The short answer
If you have already bought your units, worktops and appliances, or you are happy to source them yourself, paying for fitting only is usually the cheaper route and gives you full control over what goes in. If you would rather have one company design, supply and fit everything, a full new kitchen costs more but is simpler to manage and puts responsibility in one place. Neither is better in every case. The right choice depends on how much time you have, how confident you are at buying the right parts, and how much risk you are comfortable carrying yourself.
How they differ
Kitchen fitting means you buy the kitchen and a tradesperson installs it. You might have bought from a showroom, a large retailer, an online supplier or a second-hand source. The fitter's job is to put in the units, worktops and fixings, and usually to connect or adjust the sink, appliances and any trim. Depending on the quote, plumbing, electrics, tiling, plastering and decorating may be included, extra, or left to other trades.
A new kitchen means supply and fit of a complete kitchen. The company measures up, helps with the layout, orders everything and installs it. Many will also coordinate the plumber, electrician and plasterer, or employ them directly. You deal with one point of contact from design to finish.
The main difference is who carries the responsibility. With fitting only, you are the project manager. You check the measurements, order the right pieces, deal with deliveries and sort out any damaged or missing items. With a full new kitchen, most of that falls to the supplier, though you still need to make decisions and check the plan carefully before work starts.
Cost: what makes each more or less expensive
A fitting-only job is usually cheaper on the labour quote alone, because you are paying for installation and not for design, ordering and project management. You also choose where to spend and where to save on the units, worktops and appliances, so there is more room to keep the total down. You can buy in sales, pick a mix of budget and higher-quality items, or reuse appliances you already own.
A full new kitchen usually costs more overall because the price covers design, materials, delivery, fitting and often the extra trades. The supplier's margin on the goods is part of what you pay for the convenience. Prices rise with the quality of the units, the type of worktop, the number of appliances and how much the room needs to change.
On either route, these things push the cost up:
- Moving plumbing, gas or electrical points.
- Removing walls or adding structural work.
- Replacing floors, ceilings or rewiring.
- Stone or solid worktops, which need specialist cutting.
- Awkward rooms, such as uneven walls or older properties.
- Rushed timescales or difficult access.
A fitting-only price can also rise if something you bought turns out to be wrong. A missing plinth, the wrong size of unit or a worktop cut that needs redoing all add time and money, and the fitter may charge extra for waiting or returning. A full supply-and-fit job can include those risks in the original price, though you should check what the quote covers.
The real prices homeowners paid for each option are shown separately on this page, so use them to see how your own quote compares.
Lifespan and upkeep
A kitchen's lifespan depends far more on the quality of the parts and the standard of installation than on which route you took. Solid carcasses, good hinges and drawer runners, and properly sealed worktops will last well in either case. Cheap hinges, thin backs and poorly sealed edges around the sink are what usually fail first.
With fitting only, the lifespan is only as good as what you chose to buy and how well it was fitted. If you buy carefully and employ a competent fitter, the result can match any supplied kitchen. If you buy the cheapest parts and have them fitted quickly, expect wear to show sooner.
With a full new kitchen, you usually get a single guarantee or warranty covering the goods and the workmanship, though terms differ between companies. That can make it easier to get problems put right, because you are not deciding whether a fault is down to the product or the fit.
Upkeep is similar either way. Wipe up spills promptly, keep silicone and sealant around sinks and hobs in good condition, adjust doors and drawers when they drift, and follow the care instructions for your worktop. Keep the paperwork for the units and appliances, as you will need it if something goes wrong.
When to choose Kitchen fitting
Fitting only is the better choice when:
- You have already bought the kitchen, or found a good deal you want to use.
- You are comfortable measuring, comparing products and checking deliveries.
- You want to choose each part separately, such as units from one supplier and worktops from another.
- You want to keep the cost down and can accept the extra effort and risk.
- The layout stays largely the same, so little design help is needed.
- You already have a fitter or tradesperson you trust.
It works best when the room is straightforward and you have time to check everything before the fitter starts. It is less suitable if you are unsure about measurements or do not want to chase suppliers.
When to choose New kitchen
A full new kitchen is the better choice when:
- You want help with the layout, storage and use of space.
- You would rather have one company responsible for the whole job.
- You are changing the room significantly, with new plumbing, electrics or walls to coordinate.
- You do not have the time or confidence to manage orders and deliveries.
- You want one guarantee and one place to go if there is a problem.
- You are not sure what you want and would benefit from seeing options in a showroom.
It costs more, but for many people the reduced stress and clearer responsibility are worth it. It tends to suit larger projects, or households where nobody has the time to manage a build.
Whichever route you take, remember that some work may need planning permission or building regulations approval, especially if you are altering walls, changing gas or electrical work, or extending the room. Your tradesperson or local council can tell you what applies to your property.
Questions to ask a tradesperson
- What exactly does the quote include, and what is left out, such as plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, decorating and waste removal?
- Who removes and disposes of the old kitchen?
- Will you check my measurements before I order, or only fit what arrives?
- What happens if parts are missing, damaged or wrong?
- Are the gas and electrical tasks carried out by suitably qualified people, and will I receive the relevant certificates?
- How long will the work take, and what will I have for cooking and washing up in the meantime?
- What guarantee do you give on your workmanship, and in writing?
- How and when do you expect to be paid, and what is the deposit for?
- Do you handle any permissions or approvals, or is that left to me?
- Can I see examples of recent work or speak to a recent customer?