Kitchen Fitting Cost: 2026 Labour Prices UK
Buying the kitchen is only half the bill. Once the units arrive in flat packs or rigid boxes, someone has to strip out the old kitchen, assemble and fix the new units, fit worktops, connect the sink and appliances, and finish it all neatly. That labour can cost thousands, and it is easy to underestimate.
On Checkatrade's figures, labour only kitchen fitting costs about £2,000 for a small kitchen, £3,500 for a medium kitchen and £5,000 for a large one. Kitchen fitters charge about £280 to £360 a day, with an average of around £320, or about £37 an hour.
This guide explains labour prices, how per unit pricing works, the extras that add up, and how long a typical fit takes.
Compare Quotes & Save Up To 37%:
Labour prices
| Kitchen size | Labour only fitting cost |
|---|---|
| Small | about £2,000 |
| Medium | about £3,500 |
| Large | about £5,000 |
| Rate | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Kitchen fitter day rate | £280 to £360, average about £320 |
| Kitchen fitter hourly rate | about £37 |
Checked October 2026: Checkatrade kitchen fitting cost guide and "How much do tradespeople cost" guide (updated October 2026).
These prices are for fitting only. They do not include the kitchen itself, appliances, worktops (unless the fitter supplies them), or work by other trades such as electricians, plumbers, plasterers and tilers.
What labour only usually includes
Every fitter is different, so always check, but a labour only price commonly covers:
- Assembling flat pack units, if needed
- Fixing base and wall units level and secure
- Fitting doors, drawers, handles and end panels
- Fitting plinths, cornices and pelmets
- Cutting and fitting laminate worktops
- Fitting the sink and tap, and integrated appliances
- Fitting the hob and oven in housings, ready for connection
What it often does not include
- Removing and disposing of the old kitchen
- Electrical work, such as new sockets, circuits or a cooker connection
- Plumbing beyond simple connections, or moving the sink
- Gas work, which must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Plastering and making good walls
- Tiling or splashbacks
- Flooring
- Decorating
- Solid surface or stone worktops, which are usually templated and fitted by the supplier
Per unit
Some fitters price by the unit rather than by the day or job. A "unit" usually means a base unit, a wall unit or a tall unit, with extra charges for things like worktop joints, appliance housings and sink cut outs.
Per unit pricing makes quotes easy to compare, but rates vary widely by fitter and region, and we have not found a reliable published average to quote. As a worked example only: if a medium kitchen with 20 units costs £3,500 to fit, that works out at £175 per unit on average. A small kitchen with 10 units at £2,000 would be £200 per unit, since fixed tasks like the sink and worktop are spread over fewer units.
How to compare per unit and fixed quotes
- Count the units on your kitchen plan, including wall, base and tall units.
- Ask each fitter for a price per unit plus a list of extras.
- Add them up to get a total.
- Compare the total with fixed price quotes for the same plan.
Tall units, corner units and units with complicated fittings often cost more to fit than standard base units.
Extras
These are the items that most often push a kitchen fitting bill above the headline price.
Removing the old kitchen
Stripping out and disposing of an old kitchen takes time and creates a lot of waste. Some fitters include it, others charge extra. For large jobs, you may need skip hire.
Electrical work
New kitchens often need extra sockets, a new cooker circuit, under cabinet lighting or moved switches. This must be done by a qualified electrician, and work in a kitchen may need certification.
Plumbing and gas
Moving a sink, adding a dishwasher or washing machine connection, or moving a gas hob all need a plumber or gas engineer. Moving the sink to an island or another wall adds significantly to the cost.
Plastering
Removing old units and tiles often leaves damaged walls. A plasterer can skim walls before the new kitchen goes in.
Worktops
Laminate worktops are usually cut and fitted by the kitchen fitter. Solid wood worktops need careful cutting, joining and oiling. Quartz, granite and solid surface worktops are usually measured after the units are installed, then made and fitted by the supplier, which adds time to the project. See our kitchen worktop replacement guide.
Tiling and splashbacks
Wall tiles, glass splashbacks and upstands are often a separate job for a tiler or the worktop supplier.
Flooring
Lay new flooring before or after the units, depending on the type. Discuss with your fitter. Some floors, such as Karndean, are often fitted after units.
Decorating
The final step is usually painting walls and ceilings. A decorator can do this once all the other trades have finished.
Timescales
The fitting itself is usually the shortest part of a kitchen project. As a rough guide:
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Strip out old kitchen | 1 day |
| First fix electrics and plumbing | 1 to 2 days |
| Plastering and drying | a few days to a week |
| Fit units and laminate worktops | 3 to 5 days for a medium kitchen |
| Stone worktop templating and fitting | often 1 to 2 weeks between template and fitting |
| Second fix electrics, plumbing and appliances | 1 to 2 days |
| Tiling, flooring and decorating | several days |
These are rule of thumb timings to help you plan, not published averages. A medium kitchen often takes two to three weeks from strip out to finished room, depending on the trades involved and worktop lead times.
Working out days from the price
You can also work backwards from the fitter's day rate. At about £320 a day, £3,500 of labour is roughly 11 days of a single fitter's time. In practice, a fitter often works with a mate, which shortens the time on site.
Before the fitter arrives
A well prepared job runs faster, and on a day rate, faster means cheaper.
Check the delivery
Check every box against the order as soon as the kitchen arrives. Missing or damaged units are the most common cause of delays. A fitter who turns up to find a missing corner unit may have to leave and come back, and you may pay for the lost time.
Store it sensibly
Keep units somewhere dry and secure, close to the kitchen if possible. Damp garages can swell chipboard and warp doors.
Clear the room
Empty cupboards, move the fridge, and clear the floor. Plan where you will cook and wash up while the kitchen is out of action. A microwave, kettle and camping hob in another room make a few weeks much easier.
Confirm the plan
Walk through the plan with your fitter before work starts. Confirm where every unit, appliance and socket will go, and the height of the worktops and wall units. Changes made after units are fixed cost time and money.
Snagging
When the fitting is finished, check everything before you make the final payment:
- Doors and drawers open smoothly and line up evenly
- Gaps between doors are consistent
- Worktop joints are tight and sealed
- Sealant around the sink and upstands is neat and complete
- Appliances work and are properly secured
- There are no leaks under the sink or around the dishwasher
- Plinths and end panels are fitted neatly
- All handles are secure
Make a list of any issues and agree when they will be fixed. Small adjustments to hinges and drawers are normal after a few weeks of use, and a good fitter will come back to sort them.
Common problems
Uneven walls and floors. Older houses are rarely square. A good fitter will scribe end panels and adjust legs so units look straight, but very uneven walls can add time.
Hidden pipes and cables. Removing an old kitchen can reveal old pipes, cables or damp. Budget a contingency for surprises.
Worktop delays. Stone worktops can only be templated once units are fitted, leaving you without a usable kitchen for a while. Ask the supplier about lead times before booking the fitter.
Kitchen fitter vs kitchen company
Kitchen company
Many kitchen retailers offer fitting through their own teams or approved fitters. This can be convenient, with a single point of contact, but it is not always the cheapest.
Independent fitter
An independent fitter can be cheaper and more flexible, and may fit kitchens from any supplier. You may need to coordinate other trades yourself, unless the fitter manages them.
Project managed
Some fitters or builders will manage the whole project, including electricians, plumbers, plasterers and tilers. You pay more, but you have one person responsible for the whole job.
Hiring a kitchen fitter
- Get at least three quotes based on the same kitchen plan
- Ask for a list of what is included and excluded
- Check photos of recent kitchens and ask for references
- Confirm public liability insurance
- Agree a payment schedule and avoid large upfront payments
Our guide on how to choose a tradesman has 12 checks to make before hiring.
Saving money
- Remove the old kitchen yourself, if you are confident and careful with services
- Keep the sink, hob and oven in the same positions to avoid plumbing and gas changes
- Choose rigid, pre assembled units, which save fitting time
- Do the decorating yourself
- Book during quieter months
For full project costs including the kitchen itself, see our new kitchen cost guide.
FAQs
How much does it cost to fit a kitchen?
Labour only fitting costs about £2,000 for a small kitchen, £3,500 for a medium kitchen and £5,000 for a large kitchen, according to Checkatrade.
What is a kitchen fitter's day rate?
About £280 to £360 a day, with an average of around £320.
How long does it take to fit a kitchen?
The units and laminate worktops in a medium kitchen often take three to five days. The whole project, including other trades, often takes two to three weeks.
Does kitchen fitting include plumbing and electrics?
Fitters often connect sinks and appliances to existing services, but new circuits must be done by an electrician and gas work by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is per unit or fixed price better?
Either works. Per unit pricing is easy to compare. A fixed price gives certainty. Make sure you compare the same list of work.
Can I fit my own kitchen?
Yes, if you have good DIY skills. Getting units level and worktops neatly joined is harder than it looks, and any gas or new electrical work must be done by qualified trades.
Do kitchen fitters charge VAT?
Only if they are VAT registered, which is required once taxable turnover passes £90,000. Ask whether the quote includes VAT.
Should I pay a deposit?
A small deposit can be reasonable, but avoid paying most of the price before work starts. Pay the balance once the job is finished and snagged.
Get quotes
Send each fitter your kitchen plan, the number of units, worktop type, and a note of any changes to the sink, hob or appliances.
Compare Quotes & Save Up To 37%: