How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost in the UK? A Breakdown of Average Expenses
Looking to build a new kitchen? Hope you have a fair idea about the expenditure and your budget. It is important to plan and list out the areas of the kitchen where you want to invest more, and which are the areas that may not require much attention from a cost perspective. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of how much it may cost to build a new kitchen, and what are the additional expenses you must be aware of.
Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager
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Probably the universal truth we all need to come to terms with when planning a construction project is that there’s no one-size-fits-all. Building constructions are scalable projects, and moreover, from the point of view of human desires and likings, it is highly unlikely to arrive at absolute estimates.
It is natural that people change their preferences quite often. There can be a couple of factors contributing to this. Their current financial position, and the market trend at that point in time. According to most reports, people in the UK prefer storage space over design and other aesthetic aspects inside a kitchen. While more than 60% of people are looking for efficient storage solutions, some of them are conscious about ensuring a safe and durable kitchen, while some want to design them as spaces for social rejuvenation and family gatherings.
Understanding the Cost of a New Kitchen
When we say understanding, it means that there is more to just numbers and figures when it comes learning about new kitchen cost. When building a new kitchen, it is hence important to understand the factors that may affect the planning of your new kitchen. Without paying heed to them you may not only damage the prospect of building a new and efficient kitchen, but you may also end up spending a fortune on what could have been a rather thoughtful undertaking.
So, understanding about new kitchen cost depends on various factors characterised by preferences.
Technically there may be two potential factors that may affect the cost of building a new kitchen.
1. Kitchen Space
Arguably the single most decisive factor that can significantly contribute to the cost, is the space designated to build a new kitchen. Building a new kitchen involves tiling of floors and walls, a paint job, size of the worktop, number of cabinets and storage space, etc. So, the size of your kitchen space will no doubt affect your new kitchen cost.
2. Type & Quality
Type & Quality essentially means whether you are planning for a basic kitchen setup, a medium range kitchen with essential amenities or a premium kitchen which contains luxury amenities and high-quality fixtures & appliances. These are important because one can have a small kitchen with premium quality materials and accessories, while one can still plan for a basic set up in a spacious kitchen area. Both these factors will greatly impact the cost of the kitchen.
3. Miscellaneous Expenses
Additional expenses that are imperative to build a new kitchen include lighting, furniture, plumbing & electrical connections. Other expenses that affect the budget depend upon the choice & preferences of the house owner. They include, installation of chimney, exhaust, a microwave oven, a dishwasher etc.
How Much Does a New Kitchen Cost?
On the question of how much does a new kitchen cost? The cost of new kitchen when considering the above factors may vary extremely. Kitchen probably is that area of your house which draws more amenities and accessories, hence is the cost higher and diverse. So, you have to be prepared to spend a little extra.
To give you an idea, including labour costs, a basic kitchen setup for a small budget may cost you between £5,000 to £8,000, whereas a medium range kitchen may cost you in the range of £9,000 to £20,000. If you, however, have the budget to spend on high quality materials and appliances, the cost can go up to and sometimes more than £50,000 depending on your choice of materials and style preferences.
Average Cost of a New Kitchen in the UK
Small-sized Kitchen – A ballpark average cost of new kitchen in the UK may cost around £3,800 for a small sized kitchen.
Mid-range Kitchen – Elevating from a small-sized/budget kitchen planning for a mid-range kitchen will involve better quality materials. Here you can explore MDF, solid wood and ply woods as options for kitchen cabinets and carcasses. Considering the range of materials and size of the kitchen space, a ballpark average cost of new kitchen (mid-range) may be between £9,000 to £18,000.
High-end Kitchen – High-end kitchens tend to be bespoke and are carefully crafted. From cabinets, taps & fittings to floors & worktops one can avail an exquisite setup with an intricate design. Most often bespoke kitchens with luxury amenities may start from £22,000 on the lower end and may go up to and beyond £50,000 depending on the choice of materials and the type of finish.
Planning a Budget Kitchen
When you are planning on a tight budget, you can still build a kitchen with what you have. Assuming that the area of your kitchen space is small and with connections to plumbing already present, your expenditure will naturally be at the lower end. Let us see how –
Kitchen Carcass
Cabinet carcasses are available in various wood types. If we consider MDF, they are quite affordable while also come as moderately durable options for a kitchen carcass.
Their cost range varies from £28 for a small sized single shelf carcass to £230 for a large quad carcass.
Kitchen Cabinets
Again, considering MDF as the wood type, the cost of new kitchen cabinet (single & small-sized) may approximately cost £79, while a large sized quad cabinet may cost you between £450 to £520.
Worktop
Laminate worktops are affordable and can be easily installed. The average cost for a laminate kitchen worktop may start from as low as £30 per sq mtr and go up to £85 per sq mtr.
Sink
From a cost point of view, stainless steel sinks are affordable options to consider in comparison to ceramic types. Stainless steel sinks are available at an average price range of £60 to £80 per unit and can go high up to £550 per unit. While ceramic sinks can cost from as low as £65. A medium range ceramic sink of better quality will cost you between £80 to £120 and can go up to £900 to £1,000 per unit.
Flooring
Depending on the type and style of finishes, the cost for tiling a kitchen floor varies between £15 per sq mtr to £60 per sq mtr. Here we are considering laminate flooring as they are popular and affordable flooring options for kitchens.
You can also make use of recycled MDFs, and brackets to limit your spending. Try hopping on to an antique shop, you may well find something useful at a much lower price.
Accessories such as chimneys, oven, stove and other kitchen accessories depend on individual preferences, which we will look specifically at in the next segment.
Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager
Tell us about your plan and we'll send you a free quote! It takes less than 90
seconds!
Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager
A myriad of factors come into play when evaluating your new kitchen cost. From the type of wood for cabinets, to the kind of materials for sink, flooring, and worktops, costs can vary according to one’s budget and needs.
Let’s look at how much you have to stock up your budget when planning for a new kitchen –
1. Installation Cost
Kitchen installations primarily depend on the designated area/size or the number of units you plan to install. This breakup includes labour costs.
Small Kitchen – Here we are considering the smallest kitchen space to be approximately 10*10 feet which includes an 8-unit kitchen suite with cabinets, a worktop, kitchen sink and a chimney.
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Mid-range Kitchen – Considering kitchen space to be approximately to be 10*15 feet that approximates to 14 sq metres which includes a 12-unit cabinet suite, a worktop, kitchen sink and a chimney.
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High-end Kitchen – Here we consider the kitchen space to be 20 sq metres and which includes an 18–unit cabinet suite, a worktop, a kitchen island, a chimney and a sink.
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Flooring costs for kitchens depend on the material and type of flooring. Below is a breakup excluding charges for installation.
Laminate Flooring: Water resistant, affordable with an average lifespan of 12 years
Cost: £15 to £50 per sq mtr
Labour Cost – £100 to £200 per day on average
Vinyl Flooring: Easy to lay, doesn’t wear off easily, water resistant with an average life span of 10 years.
Cost: £10 to £25 per sq mtr
Labour Cost – £150 to £200 per day on average
Tile Flooring: Available as stones, marbles, composites and ceramic. Most commonly used flooring option with an average life span of 40 to 45 years.
The cost for flooring with tiles depends on the type of tiles and the area of the kitchen space. For example, tiling a 9 sq metre kitchen space will cost you less than tiling a 25 sq metre space.
Ceramic Tiles: £12 to £25 per sq mtr
Mosaic Tiles: £25 to £35 per sq mtr
Porcelain: £15 to £30 per sq mtr
Marble: £35 to £50 per sq mtr
The labour cost of tiling a kitchen floor may range between £150 to £200 per day.
2. Kitchen Worktops
Here we will discuss the commonly used worktops across the UK. The cost varies depending upon the type of material and finish.
Laminated Worktops: Low maintenance, water resistant, and cost-effective with a lifespan of 10-12 years.
Solid Wood Worktops: The key to a durable solid wood worktop is its thickness. The minimum thickness of a solid wood worktop should be at least 20mm. Higher the thickness, the higher its durability. They can last for several years if properly maintained.
Granite Worktops: Granites are porous materials, so they need to be sealed and maintained regularly. They offer low resistance to heat with a life span of at least 25 years.
Marble Worktops: Great for aesthetics, but like granites may offer little heat resistance. High on maintenance and quite expensive compared to other worktops with a lifespan of 20 years.
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Skilled Labour Costs: £150 to £200 per day (Includes Carpentry, Electrician, Plumber, Fitter & General Builder)
Unskilled Labour Cost: £90 to £100 per day
Kitchen Appliances
Cost of a Fridge: A budget fridge freezer can start from as low as £200 and can go up to £2,000 for a high-end, luxury model.
Cost of a Dishwasher: Undercounter dishwashers may cost about £250 to £460, whereas a pass-through dishwasher may cost you between £380 to £680.
Cost of an Oven: Gas Oven & Hob combinations may range from £150 to £700, whereas Electric Oven & Hob combination may range from £150 to £1800
Conclusion:
Installing a new kitchen provides an opportunity to plan thoughtfully and creatively. It is completely fine if you take your time to come up with a plan and design, but with careful selection of materials. Do not be lured into affordable alternatives as some of them may not last for long. Worktops are best utilised as stones than wood. Flooring, especially in kitchens, is the most vulnerable, so selecting a solid and durable flooring type is key though it may cost you more.
Building a new kitchen is quite delicate from a cost and longevity point of view. Ask experts at Extension Architecture. We specialise in consulting, planning and building high-quality bespoke kitchens without allowing you to spend in excess. On the other hand, if you are running on a budget, we can help you by adding just the right ingredients for a budget friendly kitchen.
Let us know what you need and get a free quote from our experts.
