A kitchen renovation is without doubt one of the most important investments you may make in your house, typically delivering a excessive return on funding in each life-style and property worth. As we look forward to 2026, understanding the exact value breakdown between supplies and the skilled labour required is essential for setting a sensible finances.
Based mostly on present UK market traits and ahead projections for 2026, right here is the excellent information to budgeting to your new kitchen, with a transparent give attention to the important labour vs. supplies cut up.
1. The whole image: Common UK kitchen prices in 2026
The ultimate value of your new kitchen will primarily be decided by two components: the dimensions of the room and the standard of the supplies you choose. Prices are usually categorised into three tiers:
| Kitchen Tier | Typical Price Vary (Supplies & Labour) | Key Traits |
| Finances | £6,000 – £12,000 | Flat-pack models, laminate worktops, minimal format modifications, and primary home equipment. Typically fitted by a normal carpenter/fitter. |
| Mid-range | £12,000 – £25,000 | Pre-assembled or semi-bespoke models, sturdy quartz or stable wooden worktops, branded home equipment, {and professional} becoming together with specialist trades. That is the preferred bracket for UK owners. |
| Excessive-end/bespoke | £25,000 – £60,000+ | Absolutely bespoke cabinetry, premium worktops (e.g., marble, Dekton), high-end built-in home equipment, and attainable structural work (e.g., pulling down partitions, putting in islands). |
2. The important cut up: Labour vs. supplies (the 60/40 rule)
When estimating a brand new kitchen finances, a dependable rule of thumb is the 60/40 cut up for the general mission value.
| Price Element | Share of Complete Finances | What it Covers |
| Supplies & provide | 60% – 70% | Cupboards, worktops, home equipment, sinks, faucets, flooring, and tiles. |
| Labour & set up | 30% – 40% | The price of the fitter, electrician, plumber, tiler, plasterer, and waste elimination. |
This cut up can range considerably. If you happen to go for costly, bespoke cabinetry and high-end stone worktops, the supplies share will improve nearer to 70%. Conversely, in case your format requires in depth electrical rewiring or transferring a sink throughout the room, the labour share will rise.
3. Detailed breakdown of fabric prices (the 60-70%)
The supplies are the center of your kitchen and characterize the most important portion of your finances.
| Element | Finances Vary (Provide Solely) | Key Price Issue |
| Cupboards and models | £2,000 – £15,000+ | Flat-pack (cheaper, £20-£70 per unit) vs. Pre-assembled/Bespoke (sturdier, £70-£130+ per unit). The selection of door end (e.g. painted wooden vs. laminate) can be vital. |
| Worktops | £800 – £5,000 | Laminate (£200-£800 for a median kitchen) is the most cost effective. Stable Wooden is mid-range. Quartz, Granite, or Porcelain begin from round £300 per sq. metre and might simply attain £3,500 to £5,000+. |
| Home equipment | £1,500 – £10,000+ | A regular oven, hob, and extractor will be sourced for beneath £1,000. Built-in, sensible, or premium model home equipment (e.g., Miele, Siemens) will push prices into the high-end vary. |
| Sinks and faucets | £150 – £1,000 | A primary mixer faucet begins low, however boiling water faucets or designer sinks generally is a vital value. |
| Flooring and tiling | £1,000 – £3,500 | Price is dependent upon materials: Vinyl is most cost-effective, adopted by Ceramic Tiles, then Luxurious Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Engineered Wooden. |
4. Detailed breakdown of labour and set up prices (the 30-40%)
This part covers the price of professionals required to put in and certify your new kitchen.
A. Core kitchen fitter prices
The kitchen fitter is the central tradesperson and is accountable for the principle set up of models, worktops, and door alignment.
- Common every day price: £250 – £350 per day (will be increased in London and the South East, reaching £400+).
- Complete set up value (labour solely): £2,200 – £4,600 is a standard vary for a primary match. A full-service set up together with coordination of all trades can value as much as £7,000 – £9,500.
- Length: A regular renovation usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Complicated or bespoke jobs can take 6 to eight weeks.
B. Specialist commerce prices
For all however the easiest like-for-like substitute, you will want specialist, licensed tradespeople.
| Commerce | Typical Each day Fee | Typical Challenge Price (Vary) |
| Electrician | £250 – £400 | £500 – £1,900 for duties like including new sockets, becoming lighting, or minor circuit modifications. A full rewire of the kitchen space is on the increased finish. |
| Plumber | £180 – £375 | £300 – £1,000 for connecting the sink, dishwasher, and washer. Prices rise considerably when you transfer the place of the sink or boiler. |
| Plasterer | £150 – £250 | £400 – £750 for re-skimming partitions after unit elimination, or for preparation earlier than tiling. |
| Gasoline secure engineer | £40 – £75 per hour | Required to put in or disconnect any gasoline hob/cooker connections. |
| Tiler/flooring fitter | £150 – £300 | Varies drastically based mostly on sq. meterage and materials. |
Why select licensed tradespeople via Rated Individuals?
Hiring for a kitchen mission means coordinating a number of specialists: fitters, Gasoline Protected engineers, and licensed electricians. The standard of this labour is the one greatest issue figuring out your kitchen’s closing look, security, and lifespan.
- Verified specialists: Rated Individuals connects you with verified tradespeople—together with licensed Gasoline Protected engineers and NICEIC electricians—who possess the best credentials for advanced, regulated work.
- Belief and transparency: You may view actual house owner critiques and rankings for every particular person commerce earlier than you rent, guaranteeing you obtain clear quotes and high-calibre workmanship.
- Challenge peace of thoughts: We assist you supply all the mandatory specialists in a single place, guaranteeing security compliance and knowledgeable end that protects your funding.
5. The essential x-factor: Hidden prices and contingency (10-15%)
Some of the frequent errors just isn’t accounting for the hidden or surprising prices that come up as soon as the outdated kitchen is stripped out.
The contingency fund
Specialists universally suggest setting apart 10% to fifteen% of your complete finances as a contingency fund. For a £15,000 mission, this implies having £1,500 to £2,250 in reserve. In older properties the place structural points are extra seemingly, a 20% contingency is advisable.
Widespread hidden bills:
| Hidden Price | Typical Finances to Reserve |
| Structural work | £1,500 – £10,000+ |
| Waste elimination / skip rent | £200 – £400 |
| Subfloor/damp restore | £500 – £2,000+ |
| Preparation works | Included in labour |
| Constructing laws | £100 – £500 |
| Short-term dwelling | Varies |
By breaking down your mission into the fabric parts and the varied labour necessities, and by defending your self with a strong contingency fund, you may strategy your 2026 kitchen renovation with confidence and a sensible finances.
With Rated Individuals, you may get the job finished. Discover a trusted, native cleaner right this moment.
