One of the first questions most people ask when they start thinking about a new kitchen is:
“Roughly how much is this going to cost?”
It is a completely fair question — but it is also one of the hardest to answer without first understanding the room, the layout, the style of kitchen, the worktops, the appliances and the amount of preparation work involved.
A new kitchen could be £15,000, or it could be £70,000+. That is not because kitchen companies are trying to be vague; it is because there are so many different ways to design and specify a kitchen.
At Britannia Design, we find the clearest way to explain kitchen budgeting is to break the project down into its main component parts.
In this guide, all of the prices include VAT.
The 5 Main Costs in a New Kitchen
A kitchen project is usually made up of five main areas:
- Furniture – the units, cupboards, drawers and doors
- Worktops
- Appliances
- Peripherals – sinks, taps, lighting and accessories
- Fitting and installation
There may also be preparation work, such as removing the old kitchen, plumbing, electrics, plastering or building work. This can vary hugely from one property to another.
1. Kitchen Furniture
The furniture is usually one of the biggest parts of the kitchen cost.
There are two main things that affect the price:
The door style
Flat slab doors tend to be more cost-effective, while shaker doors and more detailed finishes are usually more expensive. That said, there is a wide range within each style, so a simple shaker kitchen may not necessarily be vastly more expensive than a premium modern kitchen.
What is behind the doors
A cupboard is, in simple terms, a box with a door on the front. It is usually the most cost-effective form of kitchen storage.
Drawers, pull-outs, internal storage systems and clever corner solutions are more practical for many people, but they do increase the cost. The key is finding the right balance: enough drawers and useful storage to make the kitchen work beautifully, without adding unnecessary cost everywhere.
As a rough guide, for a smaller kitchen with a simple flat-fronted door and a sensible mid-range selection of drawers and pull-outs, you might allow around:
£8,000 for a smaller, simple kitchen up to £25,000 for a bigger, shaker kitchen with bells and whistles!
2. Worktops
Worktops vary enormously in price.
At one end, laminate worktops can be practical, hard-wearing and relatively inexpensive. At the other end, premium surfaces such as Dekton, porcelain, quartz or natural stone can cost several thousand pounds, depending on the size of the kitchen, the material chosen and the complexity of the installation.
For example, a simple laminate worktop might be around:
£900
Whereas a premium porcelain or Dekton worktop could be closer to:
£9,000
This is why worktops are such an important part of the budgeting conversation. The same kitchen layout can change dramatically in price depending on the surface you choose.
3. Appliances
Appliances are another area where the range is huge.
You could spend around £1,200 on a very basic set of appliances — or you could spend that amount on the hob alone.
Ovens, hobs, extractors, dishwashers, fridge freezers, wine coolers, boiling water taps and other appliances all affect the final price. Some customers also choose to reuse existing appliances, which can help reduce the overall budget.
For a sensible mid-range selection of German appliances, a useful guide would be around:
£4,500
Again, this can go up or down depending on the brands and models chosen.
4. Sinks, Taps, Lighting and Accessories
It is easy to focus on cabinets and worktops, but the smaller items still need to be included in the budget.
These might include:
- Sink
- Tap
- Lighting
- Waste disposal
- Internal bins
- Cutlery trays
- Accessories and finishing details
As a rough allowance, you might put aside around:
£2,000. If you’re thinking of boiling water taps and fancy lighting, you’ll need to allow more.
This gives a sensible budget for the extra items that help complete the kitchen properly.
5. Fitting and Installation
A good kitchen is not just about the products. The fitting matters enormously.
At Britannia Design, we use our own fitters who fit our kitchens regularly and understand the standards we expect. The fitting cost depends on the number of units, the length of plinth, the amount of worktop preparation, panels, trims and general complexity of the installation.
For fitting the kitchen units themselves, a reasonable guide would be around:
£4,000 to £6,000
This is for the kitchen installation, not the additional preparation work.
What About Preparation Work?
Preparation work is often the hardest part to estimate without seeing the room.
This might include:
- Removing the existing kitchen
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Plastering
- Flooring
- Decorating
- Minor building work
- Adjusting walls, ceilings or services
Depending on the condition of the room and what needs doing, this could be anywhere from:
£5,000 to £15,000
Sometimes it is straightforward. Sometimes, especially in older properties, there is more involved once the existing kitchen is removed.
So, What Is a Realistic Kitchen Budget?
Putting all of this together, a typical smaller-to-mid-sized kitchen project might look something like this:
| Area | Rough Guide |
|---|---|
| Furniture | £10,000–£25,000 |
| Quartz worktops | £6,000 |
| Mid-range appliances | £4,500 |
| Sink, tap, lighting and extras | £2,000 |
| Kitchen fitting | £5,000 |
That gives a rough overall guide of approximately:
£27,500–£42,500
If you’re having additional preparation work (electrics, plumbing, plastering, etc.), then expect to add £5,000 to £15,000 on top.
This is not a fixed quote, but it gives you a useful starting point.
The final figure could be lower if the kitchen is very simple, appliances are reused or less preparation work is needed. It could also be higher if you choose premium worktops, higher-end appliances, more drawers, more bespoke storage or additional building work.
Why It Is Hard to Give an Accurate Price Straight Away
Two kitchens can be the same size but cost very different amounts.
For example, one customer might choose laminate worktops, standard cupboards and a simple appliance package. Another might choose quartz or Dekton worktops, lots of pan drawers, a boiling water tap, integrated bins, premium appliances and extra lighting.
The room might look similar on paper, but the specification – and therefore the cost – can be completely different.
That is why we prefer to have a proper conversation before giving firm figures. It means we can understand what matters to you, where you want to invest, and where we can keep things sensible.
The Best Way to Approach Your Kitchen Budget
A good kitchen budget is not just about choosing the cheapest option. It is about spending money in the right places.
For some people, that might mean investing in better storage. For others, it might be the worktop, the appliances, or making sure the fitting and project management are done properly.
Our job is to help you find the right balance between design, quality, practicality and budget.
Planning a New Kitchen in Chelmsford or Essex?
If you are thinking about a new kitchen and want a realistic idea of cost, the best next step is to visit our Chelmsford showroom.
We can talk through your space, your ideas, your budget and the different options available — from furniture and worktops to appliances, fitting and preparation work.
A new kitchen is a big investment, but with the right advice at the start, it becomes much easier to understand where your money is going and how to get the best value from it.
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