Choosing a kitchen supplier feels like the big decision. It isn’t. The supplier affects roughly 30–50% of your total project budget. Fitting, worktops, appliances, plumbing, and electrical work account for the rest and in London, that rest can easily exceed what you spent on the units.
This guide covers the seven main UK kitchen suppliers, with real cost ranges, an honest verdict on each, and the one question most comparison articles skip: what does it actually cost to have the kitchen fitted once you’ve bought it?
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Before comparing suppliers, understand how a kitchen project budget actually breaks down in London:
| Cost element | Share of total budget |
| Kitchen units and doors | 25–40% |
| Worktop | 10–20% |
| Appliances | 10–20% |
| Fitting labour | 15–25% |
| Plumbing and electrical | 10–20% |
| Tiling, plastering, flooring | 5–15% |
A £6,000 Magnet kitchen and a £3,000 IKEA kitchen fitted by the same London kitchen fitter at the same spec will cost you roughly £10,000–£15,000 all-in either way. The choice of supplier changes the unit line, not the total as dramatically as you’d expect.
London kitchen fitting day rates run £250–£400/day – 30–60% higher than the national average. A standard installation takes 5–10 fitter days. That labour cost is the same regardless of which units you choose.
Unit cost range: £2,000–£7,000 for a typical kitchen. Total project cost in London: £12,000-£22,000 all-in
IKEA’s METOD system is the most flexible kitchen carcass on the market. The units themselves are genuinely well-made, with 18mm-thick carcasses and solid back panels, and the accessory range is vast. What you get at that price point is a premium door finish and the design consultation experience you get from a showroom brand.
Pair IKEA carcasses with a non-IKEA worktop. An IKEA kitchen with a quartz worktop, decent hardware, and independently sourced appliances looks and functions significantly better than a cheap all-in-one kitchen from a supplier at twice the unit price.
Third-party door fronts from brands like Superfront or Reform work directly with METOD carcasses, if you want a custom look without the custom price.
The best unit-cost value in the UK if you’re budget-conscious and either DIY-capable or have a fitter already lined up. IKEA’s own installation service is patchy and not recommended in London; use an independent kitchen fitter and you’ll get a better result at a similar or lower cost.
Unit cost range: £2,500–£7,000 Total project cost in London: £13,000–£23,000 all-in
B&Q’s GoodHome kitchen range sits at entry-to-mid level. The cabinet construction is adequate for most residential uses, and the advantage over IKEA is the availability of in-store design consultations, more immediate stock at local branches, and a simpler buying experience for homeowners who find IKEA’s flat-pack planning process overwhelming.
Design quality and door finish are not as strong as mid-range showroom brands. B&Q also runs regular promotions; 20% off events are common, so the timing of your purchase significantly affects value.
A sensible choice for rental properties, first-time buyers wanting a functional kitchen without a large investment, and homeowners who value being able to walk into a local store and speak to someone face-to-face. Not the choice for a home you’re renovating to sell at a premium.
Unit cost range: £3,500–£12,000 Total project cost in London: £15,000–£30,000 all-in
Wickes sits between B&Q and the showroom brands in both price and quality. Cabinet construction is solid, the design service is good, and Wickes has improved its range of door finishes significantly in recent years. The Benchmarx brand (Wickes’ trade arm, operating separately from Wickes retail) is used by many professional fitters and offers better trade pricing than Wickes retail.
The in-store planning experience is genuinely useful; Wickes designers work well for family kitchens where functionality and durability matter more than design distinction.
The strongest mid-range option for homeowners who want a proper design consultation without committing to a premium showroom brand. Good for family kitchens in Outer London properties, a Wickes kitchen at the upper end of its range fits naturally into a £350,000–£500,000 house.
No, and this is the most important thing to understand about the UK kitchen market. Howdens is trade-only. You cannot walk in as a homeowner. To access Howdens, you need a builder, kitchen fitter, or renovation company who holds a Howdens account. Your fitter orders the kitchen on your behalf.
Unit cost: £4,000–£15,000 (prices vary by depot and account). Total project cost in London: £16,000–£35,000 all-in
This is the most important thing to understand about the UK kitchen market: Howdens is trade-only. You cannot walk in and buy as a homeowner. To access Howdens, you need a builder, kitchen fitter, or renovation company who holds a Howdens account.
This matters because Howdens is the supplier most professional London kitchen fitters actually use. The combination of local depot stock (meaning faster availability than most showroom brands), solid cabinet quality, and trade pricing makes it the default choice for the industry. When you hire a vetted kitchen fitter through QMR, there’s a good chance they’ll recommend Howdens not because of any commercial relationship, but because it consistently delivers at trade price points that benefit the client.
If you’re hiring a professional kitchen fitter rather than doing this yourself, ask them about Howdens before you’ve spent time in a showroom. You may get a comparable or better quality kitchen for less money, ordered and managed by your fitter without you needing to interact with a supplier at all.
Designer kitchens sit above the premium fitted market; the distinction is in how they’re made. Where Magnet and John Lewis produce range-based kitchens with configurable options, designer kitchen brands make cabinetry with tighter tolerances, higher-grade materials, and often proprietary hardware. The visual difference is subtle; the tactile and longevity difference is significant.
The main designer kitchen brands available in the UK market are German Bulthaup, SieMatic, and Poggenpohl and a smaller group of UK makers: Smallbone of Devizes, Plain English, and deVOL, all of which make furniture-grade cabinetry that treats the kitchen as a room rather than a functional installation.
Designer kitchen units in the UK typically start at £25,000–£40,000 for a mid-sized kitchen. A complete designer kitchen project in London units, worktop, integrated appliances, and installation typically costs £60,000–£150,000. Flagship projects from Bulthaup or Smallbone in high-value London properties regularly exceed £200,000.
A designer kitchen makes financial sense in a property where the kitchen is a central feature of the purchase decision, typically London homes valued at £1.5m+. In a £900,000 Wandsworth house, a £70,000 designer kitchen is unlikely to return its full cost at sale; in a £2m Islington townhouse, it may. Beyond investment return, designer kitchens are the right choice for homeowners who plan to stay for 20+ years and want cabinetry that doesn’t date.
A custom kitchen sits between a configured range kitchen and a fully bespoke designer kitchen. Where a range kitchen (IKEA, Magnet, Wren) uses standard cabinet sizes adapted to your space, a custom kitchen is designed and made specifically for your room; every cabinet depth, height, and run is specified for the exact space rather than approximated with standard modules.
Most London properties have at least one feature that makes a standard range kitchen awkward: Victorian alcoves that don’t fit standard cabinet widths, chimney breasts reducing corner space, low ceilings in basement or lower-ground kitchens, or period ceiling heights that leave a visible gap above standard wall units. Custom kitchen design solutions solve these; the cabinetry is made for the room, not the other way around.
Custom kitchens are also the right solution when the kitchen forms part of a wider open-plan renovation where visual continuity with joinery, shelving, or living room furniture matters.
Semi-bespoke kitchens with standard carcasses and custom doors, panels, and modified dimensions typically cost £15,000–£40,000 for units, with total London project costs of £30,000–£65,000. Fully bespoke kitchens made to measure from a London joiner or kitchen maker typically cost £25,000–£60,000 for units alone, with total project costs of £50,000–£120,000+.
Unit cost range: £6,000–£20,000+ Total project cost in London: £20,000–£45,000 all-in
Magnet positions itself as a step up from the DIY retailers with a full showroom experience, in-home design service, and own-brand installation. Cabinet construction quality is good, the range of door finishes is wide, and Magnet’s aftercare is generally well-regarded. Magnet is part of the Nobia group, so manufacturing quality and supply chains are consistent.
A Magnet designer visits your property, measures precisely, and designs around the actual space. This reduces the ordering errors that plague DIY-led kitchen projects: wrong cabinet depths, misaligned runs, unaccounted pipe positions. Even if you ultimately use an independent fitter rather than Magnet’s own installation team, the survey is worth requesting.
The strongest choice for homeowners who want a managed supply experience without going fully bespoke. Suits properties in the £500,000–£900,000 range where the kitchen needs to justify its presence but full bespoke is overkill.
Unit cost range: £5,000–£25,000+ Total project cost in London: £18,000–£50,000 all-in
Wren has built a strong reputation for its 3D design tools and wide range of customisation options, more door finishes, colour choices, and storage configurations than most competitors at this price point. The online journey is the strongest in the market for homeowners who want to explore designs before visiting a showroom.
Wren offers both supply-only and supply-and-install options. The installation service is subcontracted to local fitters, and quality varies by location in London; using an independent kitchen fitter you’ve vetted separately is often a better outcome than Wren’s own installation network.
The right choice if design variety is the primary driver. Wren’s range of finishes is genuinely broader than most competitors, and the 3D planning tool is the best available for homeowners to self-plan. Go supply-only and source your own London fitter for the best overall outcome.
Unit cost range: £8,000–£30,000+ Total project cost in London: £25,000–£60,000 all-in
John Lewis’s kitchen offering is consistently underrated. The cabinet quality is excellent, the design service is thorough, and the brand’s longstanding reputation for aftercare backs it in a category where post-install support matters. John Lewis kitchens are manufactured by Schuller, a German kitchen manufacturer with a strong quality track record.
The price premium over Magnet and Wren is real, but so is the quality step. For high-value London properties (Clapham, Islington, Hampstead, Wandsworth) where the kitchen is a central selling point, John Lewis is worth getting a quote alongside Magnet and Wren before deciding.
The strongest premium option for homeowners who want quality that shows in materials, hardware weight, and finish longevity without going fully bespoke. Often overlooked because John Lewis isn’t primarily known as a kitchen brand. It should be.
| Supplier | Best for | Unit cost | Total London cost |
| IKEA | Budget, DIY-open, flexible | £2k–£7k | £12k–£22k |
| B&Q GoodHome | Entry level, accessible | £2.5k–£7k | £13k–£23k |
| Wickes | Mid-range family kitchens | £3.5k–£12k | £15k–£30k |
| Howdens | Via a trade fitter, best value | £4k–£15k | £16k–£35k |
| Magnet | Mid-premium, managed install | £6k–£20k+ | £20k–£45k |
| Wren | Design variety, custom looks | £5k–£25k+ | £18k–£50k |
| John Lewis | Premium, high-value properties | £8k–£30k+ | £25k–£60k+ |
The step most homeowners miss: sourcing the fitter separately
Buying the kitchen is the straightforward part. Finding a reliable London kitchen fitter one who will arrive when scheduled, handle the plumbing and electrical coordination, deal with the supplier if units arrive damaged, and leave the job finished to a standard you’re happy with is where most kitchen renovation projects succeed or fail.
The UK’s kitchen fitting market is unregulated. There is no licensing requirement. The difference between a strong and a poor kitchen installation is enormous, and it’s invisible until work begins.
At QuoteMyRenovation, we match London homeowners with vetted kitchen renovation specialists, builders and fitters with references, completed work, and a track record in your area. You tell us your kitchen type, postcode, and budget. We match you with up to 3 specialists, and you receive 3 itemised, competing quotes. No cold calls. No obligation.
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For budget projects, IKEA offers the best unit-cost value. For mid-range projects, Howdens (via a fitter) delivers the best trade price-to-quality ratio. For premium projects, John Lewis and Magnet lead on quality and aftercare. “Best value” also depends on your fitting arrangement; units are only 30–40% of your total project cost.
Kitchen fitting labour in London typically costs £3,000–£8,000 for a standard installation. A complete kitchen project units, worktop, appliances, fitting, plumbing, and tiling typically costs £12,000–£55,000. Day rates for London kitchen fitters run £250–£400/day, higher than the national average.
No. Howdens is trade-only. You need a builder or kitchen fitter who holds a Howdens account. Many London fitters work with Howdens and can order your kitchen on your behalf, often at better prices than showroom brands.
Budget specification: £12,000–£20,000. Mid-range: £20,000–£40,000. High specification: £40,000–£80,000+. Unit costs from the supplier are typically 30–40% of the total fitting labour; worktops and appliances account for the rest.
A standard installation takes 1–3 weeks on site. Structural changes add 2–4 weeks. Add 4–8 weeks before work begins for design, ordering, and lead times; some suppliers have 6–12-week delivery windows.
Yes. IKEA METOD carcasses are compatible with third-party worktops, appliances, and door fronts. Many homeowners pair IKEA units with a quartz or stone worktop and premium hardware to achieve a significantly better finish at a lower cost than a mid-range showroom kitchen. Best Fitted Kitchen Suppliers UK
