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Howdens Joinery kitchens review
Howdens is perceived by many as an expensive kitchen brand, and since many of us shop on price, costs are important.
But value for money matters, too, as does customer service and durability.
That's why we assess kitchen brands in two ways – via a lab assessment of the units and a survey that gathers data on customer satisfaction.
Howdens have three kitchen ranges – Handleless, Ready Assembled and Flatpack – and we put them all through our rigorous lab tests. The Handleless and Ready Assembled ranges come pre-assembled. The Flatpack range offers a more reasonable price point.
Read our full Howdens kitchens review to find out how they scored.
To see how Howdens compares with Wren and other popular companies, visit our guide to the best kitchen brands
Howdens kitchens overall scores
If you're considering buying a Howdens kitchen, discover how the brand performed in our assessments. Our overall scores combine expert lab test results and customer survey data from real owners.
Log in or join Which? to reveal the results for Howdens
| Kitchen range | Overall score | Lab score | Customer score | Visit retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatpack | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | |||
| Handleless | ||||
| Ready Assembled | ||||
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Table notes: The overall score is based on the lab assessment of the units and feedback from our customer survey. The customer survey was conducted online in February and March 2025 of 4,580 Which? Connect panel members and members of the UK public who have bought a new kitchen in the past 10 years. Howdens sample size: 955.
We tested 21 kitchen ranges from various brands and the best kitchen achieved an overall score of 82%. The top nine all scored more than 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%.
Two of Howdens' kitchen ranges scored identically, while the other lost marks in our lab assessment.
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Howdens kitchens lab test scores
Will a Howdens stand up to everyday use? Our expert lab tests are specially designed to assess this.
Which? is fully independent, and we buy every kitchen we test, so you can be confident in getting an honest and unbiased review.
Log in or join Which? to reveal the results
| Kitchen range | Lab score | Quality of units | Loading shelves | Drawers and runners | Hinges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatpack | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | ||||
| Handleless | |||||
| Ready Assembled | |||||
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Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time.
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Table notes: Lab assessment scores are calculated based on a kitchen’s performance in 19 tests across four key areas – quality of units, loading shelves, drawers and runners, and hinges. Ratings are combined to create an overall assessment score.
Our lab scores for all the kitchens we tested ranged from 89% to just 54%.
Two kitchen ranges from two different brands failed our hinges test.
Two of Howdens' ranges scored identically in our lab tests. The other lost marks for quality of the units and hinges.
Find out how we test kitchens in our lab
Howdens kitchens customer score
Want to be confident that Howdens is a reliable kitchen supplier? We spoke to people with a Howdens kitchen to find out how owners rate them.
Log in to or join Which? find out how Howdens is rated by its customers
| Customer survey category | Scores and ratings |
|---|---|
| Customer score | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in |
| Quality of build | |
| Quality of finish | |
| Durability | |
| Value for money | |
| Customer service |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time.
Already a member? Log in
Table notes: In our customer survey, conducted online in February and March 2025, we surveyed 4,580 Which? Connect panel members and members of the UK public who have bought a new kitchen in the past 10 years. Customer score is a combined score based on customer ratings of satisfaction with their kitchen and likelihood of recommending it to a friend. Howdens sample size: 955.
Our top two-scorers achieved 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.
How well do Howdens kitchens last?
As well as asking Howdens customers to rate their kitchens, we also asked them to share 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 Howdens customers told us.
| % of kitchens showing signs of damage or wear and tear | % of kitchens that required repairs | |
|---|---|---|
| Howdens | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | |
| Brand average | ||
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Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital Access for £8.99 a month, cancel at any time.
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Table notes: In our customer survey, conducted online in February and March 2025, we surveyed 2,496 Which? Connect members and members of the UK public who reported buying a kitchen between 2015 and 2021. Howdens sample size: 511.
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.
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.
Our reader survey also revealed the seven things people regret most about their kitchen design
Howdens kitchens cost
To find out how much you can expect to spend on a Howdens kitchen, we set up mystery shopping appointments to source prices for all the kitchens that we test.
Unfortunately, as Howdens only sells to trade, we're currently unable to assess prices for its kitchens.
We do have prices for other brands, including DIY Kitchens, Ikea and Magnet, so see their reviews for more information.
See our kitchen planning ideas for a step-by-step guide on creating your ideal layout
Howdens kitchen design service
Howdens offers free design appointments, either in person or online. You can book these online at howdens.com.
Howdens only sells to trade, so if you have a trader in mind before you buy, they can take care of the design process for you.
A total of 380 Howdens customers reported having used its design service.
We asked them to rate their experience and tell us whether they have any issues with their kitchen as a result of poor planning.
Log in or join Which? to see what they said.
Howdens kitchen installation
Howdens doesn’t install kitchens and you can’t install them yourself.
Howdens can guide you through the process of finding a trader.
Alternatively, you can use our free Which? Trusted Traders service to find a reliable trader.
How much does it cost to fit a Howdens kitchen?
To find out how much the average kitchen installation costs in 2025, we usedthe Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) database. It told us that the total cost of labour should be 20% to 30% of your total spend.
For a full breakdown of the costs, including installation, labour and individual elements such as islands and worktops, read our guide to how much a new kitchen costs in 2025.
We recommend that you always get at least three quotes from different traders and get a fixed-price contract if possible (this means the prices can't go up except in pre-agreed circumstances).
Howdens kitchens pros and cons
Log in to or join Which? to see the pros and cons of Howdens kitchens.
Updating your appliances as well? See our best kitchen appliances for a round-up, including the best and worst cookers, fridges and more
How to buy a Howdens kitchen
Howdens Joinery is a trade kitchen supplier, which means it sells to tradespeople only.
The process for buying a kitchen from Howdens is as follows:
- Find a builder Howdens won't sell to non-professionals, so you need to find an installer before starting work on your new kitchen.
- Choose your kitchen Get to know its ranges and the type of kitchen you want, so you have an idea of what you're interested in before your appointment. Either browse online at howdens.com or find your nearest depot.
- Design your kitchen Book a design appointment with Howdens to decide on your new kitchen layout.
- Installation The kitchen will be delivered to your home and can be installed by your trader.
Howdens kitchen designs
Howdens offers 10 kitchen ranges, based on three types of units: Flatpack, Handleless and Ready Assembled.
These types of units all come in traditional Shaker and modern slab designs.
The Flatpack kitchen is the cheapest option. Howdens also recommends these units if your area is difficult to access or you're short on space.
The Ready Assembled or Handleless units achieved identical scores in our lab tests, so if you're looking for a more premium range, you can choose based on whether or not you want handles or a sleek, handleless finish.
Howdens’ kitchens come in a range of colours. Some are even available in 24 paint-to-order colours.
You can also choose from one of seven finishes for the cabinets, including gloss, ultra gloss, matt and textured finishes.
Howdens design services
Howdens offers a free personal design service to help you plan your kitchen. Book online at howdens.com to consult a designer for expert advice on planning, layout and style, either via video chat or at a Howdens depot.
Howdens' designers can also carry out at-home assessments during which they will measure your kitchen. You can choose to have a three-dimensional plan of your space to help you visualise the final look.
Howdens kitchen unit sizes
All of Howdens kitchens come in a range of sizes, including half-height and highline options.
They make standard widths (including 500mm and 600mm) and in-between sizes (such as350mm and 450mm) for a custom fit. However, you should note that their flatpack units are less customisable.
Howdens kitchen guarantees
Howdens offers a 25-year guarantee on its cabinets, a five-year guarantee for doors and a one-year guarantee for worktops.
The guarantee mostly covers defects in the manufacturing process or raw materials.
Make sure you keep the proof of purchase, as you'll need it to make a claim. Even if the kitchen was bought by a trader, you can contact Howdens directly.
Find out more at howdens.com.
Looking for an independent kitchen specialist? Use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable kitchen designer, fitter or refurbishment professional near you:
This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved