Kitchen renovation budgets in the UK have spread further in 2026 because labour remains tight, appliances are more feature-rich, and homeowners are choosing better storage and lighting layouts than in older refits. A basic project can still be completed economically if the room layout is unchanged and supply choices stay practical. At the same time, premium designs now frequently include bespoke cabinetry, integrated ventilation, premium appliances and stone surfaces that move the total into a much higher range.
The figures below are the three baseline budget levels most homeowners use when planning. They are practical planning ranges, not marketing headline prices. They include supply and typical fitting assumptions for an average family kitchen.
Budget Kitchen
£5,000-£10,000
Flat-pack units, basic appliances, laminate finishes and minimal layout change.
Bespoke cabinetry, premium detailing, Siemens/Miele appliances, stone upgrades.
These ranges work best as a planning framework before final surveys, detailed measurements and electrical/plumbing checks are completed.
Budget Kitchen (£5,000-£10,000): What You Can Realistically Get
A budget kitchen in 2026 is still fully achievable, but cost control must be deliberate from day one. This bracket normally uses flat-pack units, standard cabinet sizes and entry-level door finishes such as melamine or simple wrapped fronts. Most projects in this range also keep the sink, cooker location and major appliance positions in the same place to avoid avoidable plumbing and electrical labour.
Typical supply choices include laminate worktops, straightforward stainless steel sink sets, and basic appliance packages such as a freestanding cooker, standard fridge-freezer and extractor. Flooring in this budget often means sheet vinyl, entry-level laminate or a simple click system installed after cabinetry. Wall finishes usually stay practical, with tiled splashback only in high-use zones and paint elsewhere.
Where this level works best is rental upgrades, first-time buyer properties, utility-adjacent kitchens and homes where the owner needs functional reliability rather than feature-heavy specification. You can still improve visual quality by investing in handles, task lighting and neat finishing trims. These are relatively small line items but they dramatically improve the final result.
In this bracket, disciplined planning matters more than chasing low unit prices. The projects that run over budget are usually not caused by cabinets alone. They are caused by late appliance changes, missing service upgrades, or flooring choices being upgraded after fitting has started. If your target is below £10,000, lock your product list early and keep contingency for small surprises.
Mid-Range Kitchen (£10,000-£20,000): The Most Common Family Upgrade
The £10,000-£20,000 band is where most owner-occupier renovations land in 2026. This range usually shifts from flat-pack to rigid units, which arrive pre-assembled and often provide stronger build quality, tighter alignment and better long-term durability. Door finishes improve too, with painted effects, soft-touch laminates and higher quality edging details that resist wear in busy households.
Integrated appliances become common in this tier. Rather than freestanding products, homeowners typically choose built-in ovens, integrated dishwashers and concealed refrigeration for a cleaner run of cabinetry. You also start seeing more design-led upgrades such as pull-out larders, deep pan drawers, soft-close runners, waste sorting units and under-cabinet lighting channels.
Worktops often move from basic laminate to mid-level quartz or premium laminate designs with realistic stone finishes. Backsplash choices become more varied, including full-height glass or large-format porcelain behind hobs. Flooring budgets also increase, with better click LVT, thicker laminate systems, or porcelain tiles in higher traffic kitchens. Together, these changes create a major jump in feel and daily usability.
If you want the best balance between spend and finish, this is normally the most efficient bracket. It supports strong storage, a cohesive look and improved durability without entering fully bespoke pricing. The key to staying in-range is selecting one or two standout upgrades and keeping the rest of the specification consistent, instead of adding premium options in every category.
Luxury Kitchen (£20,000-£50,000+): Bespoke Design and Premium Performance
Luxury kitchens in 2026 are less about simple replacement and more about full room design. Budgets from £20,000 upward typically include bespoke cabinetry, tailored storage around exact room dimensions, and specialist joinery around ceiling lines, chimney breasts or awkward corners. You may also see painted timber, hand-finished doors and detailed internal cabinet features such as oak drawers, lighting channels and custom organisers.
Appliance selections in this band often move to Siemens or Miele, with some projects adding steam ovens, warming drawers, induction upgrades and higher extraction performance. These choices raise both purchase price and installation complexity, especially where dedicated electrical circuits or ventilation routes are needed. Smart home integration and zoned lighting controls are common additions.
Stone surfaces become a major cost lever at this level. Quartz, granite and other premium materials are selected not only for durability but also for slab pattern, edge detailing and seamless joins. Kitchen islands are frequently added, which can increase cabinetry, plumbing, electrical and flooring work at the same time. Decoration quality also rises, with final snagging and finish checks taking longer than in basic installations.
Luxury projects can deliver exceptional long-term satisfaction, but they need clear scope control and experienced contractors. The most expensive mistakes at this level come from design revisions after manufacturing starts. If your project includes bespoke cabinetry or specialist surfaces, final sign-off of drawings should happen only after measurements are fully verified on site.
Labour and Fitting Costs in 2026
Labour is often the difference between a smooth project and a difficult one. In UK kitchen renovations, daily rates vary by region, trade availability and project complexity, but most planning starts with the following day-rate ranges.
Trade
Typical Daily Rate
Common Tasks in a Kitchen Refit
Kitchen Fitter
£150-£300/day
Unit assembly or installation, door alignment, trim, appliance housing, final finish details.
Socket layout, appliance circuits, lighting, certification and compliance work.
A straightforward like-for-like replacement usually has a fitting window of 4-6 days once all products are on site. The shorter end of this range applies where floors are level, services are already suitable, and there is no significant structural or layout change. The longer end applies when walls need making good, additional sockets are needed, or appliance delivery schedules create installation gaps.
Many homeowners underestimate handover tasks. Snagging, silicone finishing, door alignment checks, protective film removal and small decoration repairs can still take meaningful time. It is practical to plan a little buffer rather than expecting the room to be fully complete the same day the units are fixed.
The lowest quotes are not always the cheapest outcome. If labour is under-priced, quality control can slip and correction work can cost more than paying for a stronger installer in the first place. Ask who is responsible for each trade interface, and get the schedule in writing before work starts.
Worktop Costs: Laminate vs Quartz vs Granite
Worktops can swing your budget quickly, so this is one of the earliest decisions to lock. In 2026 planning, many homeowners use the following rough supply-only guide for common materials: laminate £100-£300, quartz £400-£800, granite £600-£1000. Real totals vary by thickness, edge profile, cut-outs, number of joins and installation complexity.
Laminate offers strong value and has improved visually over the last few years, especially in realistic stone and wood effects. It works well in budget and many mid-range projects, and replacement is easier if future style changes are planned. Quartz is a frequent mid to premium choice because it is durable, low-maintenance and available in a wide colour range. Granite remains popular where natural variation and a high-end finish are priorities.
In planning terms, the best approach is to ask for installed pricing with all fabrication details included. A headline slab number can look affordable until edge shaping, sink cut-outs, drainer grooves and delivery handling are added. If you are comparing options, compare final installed figures, not just base material rates.
Appliance Budgets and Selection Strategy
Appliances are one of the most common sources of budget drift. A typical budget package with practical, entry-level products may sit around £1,000-£2,500. Integrated mid-range packages often fall around £2,500-£6,000 depending on brand, specification and number of built-in units. Premium suites with multi-function ovens, advanced induction and high-end extraction can move to £6,000-£15,000 or more.
The right appliance budget depends on cooking habits, maintenance priorities and household size. A household that cooks daily may gain clear value from better extraction, quieter dishwashing and efficient refrigeration. A lightly used kitchen may be better served by reliable standard models and budget left for storage or worktop upgrades.
In mid-range and luxury kitchens, integrated appliances improve visual continuity, but they are usually not the cheapest route. Installation can involve extra housing requirements and tighter ventilation clearances. Always confirm appliance dimensions against cabinet plans before orders are finalised. Late substitution is a common reason for schedule delays and rework.
Planning tip: buy the appliance set early, store safely if needed, and give exact model numbers to the fitter before cabinetry is finalised.
Flooring Costs and Practical Choices
Flooring is often chosen late, but it should be planned alongside cabinetry because build-up heights and transitions matter. Entry-level vinyl can be cost-effective in utility-focused kitchens, while laminate offers quick installation and straightforward replacement if styles change later. LVT and porcelain become more common in mid-range and premium projects because of durability and appearance options.
As a practical 2026 guide for full-room supply and fitting in average kitchen sizes, basic flooring packages may start around several hundred pounds, while better LVT or porcelain installations can push into low thousands depending on preparation requirements. Uneven subfloors, moisture management and floor-level correction can all add cost before the visible surface is installed.
If underfloor heating is planned, check total floor build-up and response times during design. This is especially important near thresholds and where appliances require strict clearance tolerances. Flooring decisions that are delayed to the end of the project often create avoidable compromise. Early selection prevents last-minute rework around plinth heights and door swing clearances.
Costs Homeowners Frequently Miss
Even well-planned kitchen projects can run over if hidden items are ignored. Common examples include skip hire, temporary cooking arrangements, wall repairs behind old units, upgraded extraction duct routes, and small electrical extras such as additional sockets or fused spurs. None of these are individually large in many cases, but combined they can alter totals significantly.
Another overlooked area is making good after first-fix work. If pipework and wiring are moved, you may need patch plastering and decoration before final fit. If this is not scoped in advance, the fitter schedule can be interrupted. Delivery and storage also matter. Large items arriving too early can be damaged; arriving too late can stall trades and increase labour cost.
A practical safeguard is setting a contingency of around 10% for unknowns. For older properties or major layout changes, homeowners often keep a larger reserve. Contingency should be visible in your budget tracker, not hidden. Treat it as planned risk management, not optional spend.
Typical Timeline: From First Survey to Completed Kitchen
While fitting itself may be 4-6 days for straightforward projects, full project timing is longer. Initial measurement, design revisions, supplier lead times, trade scheduling and delivery coordination often mean total project duration from planning to completion can span several weeks. Bespoke cabinetry or specialist stone fabrication can extend this further.
A practical sequence is: initial survey, design and pricing, technical service checks, order confirmation, delivery staging, strip-out, first-fix adjustments, installation, and snagging handover. Every stage has dependencies. If one element shifts, downstream labour can be affected quickly.
The easiest way to protect timelines is to confirm three checkpoints before strip-out starts: all cabinets are delivered and checked, appliance models are on site or confirmed, and electrical/plumbing scope is signed off. Projects that skip these checks are more likely to pause midway, which often costs both time and money.
Return on Investment (ROI): What to Expect
Many UK homeowners renovate kitchens partly for resale appeal. A commonly discussed range is an uplift around 5-10%, but this is not guaranteed and depends on local demand, overall property condition, and whether the new kitchen matches the home value ceiling in the area. Overspending beyond market expectations can reduce return efficiency even if the room looks excellent.
Value outcomes are usually strongest when the renovation improves layout usability, storage quality and visual coherence without over-specifying compared with neighbouring properties. Neutral, durable finishes and reputable installation quality tend to support wider buyer appeal. Highly personalised design decisions may still bring lifestyle value but can narrow buyer preferences later.
If resale is a medium-term goal, focus budget on items buyers notice and trust: robust cabinetry, quality worktops, functional lighting, compliant electrics and tidy finishing. These typically perform better in value perception than very niche features with limited everyday benefit.
How to Keep Your Kitchen Renovation on Budget
Successful budgets come from sequence discipline. First, lock layout. Second, set appliance models. Third, pick worktop and flooring. Then tender labour against a stable specification. If specification is not stable, quotes are not comparable and later change orders become more likely.
Use one shared budget sheet with categories for units, worktops, appliances, labour, flooring, decoration, contingencies and delivery-related costs. Treat upgrades as explicit decisions with cost impact shown immediately. This prevents low-level add-ons from accumulating unnoticed.
It also helps to define where you want to spend for daily value. For many households, good drawer storage, quiet extraction and durable worktops outperform cosmetic upgrades. Spending intentionally in these areas can improve long-term satisfaction while keeping the total controlled.
Finally, do not underestimate sign-off quality. Check alignments, silicone lines, appliance testing, waste and water flow, and handover documentation. Small defects are easiest to correct before final payments are complete. A clear snag list protects both quality and budget confidence.
Kitchen Cost Calculator (2026)
Use this calculator to estimate a practical low-to-high budget range based on finish level, kitchen size, worktop type, appliance package, flooring and labour days. It includes the required baseline costs and day-rate assumptions used in this guide. It is a planning tool, not a formal quote.
Calculator assumptions include fitter £150-£300/day, plumber £200-£400/day and electrician £200-£350/day, plus selected material and appliance bands.
Example Budget Scenarios for 2026
These examples show how costs stack in realistic combinations. They are not fixed quotes, but they illustrate where money goes and how quickly totals change when specification rises.
Bespoke cabinetry, Siemens/Miele style suite, granite or high-end stone, island and service updates.
£26,000-£52,000+
The largest jumps between scenarios usually come from three areas: cabinet construction level, appliance specification and service complexity. If you need to reduce spend without damaging functionality, start by simplifying layout changes and selecting one premium feature area rather than multiple.
Kitchen Renovation FAQs (2026)
1. How much does a new kitchen cost in the UK in 2026?
The most useful planning framework is: budget kitchens at £5,000-£10,000, mid-range kitchens at £10,000-£20,000, and luxury kitchens at £20,000-£50,000+. The final figure depends on unit quality, worktops, appliance package, labour rates and whether plumbing or electrical layouts are changed. Two homes with the same kitchen size can have very different totals if one keeps existing service locations and the other fully redesigns the room. For planning, set a target band first, then build a detailed cost sheet by category and include contingency.
2. Can I fit a new kitchen for under £10,000?
Yes, but it requires strict specification control. Most sub-£10,000 projects rely on flat-pack units, basic appliances, laminate worktops and minimal structural change. Keeping sink and cooker positions unchanged is usually the biggest money saver because moving services adds both material and labour costs. You should also confirm every inclusion in writing: removal, waste, minor making-good and finishing details can otherwise become surprise extras. A clear product list and early labour booking are usually the difference between staying in-range and drifting over budget.
3. How long does kitchen fitting normally take?
For straightforward replacements where everything is delivered and verified, fitting usually takes 4-6 days. That window covers cabinetry installation, basic service connections and core finishing. Projects that include rewiring, plumbing relocation, plaster repairs, complex flooring or bespoke elements can run beyond this. Timelines often slip when appliances are changed late or site prep is incomplete. To protect schedule, confirm all model numbers, delivery dates and first-fix requirements before strip-out starts. A short snagging period after fitting is normal and should be planned.
4. What is usually the most expensive part of a kitchen renovation?
Cabinetry and worktops are typically the largest line items. In premium projects, appliance packages can become equally significant, especially with high-end ovens, induction upgrades and integrated refrigeration. Labour can also rise sharply if the layout changes and multiple trades must coordinate extra first-fix work. The most cost-efficient approach is to decide early where premium value matters most in daily use, then keep other categories balanced. That avoids over-specifying every element and protects the overall budget.
5. Are integrated appliances worth the extra spend?
Integrated appliances are popular because they create a cleaner visual line and can improve perceived quality in the finished space. For many households, they are worth the extra spend when aesthetics and cohesive design are priorities. However, they usually cost more than freestanding options and may involve slightly higher fitting complexity. If value for money is your main goal, compare total installed cost, not just shelf price. In many mid-range kitchens, a mixed strategy works well: integrate the most visible items and keep one or two practical freestanding choices where design impact is low.
6. Should I update plumbing and electrics during a kitchen refit?
If existing systems are dated, under-capacity or non-compliant, a renovation is the best time to upgrade because access is open and trades are already on site. Doing it later often means repeat disruption, extra making-good and higher total spend. Not every project needs full replacement, but a professional check is sensible before ordering cabinetry. Even minor upgrades such as additional sockets, dedicated appliance circuits or improved extraction feeds can improve daily functionality and future flexibility. Budget for these decisions early rather than treating them as late extras.
7. Does a new kitchen add value to a property?
Many homeowners target a resale uplift of around 5-10%, but real outcomes depend on location, property type, presentation quality and whether the spend matches market expectations. A well-planned, neutral and durable kitchen generally supports buyer confidence better than highly niche styling. If resale is important, prioritise practical improvements that buyers immediately recognise: good storage, quality surfaces, strong lighting, tidy finishing and compliant services. Even when direct value uplift varies, many owners still gain meaningful lifestyle value from improved layout and reliability.