Planning a kitchen refit?
It’s exciting… but the price tag can sneak up on you fast.
Homeowners begin with a ballpark figure in mind. Then they get quotes…. Reality sets in.
Here’s the truth:
Remodeling a kitchen is one of the largest residential projects you will every undertake. And it’s not spread uniformly – some things will consume a large percentage of your budget, while others will take very little.
Understanding where the cash really goes helps you:
- Plan a realistic budget
- Avoid nasty surprises
- Spend where it counts most
This guide breaks down exactly where every pound goes on a typical kitchen refit.
Inside this guide:
- Why Kitchen Refit Budgets Blow Up
- The 5x biggest cost areas
- Hidden costs nobody warns you about
- Smart ways to save money
Why Kitchen Refit Budgets Blow Up
Kitchen Refurbishment Costs in the UK can range between £8,000 and £30,000 depending on various factors. However…
Latest statistics reveal the median spend jumped 34% to £17,500 during 2024. What an incredible increase year-on-year.
Why does the budget keep climbing? A few reasons:
- Material prices have gone up
- Homeowners are picking pricier finishes
- Hidden problems get uncovered during the work
- Demand for good tradespeople keeps rising
Ah yes.. Tradespeople…. Qualified kitchen installers are harder to come by than ever. That increases the cost of labour on any kitchen refurb – be it a straight swap-over or full renovation.
The great news? A kitchen refit could add up to 10% to your property value. So the money you spend isn’t gone – you’re investing it.
But you still need to know where it goes…
Cabinets & Worktops – The Biggest Slice
This is where most of your budget disappears.
The golden rule is a 40/20/20 split. Essentially, 40% of your budget will go on cabinets and worktops alone.
On a £15,000 kitchen refit, that’s about £6,000 just for units and surfaces.
Why do you ask so much? Cabinets are the heart of your kitchen. They occupy the most space and are viewed the majority of the time. Worktops go over them and endure abuse every day.
Your choices matter here:
- Flat-pack cabinets: The cheapest option
- Rigid units: Mid-range and very popular
- Bespoke cabinetry: Premium end of the market
Laminate will be your cheapest option for worktops. Quartz and stone will stretch your budget to its limit.
Here’s a bonus: If you can reuse your current cabinet frames and only buy new cabinet doors, you’ll save yourself thousands of pounds. This is known as cabinet resurfacing – and it will give your kitchen a whole new look for much less money.
One more thing to think about here…
Kitchen worktop material is one area budgets really go astray. Quartz is often 4x the price of laminate for the same kitchen footprint. Choose a worktop material based on how you use your kitchen; not how it looks in a magazine.
Appliances – Where Choices Add Up Fast
Appliances usually take about 20% of your kitchen refit budget.
That’s things like:
- Oven
- Hob
- Extractor fan
- Dishwasher
- Fridge freezer
A basic appliance package will set you back £1,500 – £3,000. Go premium and you’ll be looking at £6,000+ easily.
Here’s where people get caught out:
You don’t need to buy the most expensive name brand oven. An average priced oven will work just fine. Name recognition can cost you extra pounds – but not better performance necessarily.
Pick your appliances based on:
- How often you will use them
- Energy efficiency ratings
- Realistic feature needs (do you really need a smart fridge?)
Labour & Installation Costs
Now for one of the trickiest parts of any kitchen refit… Labour.
Labour will account for about 20% of your overall budget. Sometimes more if your project is involved. This includes fitting cupboards, plumbing, electrics, tiling and structural alterations.
UK labour rates typically look like this:
- Kitchen fitters: £250 to £350 per day
- Electricians: £250 to £400 per day
- Plumbers: £200 to £350 per day
Bad installation can destroy a costly kitchen. Remediation of poor workmanship far exceeds the cost of doing it right.
Top tip: Always ask for 3x quotes before choosing someone. Check reviews and ask for references from recent projects.
Reminder: Labour charges are 15-30% more expensive in London and other major cities. Please take this into account when costing your project initially.
Flooring, Lighting & Finishing Touches
The final piece of your budget is the fill-in-the-blank. Everything else. Approximately 15-20% of your budget.
It includes:
- Flooring (tiles, vinyl, wood)
- Lighting (spotlights, pendants, under-cabinet strips)
- Splashbacks and tiling
- Paint and decoration
- Handles, taps and fittings
Tiny things like these mount up quickly. Handles that don’t look rubbish can set you back £200 – £500 per property.
Splurge where people will see and touch every day. Skimp on the things nobody will notice.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About
Here’s what really catches people out on a kitchen refit…
The stuff nobody quotes you for upfront:
- Skip hire and waste removal (£200 to £400)
- Moving pipes or wiring (£400 to £1,500)
- Building control fees for any structural work
- VAT if your contractor is registered
- Temporary cooking setup while the work is happening
Curiously enough, a mere 4% of homeowners regretted their renovation – and nearly all cited going over budget as the reason why.
The fix?
Budget 10-15% contingency. If your kitchen refit costs £15k, add £1,500 – £2,250 just for fun. Trust it – you will thank yourself later.
The other forgotten BIG one? Going without a kitchen for 2-5 weeks. Takeaways, microwave meals and dining out can become expensive. Set aside £200 – £500 food costs whilst work is underway.
The Bottom Line
Kitchen refits are more than just choosing nice cabinets. They’re a large financial investment that must be planned for accordingly from the start.
Quick recap of where the money goes:
- Cabinets & worktops: 40%
- Appliances: 20%
- Labour: 20%
- Flooring, lighting & finishes: 15-20%
- Always add a 10-15% contingency
If you know how your money is spent you can budget for a kitchen refurbishment – with no unexpected expenses later on.
Shop around and get lots of quotes. Price out your essentials. Build your budget up to allow for those inevitable surprise expenses. Your dream kitchen is within reach – and you know how much it’s going to cost!
