How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in the UK 2025
A new kitchen is one of the most exciting upgrades you can make to a home. It is also one of the most expensive. Costs range so widely that asking “How much should a kitchen cost?”
In 2025, budgets are tighter than ever. Inflation has driven up the price of materials and labour, and long lead times can create unexpected costs. With careful planning, however, you can avoid surprises and land a kitchen that is stylish, functional and priced sensibly for your property.
Average Kitchen Renovation Costs in 2025
Every kitchen project sits somewhere on a scale from basic refresh to fully bespoke. Here is what homeowners across the UK are paying right now:
Kitchen type | Typical cost range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
Budget renovation | £6,000 – £12,000 | Stock or flat-pack units, laminate or wood-effect worktops, minimal layout changes, often fitted by a local carpenter or DIY. |
Mid-range renovation | £12,000 – £25,000 | Mix of off-the-shelf and semi-bespoke cabinetry, quartz or granite worktops, branded appliances, upgraded flooring and tiling, professional fitting with building regulations compliance. |
High-end or bespoke design | £25,000 – £60,000+ | Handmade cabinetry, premium worktops such as marble or Dekton, top-end appliances, possible structural work like opening up walls or installing an island with integrated services, fully managed installation and design. |
Most UK homeowners now spend between £12,000 and £20,000 for a full mid-range renovation. This is the sweet spot: high enough to achieve branded appliances, durable worktops and a professional finish, without crossing into the more eye-watering bespoke joinery costs.
Beams’ advice is always to add a contingency of 10–15% on top of your target budget. Even the best-prepared projects throw up surprises, from hidden damp to rewiring needs, and it is far less stressful to have a buffer than to scramble for extra funds midway through.
What Makes Up the Cost of a Kitchen?
When people first look at kitchen prices, it can be confusing why the numbers vary so much. The truth is that a kitchen renovation is not one cost, but a collection of smaller ones. From cabinetry and worktops to electrics and labour, each element plays a part in shaping the final figure.
Here is a breakdown of the key components most homeowners will face in 2025:
What Makes Up the Cost of a Kitchen in 2025?
Item | Typical cost range | Notes (what this actually covers) |
|---|---|---|
Cabinets and storage | £2,000 – £15,000+ | Cabinets and storage form the backbone of a kitchen renovation. This includes kitchen cupboards, drawers, carcasses, and internal fittings. Stock cabinets start at around £2,000 while bespoke cabinetry can exceed £15,000, depending on finish and craftsmanship. |
Worktops | £800 – £5,000 | Kitchen worktops are the main preparation surfaces, covering laminate, solid wood, stone, or quartz. The cost of worktops usually falls between £800 and £5,000, with stone and premium quartz sitting at the top end. |
Appliances | £1,500 – £10,000 | Kitchen appliances such as ovens, hobs, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, and extractors often cost £1,500 to £10,000. The range depends on whether you choose mid-range reliable brands or high-end integrated smart appliances. |
Flooring and tiling | £1,000 – £3,500 | Vinyl, laminate, hardwood, or ceramic tiles generally cost £1,000 to £3,500 installed. |
Lighting | £500 – £2,500 | Spotlights, pendants and LED strips usually range between £500 and £2,500. |
Plumbing and electrics | £1,000 – £4,000 | Rewiring, sockets, moving sinks or gas hobs can add £1,000 to £4,000 |
Labour and fitting | £3,500 – £9,500 | Professional kitchen fitting normally costs £3,500 to £9,500, with fitters charging £250–£350 per day. |
Finishing touches | £300 – £1,500 | Handles, taps, splashbacks, sockets and paintwork usually cost £300–£1,500. |
The Hidden Extras Nobody Warns You About
The price tag on the kitchen brochure rarely tells the full story. Rewiring can add another £800 to £2,000, especially in older houses that still run on fuse boxes last updated when avocado bathrooms were in fashion. Moving plumbing to reposition a sink or hob? Budget £400 to £1,500. Waste removal (that skip on your driveway everyone in the street fills with their own junk) usually runs at £200 to £400.
Even small things snowball. That splashback you thought you’d “just tile”? Add another £300 to £1,000 depending on the material. And don’t forget replastering, redecorating, or the inevitable surprise when the floor comes up and reveals damp you didn’t invite to the party. That’s why we always recommend holding back around 10–15% of your budget as a contingency.\
Smart Ways to Save Without Compromising
A new kitchen doesn’t have to eat the holiday fund and the rainy day savings. Some of the cleverest savings come from not moving what doesn’t need moving. Keep your sink and cooker in the same place and you’ll instantly avoid pricey plumbing bills.
Mix and match materials – no one cares if your cabinet carcasses are basic, as long as your doors and handles look sharp. Shop around for appliances; it’s often 20–30% cheaper to buy them directly from retailers than bundling them into your kitchen package. And if your cupboards are solid but a bit dreary, consider a respray. A lick of paint costs a lot less than ripping everything out.
It’s about spending where it matters – cabinets, worktops, proper fitting – and saving where you can. After all, nobody comes over and compliments your socket backplates.
How Long Does a Kithcen Renovation Take?
A standard kitchen renovation usually takes two to four weeks. That’s the rip-out, fitting, plastering, electrics, plumbing, tiling, painting , the whole lot. Bigger, bespoke jobs with custom cabinets or layout changes can easily stretch to six or eight weeks.
Bear in mind, supply chains still like to throw curveballs. A delayed fridge or worktop can hold things up, which is why we always recommend getting materials ordered well before anyone turns up with a crowbar.
Beams Renovation’s Take
We’ve watched kitchens go from functional to fabulous – and occasionally from fabulous back to functional when people overcomplicate things. Our advice is always the same: focus on durability first, then splash out where it counts. A sturdy cabinet door with decent hinges will make you far happier in five years than a wine fridge that broke after six months.
Done well, a kitchen renovation is one of the few upgrades that pays for itself. A good kitchen can add £5,000–£15,000 to your property’s value, but more importantly, it changes how you live day to day. If your current kitchen feels like a place you avoid rather than enjoy, it’s worth the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kitchen Renovation Costs
Do I need to budget extra for extending or structurally altering my kitchen?
If you’re thinking of knocking through walls to open up space, adding an extension, or moving load-bearing structures, yes — you’ll need to budget well beyond your cabinetry and appliance costs. Those kinds of changes draw in structural engineers, planning permission, and potentially an extension project. If you want an idea of what home extension costs look like (which helps when comparing to major kitchen works), check our guide on the cost of home extension.
How much difference do ceiling lights make in cost and ambiance?
Lighting often gets tacked on at the end of a kitchen plan, but it’s one of the first things people notice (and regret). If you upgrade ceiling lights mix in pendants, under-cabinet strips or statement fixtures — you’re adding both cost and character. The fixtures themselves, quality bulbs, electrician fees, and maybe extra wiring all add up. For a detailed breakdown of what lighting might add, especially ceiling lights, our comprehensive guide explains how much it typically costs and what to expect. See A Comprehensive Guide to Kitchen Ceiling Lights.
What are the benefits of renovating rather than moving?
Renovating your existing kitchen (or home) often makes more sense both financially and emotionally. You preserve location, character, and memories — plus renovation costs are often lower than buying somewhere new or building from scratch. You also get the chance to improve energy efficiency, fix lingering issues (plumbing, heating, layout), and really customise the space. If you’re weighing the pros and cons, our article on 10 Reasons to Renovate covers all the upside, and the occasional downside, so you’re going in with your eyes open.
Will a kitchen renovation help resale value? And how much can I expect to recoup?
In many cases a well-done kitchen renovation can add significant value to your home, especially when the kitchen is a selling point in your market. How much you recoup depends on quality, locality, and how sensible the choices are (high-end finishes help, but over-spec for your area might not). Also, layout changes, lighting, storage — these things often punch above their weight for resale. If space is tight and you’re thinking “maybe an extension” just to fix the kitchen flow, you might want to tour our Small Kitchen Extension Ideas to see if a small extension could be a better way of getting both space and functionality.
How long should I expect a kitchen renovation to take? and how much disruption should I plan for?
A straightforward kitchen swap (keeping layout, same plumbing, minimal structural changes) usually takes 2-4 weeks. If you’re doing structural changes, custom cabinetry, or layout reconfigurations, it could be 6-8 weeks (or more). Disruption depends on how much you need to vacate parts of your home: expect dust, noise, and possibly temporary loss of facilities (like your main sink or hob). Planning phone calls, meals, and temporary setups ahead of time helps a lot.
Ready to Plan Yours?
Thinking about it? The earlier you plan, the smoother the journey. Whether you’re keeping things simple or going all out with a bespoke design, the Beams team can help you put the numbers – and the ideas – into perspective.
Explore our home renovations services to start sketching out your dream kitchen today.
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