Benchmarx kitchens review - by owners and experts

Benchmarx is a trade kitchen supplier, meaning you need to find a trader to install your kitchen before you buy. 

It offers two core ranges – the factory-assembled Grey Cabinet and the Essence Flatpack, which is a budget range available in fewer styles and colours.

Read on to find out how these Benchmarx kitchens performed in our lab tests, and how satisfied owners are with their purchase.

See how Benchmarx compares with other leading companies in our analysis of the best kitchen brands.

Benchmarx kitchens overall score

If you're considering buying a Benchmarx kitchen, discover how the brand performed in our assessments.

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We tested 21 kitchen ranges from various brands, and the best of all the kitchens we assessed achieved an overall score of 82%. The top nine all scored over 75%.

At the bottom end of the table, the lowest-scoring kitchen earned 63%. Six kitchens from four brands all got scores of less than 70%. 

Scores for the two Benchmarx kitchens varied significantly – one scored 24 percentage points higher than the other.

Benchmarx kitchens lab test scores

Will a Benchmarx kitchen stand up to everyday use? Our expert lab tests are specially designed to test this. 

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Our lab scores for all the kitchens we tested ranged from 89% to just 54%. 

Ranges from two different brands failed our hinges test.

One of Benchmarx's kitchen ranges lost a significant number of points for its hinges. 

Find out how we test kitchens in our lab

Benchmarx kitchens customer score

We spoke to people with a Benchmarx kitchen to find out how owners rate them.

Log in or join Which? to find out how Benchmarx is rated by its customers. 

Our top two scorers achieved outstanding scores of 80% overall in our customer survey.

At the other end of the table, two brands scored less than 70% overall, and three got two-star ratings for customer service.

Revealed: The top kitchen brands falling short on customer service

How well do Benchmarx kitchens last?

We asked Benchmarx customers whether their kitchen showed any signs of damage or wear and tear. 

We only asked people who reported buying their kitchen between 2015 and 2021, to get a sense of how they hold up in the long term. 

Log in or join Which? to find out what Benchmarx customers told us.

On average, across all the brands we collected data for, 44% of survey respondents reported that their kitchen was showing signs of damage or wear and tear after at least five years of ownership. 

The most common issue was the finish of the cabinets being scratched (15%) and the soft-close mechanisms failing (12%). 

In contrast, just 34% of owners from the most reliable brand reported damage to their kitchen. 

Looking for a new oven, fridge or washing machine that will go the distance? Here's how to buy the best kitchen appliances

Benchmarx kitchens cost 

To find out how much you can expect to spend, we set up mystery shopping appointments to source prices for all the kitchens we test. 

We were quoted between around £2,500 and £4,500 for the Benchmarx kitchen we designed. 

These prices both include a discount, but the exact percentage was not specified in the quote we were sent. 

We had to make two minor changes to the Flatpack design to ensure it was as consistent with other kitchens as possible. We added an extra base cupboard, as the other base units are slightly smaller than in our design, and a pre-built oven unit, as the Flatpack range does not include this item. 

Bear in mind that this is based on one design appointment and should be used as an indicator of how much you can expect to pay. You may be quoted a different price. 

Installation is not included. 

Find out how much the whole project will cost – including installation, appliances, flooring tiling and decoration – in our guide to how much a new kitchen costs

Benchmarx kitchen design service

Benchmarx offers free design appointments that you can book online at benchmarxkitchens.co.uk. You can have an initial consultation online, but its full design consultations only take place in person. 

In our survey, 23 Benchmarx customers reported having used its design service. We require a minimum of 30 responses to report on any aspect of a brand, so we're unable to give a rating for this service. 

However, we have ratings for almost all the other kitchen brands we've reviewed, including Ikea and Magnet. 

Discover 7 things people regret most about their kitchen design

Benchmarx kitchen installation 

Benchmarx is a trade kitchen supplier, which means it sells to tradespeople only. Therefore, you cannot fit the kitchen yourself. 

Benchmarx doesn't recommend installers, so you'll need to find one yourself, although Benchmarx can guide you through the process. 

Compare the services of Magnet, Wren and more in our assessment of the best kitchen fitters.

Or use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable kitchen fitter near you:

The Which? verdict

Log in or join Which? to see the pros and cons of Benchmarx kitchens

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Benchmarx kitchen ranges & guarantees

Benchmarx kitchen ranges

The Benchmarx Essence Flatpack is a slab kitchen that comes in three finishes: cashmere grey, matt white and sandstone oak. 

The Grey Cabinet range comes in shaker, slab and J-Pull styles, all with multiple finishes. 

Some of its ranges also come in True Handleless (a push-to-open system) or Benchmarx Design (made-to-order colours and finishes). 

All Benchmarx cabinets come in standard sizes, with 50cm and 60cm widths available. It also carries corner, tall and appliance units.

Benchmarx kitchen guarantees

All Benchmarx kitchen cabinets come with a lifetime guarantee (equivalent to 25 years). This includes drawer boxes, drawer runners, hinges, adjustable cabinet legs, shelf supports, and wall-hanging brackets.

Benchmarx kitchen doors, drawer fronts and handles come with a five-year guarantee.

Find out more at benchmarxkitchens.co.uk