How much does a new kitchen cost without appliances?
What a new kitchen costs in the UK for units, worktop, sink and fitting, without appliances, from flat-pack to bespoke, and where the money goes.
A new mid-range kitchen with about 4.5 m of base units, fitted in the same layout, typically costs £7,800 including VAT, with most jobs between £6,050 – £10,100. That is for units, worktop, sink, splashback, plumbing, electrics, decorating and fitting, but no appliances. Flat-pack units with a laminate worktop bring it to about £4,900; bespoke cabinetry and premium stone take it to around £9,250.
We price kitchens without appliances on purpose. Ovens, hobs, fridges and dishwashers vary enormously, you may keep some of yours, and they are easy to price yourself. Separating them makes the fitting and the furniture, the parts that are hard to judge, easier to compare.
The three budgets
| Level | Typical price | Units | Worktop | Sink |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £4,900 | Flat-pack or stock units | Laminate | Stainless steel |
| Mid-range | £7,800 | Mid-range, soft-close | Engineered quartz | Composite or undermount, quality mixer |
| Premium | £9,250 | Bespoke or high-end | Premium stone | Premium sink, pull-out mixer |
All three include the same work around the furniture, so the difference between them is mostly the units, the worktop, the sink and the splashback.
Where the money goes
Units
The cabinets are the biggest single item. Flat-pack carcasses, rigid mid-range units with soft-close hinges and bespoke or hand-painted cabinetry can differ several times over for the same run. Before comparing quotes, fix the range and the door finish; otherwise you are comparing different kitchens. Tall larder units, corner solutions and internal drawers add up quickly, so count them rather than looking only at the run length.
Worktops
Laminate is the cheapest and can be cut by the fitter on site on the day. Quartz and granite are templated once the base units are in and then cut in a workshop, which costs more and leaves you without a worktop for a week or two. Solid wood sits in between but needs oiling. Upstands, a splashback in the same material and extra cut-outs, such as for a hob or a drainer, all add to a stone worktop price.
Fitting
Fitting covers stripping the old kitchen, assembling and levelling the units, fixing doors and handles, and templating and fitting the worktop. On top of that come the trades:
- Plumbing: new hot and cold feeds and waste for the sink and dishwasher, with chases cut into the walls and made good.
- Electrics: four double sockets above the worktop and for appliances, two lighting points including an under-cabinet feed, and connecting the hob, oven and extractor.
- Finishing: tiled splashback, and walls and ceiling painted with two coats of wipeable paint.
We build these costs from the hours each trade needs, multiplied by local labour rates, plus materials, and check the totals against market prices and real quotes. That is also why kitchens cost more in London than in most of the country: the fitting is labour-heavy. See the local figure in our New kitchen.
What is not in the price
- Appliances: oven, hob, extractor, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine.
- Flooring. Many people replace it at the same time; budget for it separately.
- Moving the layout. Our price assumes the sink, hob and appliances stay where they are. Moving the sink to an island or the hob to another wall means new waste runs and cables, often under the floor.
- Walls, windows and doors. Knocking through or moving openings is building work with its own costs.
- Gas work. Moving or adding a gas hob must be done by a registered gas engineer.
When a showroom quotes a price for a whole kitchen, check whether appliances and fitting are bundled before comparing it with ours or with other quotes.
Electrics and certificates
New circuits and some kitchen electrical work are notifiable in England and Wales: they must be done by a registered electrician (Part P) who self-certifies the work, or notified to building control. Make sure the quote includes the certificate, and keep it for when you sell. Our figures include 20% VAT.
How to keep the budget in check
- Keep the layout. It is the biggest saving on fitting: no new waste runs, no moved cables, fewer days on site.
- Spend where you touch. Good drawer runners and hinges matter more day to day than premium carcass material.
- Mix worktops. Laminate on long runs and stone on an island or a short run can look deliberate and save a lot.
- Buy the units yourself, carefully. Some fitters will install client-supplied units; agree who handles damaged or missing parts before delivery.
- Get three itemised quotes that list units, worktop, sink and tap, and fitting separately.
Check your quote
Once you have a quote, compare the total with typical prices where you live using our "Is my quote fair?" tool: Is my quote fair?. Take the appliances out of the quote first so you are comparing like with like.