is what builders actually charge for each part of the job. These are supply-and-fit prices for a standard 12–16 m² UK kitchen in 2026, not just labour — materials included where specified.
| Element | Budget Range | Mid-Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip-out and waste removal | £400–£700 | £600–£1,000 | Includes skip or van clearance; old units, appliances, flooring |
| First-fix plumbing | £500–£900 | £800–£1,800 | Higher if sink or dishwasher position is moving |
| Gas — hob connection and pipe relocation | £200–£400 | £400–£800 | Gas Safe registered engineer required |
| First-fix electrics | £400–£700 | £700–£1,500 | New circuits for oven, hob, extractor, dishwasher, fridge |
| Plastering — walls and ceiling | £600–£1,200 | £1,000–£2,000 | Full skim or bonding coat; depends on wall condition |
| Kitchen unit supply — carcasses, doors, hardware | £1,800–£3,500 | £3,500–£8,000 | Excludes appliances; wide range based on brand |
| Worktops — supply and fabrication | £400–£900 (laminate) | £1,500–£4,000 (quartz) | Stone requires template visit and fabrication lead time |
| Kitchen fitting (labour) | £800–£1,500 | £1,200–£2,500 | Depends on number of units and complexity |
| Splashback — tiling or glass panel | £300–£600 | £500–£1,500 | Full-height tiling behind hob adds cost |
| Flooring — supply and fit | £600–£1,200 | £1,000–£2,500 | LVT or porcelain tile most common in kitchens |
| Second-fix plumbing — sink, dishwasher, boiler connections | £300–£600 | £500–£900 | Includes waste fittings and flexible hoses |
| Second-fix electrics — sockets, switches, extractor, lights | £350–£600 | £500–£900 | Includes under-cabinet LED lighting if specified |
| Appliances — oven, hob, extractor, dishwasher, fridge | £800–£2,000 | £2,000–£6,000 | Often client-supplied; wide range by brand |
| Decoration and finishing | £200–£500 | £350–£800 | Painting walls and ceiling post-fitting |
If you want to generate a detailed estimate from your kitchen floor plan before you go to builders for quotes, try RenoCalc free — it covers all the elements above and produces a room-by-room breakdown in minutes.
Worktop Costs Compared
Worktops are one of the biggest variables in kitchen renovation cost — not because they dominate the budget (they don't), but because the range between cheapest and most expensive is enormous. Here's a realistic comparison for a standard 5-metre run of worktop, supply and fit.
| Worktop Material | Supply and Fit Cost | Durability | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £350–£700 | Moderate | Low — wipe clean |
| Solid wood (oak, walnut) | £800–£2,000 | Good if oiled regularly | Medium — requires periodic oiling |
| Quartz composite | £1,500–£3,500 | Very high | Low — non-porous |
| Granite | £1,500–£4,000 | Very high | Low — seal periodically |
| Porcelain slab | £2,000–£5,000 | Extremely high | Very low — non-porous, heat-proof |
| Corian / solid surface | £1,200–£3,000 | High | Low — seamless, repairable |
For most kitchen renovations at mid-range specification, quartz composite is the worktop of choice — durable, low maintenance, available in a vast range of finishes, and priced reasonably relative to its lifespan. Laminate has improved enormously and is a perfectly sensible choice for rental properties or budget renovations.
How Kitchen Size Affects the Total Cost
Kitchen size affects cost, but not linearly. The trade work — plumbing, electrics, plastering, flooring — scales with room size. The kitchen furniture cost scales with the number of units and the run length. But some costs are fixed regardless of size: strip-out, Building Control notification, extractor installation, and basic plumbing connections don't change much between a 10 m² and a 16 m² kitchen.
| Kitchen Size | Approximate Unit Run | Full Renovation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small — galley / terrace (8–10 m²) | 4–6 metres | £9,000–£15,000 |
| Standard — semi-detached (10–14 m²) | 6–10 metres | £13,000–£22,000 |
| Large — detached / open plan (14–20 m²) | 10–16 metres | £18,000–£35,000 |
| Open-plan kitchen-diner (20 m²+) | Variable | £25,000–£50,000+ |
Open-plan kitchen-diner renovations that involve removing a wall between kitchen and dining room need a structural engineer's sign-off and a steel beam installation, which typically adds £3,000–£8,000 to the total — plus Building Regulations approval fees of £400–£800. See our guide on extension cost per square metre UK if you're considering expanding the kitchen footprint outward.
What Pushes Kitchen Renovation Costs Higher
These are the things that regularly increase kitchen budgets beyond initial estimates. Worth knowing before you finalise your scope.
Moving the Sink or Dishwasher Position
Moving the sink across the kitchen means extending or re-routing the waste pipe — which may mean lifting the floor or boxing in new runs, neither of which is particularly quick or cheap. Add £400–£1,200 to your plumbing budget for any sink relocation. Moving the dishwasher to a non-adjacent position has similar implications for the waste run.
Relocating Gas Pipework
If the hob is moving to a new wall or island, the gas supply needs to follow it. This must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the pipework typically needs to be concealed within the unit run or in the floor. Budget an additional £500–£1,000 for gas pipework relocation depending on the distance involved.
Electrical Circuits for Modern Kitchens
Modern kitchens require more dedicated circuits than older ones: a separate circuit for the oven, a circuit for the hob, one for the dishwasher, one for the fridge-freezer, and ideally one for the extractor. If the existing consumer unit doesn't have spare capacity, a consumer unit upgrade adds £600–£1,200 to the electrical cost. This is money well spent — kitchens draw significant electrical load and undersized circuits are a fire risk.
Wall Condition After Strip-Out
Old kitchens frequently have damaged plasterwork behind the units. Once the units come down, you may find hollow patches, damp spots or cracked render. A full kitchen plaster skim to walls and ceiling adds £1,000–£2,000 to the project but gives you a clean substrate for tiling and decoration. Don't skip it to save money — the finish of the new kitchen will directly reflect the condition of the walls behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the UK?
Kitchen renovation cost UK ranges from around £5,000 for a basic dry-fit kitchen swap up to £40,000 or more for a full bespoke kitchen renovation including structural changes, high-end units and stone worktops. A mid-range kitchen renovation on a typical UK semi-detached — full strip-out, new units, worktops, electrics, plumbing, plastering and tiling — runs £12,000–£22,000 in 2026. The kitchen is consistently the most expensive room in any house renovation, so it's worth getting the budget right before work starts.
What is the difference between a dry fit and a full kitchen renovation?
A dry fit kitchen means fitting new units in the same positions as the old ones, without moving plumbing or electrical points. The pipework, sockets and switches stay where they are — you're swapping the cabinet carcasses, doors and worktops only. Cost: £4,500–£8,500 supply and fit. A full renovation moves plumbing positions, adds or relocates electrical circuits, replasters walls, replaces the flooring and includes tiling. It costs significantly more — £12,000–£22,000 — but delivers a genuinely redesigned kitchen rather than just a fresher version of the original.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
A dry-fit kitchen swap typically takes 3–5 days. A full kitchen renovation involving plumbing moves, replastering and new flooring runs 2–4 weeks. The timeline depends on how well trades are sequenced: first-fix plumbing and electrics must happen before plastering, which must be fully dry before tiling, which must be complete before second-fix fitting. Plan the trade sequence in advance and book trades early. The kitchen is usually the room where delays have the biggest impact on household life during a renovation.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen renovation?
Standard kitchen renovations don't require planning permission. You can fit new units, move plumbing within the existing kitchen space, rewire and replaster without any consent. Where planning may apply: changing a window or external door, structural alterations like removing a wall between kitchen and dining room (which needs Building Regulations for structural sign-off), or extending the kitchen footprint. Building Regulations approval is required for notifiable electrical work and structural alterations — your electrician handles the electrical Part P notification.
What worktop gives the best value in a kitchen renovation?
Laminate worktops offer the best cost-to-durability ratio at the budget end — they've improved significantly and cost £350–£700 supply and fit for a standard kitchen. Quartz composite is the most popular mid-to-high specification choice: durable, heat-resistant, low-maintenance and available in a huge range of finishes. Expect to pay £1,500–£3,500 supply and fit for quartz on a standard kitchen. Granite is comparable in price. Porcelain slab worktops are growing in popularity but require specialist fabrication and are at the higher end of the cost range.
Can RenoCalc produce a kitchen renovation estimate?
Yes. RenoCalc is an AI estimation tool built for UK builders and property investors. You upload your floor plan, select the kitchen specification level, and the system produces a full breakdown covering units, worktops, electrics, plumbing, plastering, tiling, flooring and waste removal — all in under three minutes. It's a useful way to build your budget before inviting builders in for formal quotes. Start free at RenoCalc — no subscription required for your first estimate.
Ready to Build Your Kitchen Renovation Budget?
The figures in this guide cover real UK trade prices in 2026 — from a straightforward dry-fit swap to a full open-plan kitchen renovation. Use them to sense-check quotes you receive, build your initial budget, and understand which elements have the most scope for value engineering without compromising the end result.
If you want a room-specific estimate based on your actual kitchen dimensions and specification, try RenoCalc free. Upload your floor plan and get a full element-by-element cost breakdown in minutes — built for builders and property investors managing UK renovations.
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