How Much Does a Kitchen Cost?

(And why there’s no simple answer)

It’s one of the first questions most people ask — and understandably so. A new kitchen is a big investment, both financially and emotionally. But the honest answer is: it depends.

The cost of a kitchen can vary dramatically, even for rooms that look quite similar at first glance. The difference comes down to what you’re buying, how it’s made, and how it’s fitted — and, crucially, the quality of design that underpins it all.

1. Design and planning

Good design is what makes a kitchen work. It’s about more than where the sink goes — it’s how the space flows, how you move between cooking, eating, and living areas, and how it feels to be in.

A well-designed kitchen can actually save money by avoiding unnecessary building work, wasted space, or last-minute changes. Poor design, on the other hand, can make even the most expensive kitchen frustrating to use.

That’s why investing time at the design stage — before you start choosing doors or worktops — makes such a difference.

2. Size

Its not rocket science, but the bigger the kitchen, the higher the cost - there is just more of everything!

3. Materials and construction

Two kitchens may look similar in photos, but be built very differently.

From mass-produced flat-pack units to bespoke hand-built cabinetry, the way your kitchen is made has a huge impact on cost, durability, and long-term feel.

4.The cabinets (cupboards or carcasses) can be made from a number of materials

Melamine faced chipboard or MFC (the material most kitchens are made from) - comes in different qualities that can affect the price, and also the longevity of the kitchen.

A good kitchen supplier should be offering a sustainable high quality MFC carcass as standard with a choice of many different looks from colours to woodgrains.

Premium carcasses can sometimes be found that use a solid timber veneered MDF with solid timber edging to give a feeling of luxury

MDF is often used by joinery companies for the carcasses and then have a painted finish.

Solid timber is occasionally used, but rarely, due to its propensity to expand or 'move' due to the humidity in the kitchen.

Plywood - a fairly specialised material - is rarely used in the main stream kitchen market mainly due to its cost and the difficulty of using natural timber and finishing the edges.

5.Doors and Panels

In order of cost

Flat MFC panels are at the budget end but with the right finish can look amazing

Foil-wrapped  MDF comes next with various styles and finishes available

Vinyl wrapped MDF door - better than foil wrap (IMO) and very durable with loads of styles and finishes available.

Acrylic faced MDF slab doors - great for modern kitchens and very durable

Painted kitchens - as with all paint finishes , can chip and scratch, but can also be refinished if needed. Available in MDF and solid wood finishes

Slab doors

Shaker doors

In Frame doors - every unit has its own door / drawer fronts set into a separate frame

To put the difference into perspective, a budget 60cm cupboard unit with one door might have a list price of around £155, while a 60cm four-drawer in-frame unit with an oak-veneered carcass and solid dovetail drawers can list at £1,774. On paper they’re the same width, but in reality they’re worlds apart in materials, construction, and quality.

That’s why two kitchens can look similar in photographs, yet differ hugely in cost — and in how they feel and perform every day.

6. Layout and complexity

A straight run of cabinets is very different to a large open-plan design with islands, tall storage, or integrated seating. The more corners, walls, and bespoke details there are, the more time and craftsmanship involved.

Similarly, changes to plumbing, electrics, or structural walls can all add cost — which is why a considered layout, developed early, is so valuable.

7. Worktops

This can have a huge impact on your kitchen cost with laminate worktops being in the hundreds and quartz and other solid surfaces being several thousand.

That said - the worktop is the one thing that you see, use and touch every day, so if you have the budget go for what you want - see my separate article on worktops for more info- (link to worktop page)

8. Fitting and finishing

Even the best-made kitchen can fall short if it’s not installed properly.

The skill of the fitter, the precision of the worktops, and the attention to detail all affect the final result — and how the kitchen performs for years to come.

Professional fitting, carried out by experienced trades, is worth its weight in gold.

9. The unseen details

Lighting, flooring, decoration, and finishing touches — handles, sockets, splash backs — all add to the total, and often make the biggest difference in how the space feels.

They’re easy to overlook when budgeting, but they’re what turn a good kitchen into a great one.

So what’s the takeaway?

There’s no single “average” kitchen cost, because every project, space, and homeowner is different.

• Know your budget - and ask your designer to design to it!
• Get a design that is functional - it has to work for you for a long time!
• Find a good fitter - who can organise the other trades needed and has good references.
• Know all the details before you start so that you can answer any questions and avoid expensive delays
• Be organised - washing up in the bath is no fun and eating out gets expensive.
• Get detailed quotes so you know just what is included
• If you don't know something - Ask

A properly designed and installed kitchen of good quality should  easily last thirty years and will be a pleasure to use every single day — whatever your budget.