Kitchen Fitting Cost UK — What to Charge for Kitchen Installation and How to Price the Job (2026)
Kitchen fitting is one of the highest-value domestic installation jobs going. A full kitchen renovation — including demolition, plumbing, electrics, units, worktops, tiling and appliances — can generate £3,000–£8,000+ in labour alone on a single project. Get the pricing wrong and you're working for less than a painter; get it right and it's some of the best-margin work a multi-trade fitter can land.
This guide covers 2026 labour rates for every kitchen type, how long jobs actually take, the full scope of a proper kitchen installation, worktop pricing, and how to quote so you don't leave money on the table or win jobs you'll lose money on.
Kitchen Fitting Labour Rates UK (2026)
Labour rates vary by kitchen complexity, region, and whether the fitter is a one-man band or a small team. The figures below are labour only — materials (units, worktops, appliances, plumbing fittings, electrical parts) are on top.
| Kitchen Type | Labour Only | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Basic flat-pack (IKEA / B&Q) | £800–£1,500 | 3–5 days |
| Mid-range (Wren / Magnet) | £1,200–£2,500 | 5–8 days |
| Premium fitted (Howdens / Neff) | £2,000–£5,000+ | 7–12 days |
| Full renovation (demo, new layout, plastering, tiling, electrical, plumbing + fit) | £3,000–£8,000+ | 10–15+ days |
Day rates for kitchen fitters in 2026 sit at £250–£350/day in most of England and Wales, rising to £350–£500/day in London and the South East. Fitters with gas and electrical qualifications who handle the full scope themselves command the top end. If you're pricing as a one-man band doing everything — plumbing connections, electrical, fitting and tiling — a £350–£450/day effective rate is entirely achievable on a well-run job.
What a Full Kitchen Installation Actually Involves
Most customers underestimate the scope. A proper kitchen fit-out is a multi-trade project with a strict sequence of works. Here's everything that goes into a full renovation:
- Demolition and strip-out — remove old units, appliances, worktops; disconnect plumbing and electrics safely; remove tiles if needed
- Making good — plaster walls where units were fixed, patch ceiling if extraction or lighting positions change, prepare floor (level, DPM if needed)
- Electrical first fix — relocate socket and switch positions, run new circuits for oven, hob, extraction, dishwasher, fridge, under-cabinet lighting
- Plumbing first fix — move or extend supply and waste for sink, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge with ice maker; install isolation valves
- Floor preparation and laying — level substrate, lay new flooring (LVT, tile, engineered wood) before units go in or after, depending on kitchen design
- Base unit installation — set out, level and fix base carcasses; fit adjustable legs; scribe to walls; install corner units, larder units, pull-outs
- Wall unit installation — fix wall rails or individual units at correct height; ensure level run; allow for extraction hood position
- Worktop templating and fitting — template for cut-outs (sink, hob), join worktop lengths with router and biscuit joiner, fit upstands and edging strips
- Electrical second fix — fit sockets, switches, connect oven, hob and extraction; test all circuits; issue Electrical Installation Certificate if notifiable
- Plumbing second fix — connect and commission sink, dishwasher, washing machine; fit tap; test all connections
- Appliance installation — slide in integrated fridge, dishwasher, washing machine; install oven in housing; commission induction/gas hob; set up extraction
- Tiling splashback — prepare surface, set out, fix and grout tiles between worktop and wall units
- Door and drawer fronts, handles and plinths — hang doors, adjust hinges, fit soft-close, align all faces, fit plinths and cornice
- Snagging and final checks — check all doors, drawers, appliances, lighting and plumbing; silicone all joints; clean down
That's anywhere from 10 to 20 individual tasks, many of which need to happen in sequence. Customers who've only had a like-for-like swap will not anticipate how long a layout change or full renovation takes — be explicit in your programme from day one.
What Kitchen Fitters Typically Subcontract
Unless you hold the relevant qualifications, some elements must be subcontracted:
- Plastering — most fitters don't plaster. Budget £150–£400 for making good after strip-out depending on how much wall area needs attention.
- Stone worktop templating and fitting — quartz and granite require a specialist stonemason with CNC templating. The worktop supplier often provides this as part of supply-and-fit. Never try to cut natural or engineered stone yourself on site.
- Gas connection — if the hob is gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer must commission it. Many kitchen fitters are Gas Safe; if not, sub it out and factor the cost (£80–£150) into your quote.
- Tiling — some fitters tile themselves; others prefer to sub this to a specialist. Either way, sequence it correctly: worktops and window boards go in before the splashback tile.
- Floor laying — whether you sub floor prep and laying depends on the finish specified. Tiled floors need a tiler; engineered wood or LVT most fitters handle.
When you subcontract, either include the sub costs in your price and present a single figure to the client, or quote for your scope and list the subs separately. The first approach is cleaner for the client; the second reduces your liability. Whichever you choose, be explicit in writing so there's no dispute over who arranged what.
Worktop Options and Fitted Prices (2026)
Worktops are one of the biggest variables in a kitchen budget. The same run of base units can have a £1,200 swing in cost depending on the surface chosen. Here's what to expect for a typical 4–5m run (supply and fit):
| Worktop Type | Supply & Fit (4–5m run) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate (standard post-form) | £100–£300 | Cheapest option; cut on site with jigsaw; seams visible at joints |
| Laminate (premium / upstand included) | £250–£500 | Better finishes; can include matching upstands and splashback panels |
| Solid wood / oak | £300–£800 | Cut on site; needs oiling; avoid near dishwasher without good seal |
| Quartz (engineered stone) | £500–£1,200 | Templated and cut off site; 7–14 day lead; specialist fit required |
| Granite (natural stone) | £600–£1,500+ | Same as quartz process; price depends on slab grade and colour |
| Dekton / Porcelain | £700–£1,800+ | Ultra-hard; specialist cutting only; high-end kitchens |
Stone worktops add a significant lead time to the programme. The stonemason templates after base units and sink are in position, then the slab is CNC-cut off site. Expect 7–14 days between template and fit. This is often the longest wait in a kitchen renovation — tell the client upfront so they're not calling you every day.
Materials vs Labour Split: What the Numbers Look Like
On a typical Howdens or similar trade-supplied kitchen, the overall project budget breaks down roughly as follows:
On a mid-range Howdens kitchen installed in 7–10 days by a two-man team, labour of £3,000–£4,500 is entirely normal. On a high-spec 15-day renovation with a complex layout, new utility, and stone worktops, £5,000–£8,000 labour is justified and achievable.
The customer buying a £12,000 Howdens kitchen expects to spend money. Labour at 25–35% of total project cost is standard — don't undercut yourself because the kitchen materials are expensive.
How to Quote a Kitchen Job Properly
Kitchen quotes that go wrong do so because the fitter priced off a plan or a phone call rather than a site visit. Here's the correct process:
1. Always visit the site
No exceptions. A kitchen that looks like a straight swap on a plan can hide a soil stack running through the base unit run, a ceiling that drops at the extraction point, or a structural wall where the customer wants an island. You cannot price any of this from a drawing.
2. Check drainage and electrical positions
Where is the existing soil stack? Where does waste currently exit through the wall? Where is the consumer unit and what spare ways does it have? If the sink moves 1.5m from its current position, you're extending waste runs under the floor — that might mean lifting floor tiles or boarding. Price it or caveat it.
3. Check ceiling height and beam positions
Wall units standard height assumes 2.4m ceiling. Lower ceilings mean custom heights or a gap at the top. Exposed beams mean cutting around them — measure twice and photograph everything.
4. Confirm appliance specs before you price
Check the exact model of every integrated appliance. Heights and widths vary between manufacturers. An oven housing built for a 60cm tall appliance won't fit a 72cm unit. Get model numbers on the survey, cross-reference against the kitchen plan.
5. Allow a contingency on older properties
In houses built before 1980, budget a contingency of 10–15% on your labour. You will find out-of-square walls, unlevel floors, asbestos-containing floor tiles, undersized electrical cable, and waste runs that have no fall. Price this in as a named allowance — most clients on older properties understand and accept it.
6. Write a programme, not just a price
Tell the client the sequence of works: plasterer in on day 1–2, you arrive day 3, stone worktop template day 5, stone fit day 12–14. Include who is responsible for each trade — if you're coordinating everything, charge a project management premium. If the client is arranging their own plasterer and tiler, make clear in writing that delays caused by those trades extend your programme.
Managing Customer Expectations on Kitchen Renovations
Kitchen renovations generate more disputes than almost any other domestic project. The reasons are predictable: customers are without a working kitchen for 1–3 weeks, trades need to access the property in a strict sequence, and appliance delivery delays are common. Manage this upfront.
- Confirm all appliances are ordered and have a confirmed delivery date before you start. If the dishwasher is on back-order, the kitchen cannot be completed — and you'll be blamed for the delay even though it's the retailer's fault. Get it in writing that delivery is the client's responsibility.
- Set up a temporary kitchen — recommend the client keeps a microwave, kettle and small fridge accessible. A two-week kitchen renovation with no way to make a cup of tea creates friction every day.
- Confirm the programme in writing — send a one-page schedule showing which trades are working on which days, when the kitchen will be out of action, and what the expected completion date is. Update it if anything changes.
- Issue a snagging list before final payment — walk around with the client at the end, note anything outstanding, fix it within an agreed timeframe. This prevents the dreaded 'I'm holding the last payment until..' phone call six months later.
Warranty and Defect Periods
A standard installation warranty for kitchen fitting work is 6–12 months on your workmanship. This covers: doors coming off alignment, drawers failing to close properly, plumbing connections weeping, worktop joints opening. It does not cover cosmetic damage caused by the client, or appliance faults (those fall under manufacturer warranty).
Appliance manufacturer warranties typically run 1–2 years on parts and labour, with some premium brands (Neff, Bosch, Siemens) offering 5-year extended warranties on registration. Tell your clients to register their appliances immediately — it's in their interest and it means they call the manufacturer, not you, when the oven fan fails at 18 months.
If you're notifying electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations, your Electrical Installation Certificate carries its own compliance status — keep copies. Kitchen circuits are notifiable: ring finals, radial circuits for ovens, and new consumer unit additions all require notification to Building Control via a Competent Person Scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, or similar).
Track Where Your Kitchen Jobs Come From
A full kitchen renovation — £3,000–£8,000 in labour, often more — is one of the highest-value jobs a domestic installer can land. The difference between winning two kitchen renovations a month and one is the difference between a good year and a great one.
Most fitters who've been in the trade for a few years can recite which kitchen jobs were their best earners. Very few can tell you exactly how those clients found them. Was it Google? A Facebook ad? A referral from a previous bathroom job? A Checkatrade profile? Without that data, your marketing spend is guesswork.
Trade2Base tracks every enquiry back to its source — every call, every form fill, every WhatsApp message — so you can see exactly which channel is generating your kitchen leads. When you know that Google Ads is sending you £1,200-average-value leads and Checkatrade is sending you quote requests that never convert, you know where to put your budget next month.
Know which marketing brings in high-value kitchen jobs
Trade2Base tracks every enquiry source so you can double down on what generates your best work.
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