Planning a kitchen Buying your kitchen

Visit showrooms for inspiration

On average, people spend around £8,000 on a new kitchen.

For a sink and base unit, one double base unit, three single base units, four wall units, work tops and housing for an oven and dishwasher (plus handles and fixings, but not appliances or installation) you could pay £1,000 from a budget brand such as Ikea, up to £8,500 from a premium brand such as John Lewis.

Of course you can pay far more than this for a 'bespoke' kitchen.

Installation is extra and could be anything from £250 for pre-assembled units (such as those from John Lewis) up to £900.

A typical list of appliances for a kitchen: washing machine, cooker hood, oven, hob, dishwasher and fridge freezer will cost from £1,800 for budget Best Buys.

For a top-of-the range Best Buy American-style fridge freezer, dishwasher, range cooker and hood you'd pay around £5,000.

Cheap kitchens that look chic

You can get a good kitchen on a tiny budget. There are building merchants, local kitchen manufacturers and specialist companies that just supply new kitchen unit doors, drawer fronts and worktops. These can save you thousands of pounds, but still give a new look and modern feel to your kitchen.

Make a budget for your kitchen and stick to it

If you have a compact kitchen or are willing to do some DIY, you can spend far less than £1,000 (for tips on installing a kitchen yourself, try DIY Doctor).

You can buy a second-hand kitchen at a bargain price, but it’s vital to check it all fits well – and that care has been taken to avoid damaging the kitchen when units are removed from another building.

Look out for sales to grab a bargain – post-Christmas and pre-Easter are usually good times to look at buying a new kitchen.

Keep kitchen plumbing costs down

Knowing how kitchen plumbing will be connected and how and where waste water will be channelled out of your new kitchen is key to understanding what you will be able to afford to do. The more services you need to move, including electrics, the higher the cost for your kitchen improvement will be. Which? members can find plumbers, electricians and kitchen fitters recommended by other Which? members at Which? Local.

Kitchen gadgets and electrics

Work out how many sockets you'll need at work surface level. Most people have a kettle, toaster and a microwave in regular use. Other kitchen gadgets to consider are: breadmakers, coffee machines, food processors, fryers, hand blenders and mixers, health grills, jug blenders, juicers, slow cookers, smoothie makers and steamers.

Starting over and buying everything for a new kitchen?

The kitchens market is very competitive. Try to work out how to get the kitchen you want within the price you want to pay, then take your plans to at least three other companies for quotes. 

To  ensure you've covered all the items you'll need, use our kitchen budget plannner.

For advice on how to negotiate your way to a bargain see our haggling video in our 'How to bargain in shops' guide.

Once you have found a company that you like, if it can't reduce the price any further, ask whether it will include the sink or certain appliances for no extra charge.

It can take a while from placing the order to delivery and mistakes can be made on deliveries or measurements, so plan a little extra time to sort out any niggles, should you be hoping to get your kitchen completed for a special occasion or deadline.

Avoid giving a company more than 25% deposit before everything is delivered. If you are able, pay at least £100 of the deposit on your credit card. This will give you extra rights should you encounter problems later on.

Check the payment schedule before signing any contracts for products and fitting. Read our guide 'What to do when shops go bust' to make sure you are fully covered for all eventualities.

Final smooth kitchen installation tips

If the company you bought from is installing as well, find out who’ll be fitting it as many companies sub-contract to third parties. Find ut who to contact if any problems or delays arise.

Ask the fitter to provide you with a work schedule so you know what is happening daily and which trades or deliveries to expect and when.

Ask where the installer plans to prep and cut all the materials – will they need to use space in your home, garden or garage?

Find out if you’ll still be able to use your kitchen sink during the installation process – if not, ask how long this will be for and check to see if you’ll have access to a temporary sink instead.

Local kitchen specialists

To find local kitchen specialists recommended by other Which? members, visit Which? Local. The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (BSA) website provides a planning service.

Our information and impartial advice contained in this ‘Planning your kitchen’ guide is to help our readers make informed decisions. We guide you through everything you need to know, to make your mind up.