How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the UK in 2026?
A budget refresh typically costs £6,000–£8,500, a mid-range renovation £10,000–£20,000, and a high-end renovation £25,000–£50,000 or more. The exact figure depends on the size of your kitchen, the quality of units and worktops you choose, and whether the layout changes. London and the South East generally run 20–35% above these figures; the North, Wales and Scotland tend to sit at the lower end.
These numbers cover a full renovation — new units, worktops, appliances, and fitting. If your existing cabinets are structurally sound and it’s really the finish you’re tired of, there’s a route that costs a fraction of this, which we’ll come back to below.
How much does a budget kitchen renovation cost?
A budget kitchen renovation costs around £6,000–£8,500, using flat-pack units (IKEA, Wickes, B&Q), laminate worktops and entry-level appliances, while keeping the existing layout.
Sticking with the same footprint is what keeps a budget renovation affordable — moving plumbing or electrics for a new layout adds cost quickly, even at the cheaper end of the market.
How much does a mid-range kitchen renovation cost?
A mid-range kitchen renovation costs around £10,000–£20,000 for a standard family-sized kitchen, covering better-quality units (Howdens, Wren, Magnet-tier), upgraded worktops and mid-tier integrated appliances.
This is the bracket most UK homeowners land in when they replace a kitchen outright rather than refresh it. Cabinetry and worktops are usually the two biggest line items, with labour a smaller share of the total than most people expect.
How much does a high-end kitchen renovation cost?
A high-end kitchen renovation costs £25,000–£50,000 or more, for bespoke joinery, stone worktops, premium integrated appliances and often some layout or structural change.
Anything involving knocking down a wall, moving a kitchen entirely, or extending pushes costs well beyond this range, since building regulations, structural work and project management all add on top of the kitchen itself.
What drives kitchen renovation cost up or down?
The biggest cost drivers are cabinetry and worktop choice, followed by whether the layout changes and whether plumbing or electrics need moving.
Beyond that:
- Worktop material — laminate is cheapest; quartz and granite add a forced 1–2 week wait for templating and manufacture on top of the cost.
- Appliances — integrated appliances typically cost 20–30% more than freestanding equivalents.
- Layout changes — keeping units in the same footprint avoids relocating plumbing and electrics, which is one of the fastest ways a budget creeps.
- Structural work — removing walls or extending adds architect fees, building control costs and time, on top of the kitchen itself.
- Region — London and the South East run 20–35% above the UK average on labour; cabinet and appliance prices are closer to national.
Is there a cheaper alternative to a full kitchen renovation?
Yes. If your kitchen’s layout and cabinet carcasses are still sound and it’s the doors, frames and finish that have dated, respraying your existing cabinets gives you a factory-smooth finish in any colour for a fraction of renovation cost — typically £2,500–£4,000 rather than £10,000+.
This only works if the units themselves are structurally fine — it’s a finish and colour change, not a fix for damaged or water-swollen carcasses. Most kitchens that look tired rather than genuinely worn out are good candidates.
How does respraying compare on cost to a full renovation?
Respraying typically costs 25–40% of a mid-range renovation, because you’re paying for preparation, primer and topcoats rather than new units, worktops, appliances and fitting.
| New kitchen renovation | Respray with Cole’s Decor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £10,000–£20,000+ | £2,500–£4,000 |
| Time on site | 2–4 weeks | Usually 1–2 weeks |
| Disruption | Kitchen unusable for most of the project | Kitchen partially usable throughout |
| What changes | Everything — units, worktops, appliances | Cabinet colour and finish |
| Best suited to | Layout changes, worn-out carcasses, worktop upgrades | Sound cabinets that just look dated |
If you want a different worktop, different layout, or your units are genuinely past their working life, a renovation is the right call — this isn’t a substitute for that. But if the kitchen you have is basically sound and it’s the colour and finish doing the damage, a respray gets you most of the visual transformation for a lot less money and disruption.
Not sure which camp your kitchen falls into? Get a free, no-obligation survey and we’ll give you an honest answer — including telling you if a respray isn’t the right fit for your kitchen.