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We compare the best new kitchen suppliers in the UK in 2024, looking at price, quality, warranties and customer reviews.
Stylish, user-centred fitted kitchens turn a house into a home. (Credit: Bespoke Living Construction Ltd)
A fitted kitchen is a long-term investment – so it makes sense to do your research. Price and kitchen suppliers are two main factors that should inform your decisions. We’ve researched to help you find the right kitchen supplier and our experts recommend their top tips for avoiding kitchen disasters and unnecessary costs.
From budget to DIY or a professionally customised and bespoke design, our recommendations will make your project much easier.
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What we like: High-end finish with lots of designs to choose from.
What we don’t like: Expensive compared to other brands and appliances aren’t included in the price.
Magnet Kitchens is our best overall fitted kitchen supplier – from design to aftercare support Magnet offers an excellent and well-thought-out service. With the help of a Magnet kitchen expert, you can design your kitchen and customise colours for paint-to-order perfectionat your in-depth design consultation. It offers extremely high-quality products, luxurious finishes and excellent customer service, including full design, installation and aftercare support.
Magnet Kitchens offers a virtual or in-store consultation catering for homeowners’ schedules – another reason it’s our best overall fitted kitchen supplier. Kitchens are available in shaker, traditional or modern styles.
This supplier offers a 15- to 20-year warranty with its cabinets, plus monthly financing and ‘buy now, pay later’ options.
You’ll have a virtual or in-store consultation where a designer will tailor your quote. You can choose to install the kitchen yourself or choose Magnet’s installation service. With the latter, a Trust-Mark accredited team will carry out a pre-fit technical survey of your kitchen before installing your chosen kitchen. You can order your new Magnet kitchen factory ‘pre-built’ assembled or ‘ready to assemble’, which can be installed by your own tradesperson or DIY install. The latter is the cheapest option, but it’s not available for all ranges.
You can purchase a Luna, J-pull style kitchen with eight cabinets for £1,829, but Magnet’s pricing for luxury finishes reflects its premium quality, and you could pay over £3,900 or more for the same amount of units (excluding installation).
Magnet’s products are high quality, and its design through the aftercare process is excellent – which is why it’s our best overall fitted kitchen supplier. We recommend Magnet for its high-end finishes and excellent service.
Magnet’s kitchens are an investment, and we don’t recommend them for those on a budget. However, the costs can be managed through monthly payments. If you are looking to remodel your kitchen using great products and you have a decent budget, Magnet could be the right fit for you.
What we like: Kitchens are budget-friendly and customisable and include guarantees of up to 25 years.
What we don’t like: DIY installation isn’t the easiest and its installation service is contracted to independent installers.
You may already be familiar with IKEA’s DIY, self-assembled furniture, and IKEA kitchens work in the same way. Your kitchen cabinets will arrive as flat-packed pieces.
IKEA offers a wide variety of beautiful, sleek and Scandinavian-inspired kitchen designs in a number of finishes and colours. Homeowners can choose every little detail, from worktops and appliances to handles and drawer pulls.
The brand offers several warranty packages, ranging from two years to 25 years for the METOD kitchen system.
If you’re tempted to give the installation a go yourself, bear in mind that installing a flat-pack kitchen is not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted. However, IKEA does offer plenty of design help and a network of qualified installers who can quickly complete the work for you. You can also hire an independent contractor.
Unless you have a very small kitchen and only need a few cabinets, we don’t recommend installing an IKEA kitchen on your own as a DIY project (unless you have DIY experience). This means you will need to factor in up to £1,500 or more for professional installation.
Budgeting for an IKEA kitchen is tricky as every single component is individually priced. You may pay as little as £51 for a simple base cabinet with shelves and then a few extra pounds for a drawer, a drawer pull and a front. On average, you can expect to pay between £51 and £170 for base cabinets.
IKEA offers a variety of payment methods, including an attractive interest-free five-year finance option.
We recommend IKEA kitchens for homeowners who are looking to customise their kitchen independently on a budget.
The main drawback of choosing IKEA as your kitchen supplier is the low quality of its products. IKEA uses materials like MDF and melamine in its door fronts, which is much cheaper than solid wood. They’re also more prone to degradation and wear and tear.
We think IKEA is your best bet if you’re on a tight budget, but if you can stretch your cash a little further, add custom wooden drawer and cabinet fronts to the base frames instead of the melamine options. Doing so could help extend the lifetime of your IKEA kitchen and maintain its appearance.
What we like: Lots of ranges and styles to choose from and you can preview your designs via the visualiser on B&Q’s website.
What we don’t like: No in-house installation service offered.
B&Q offers nine attractive kitchen ranges under its Caraway Innovo and GoodHome brands. You can choose from a variety of wall and base cabinets, worktops and accessories in several finishes and seven base colour options.
B&Q’s range includes shaker-style traditional kitchens as well as more contemporary, sleek designs in either matt or gloss finishes. You can choose between dark, natural or neutral colours and push-to-open mechanisms or integrated handles.
Our researchers recommend B&Q if you’re looking for Despite offering some of the most affordable kitchens on the market, B&Q kitchen products come with generous warranties:
The brand also offers a two-year workmanship guarantee.
B&Q designers and in-store or virtual showrooms will help you plan and visualise what your kitchen will look like after installation. You can also choose between installing your kitchen yourself, finding an installer independently, or using one of B&Q’s trusted local partners.
Eight B&Q base kitchen cabinets start from as little as £1,212 for the Balsamita range. However, what you pay depends on the products you choose. Payment can be made via monthly instalments, credit, “buy now, pay later” and other options.
Our researchers like B&Q kitchens’ affordability. The brand offers a huge variety of affordable kitchen designs, styles and colours.
The company will take a hands-on approach to part of the process, but you’ll need to be more involved than with other brands like Wickes or Magnet. However, the significant cost savings – if this is a priority for you – could make B&Q your ideal kitchen supplier.
What we like: Wickes’ free design service includes a home visit and the brand offers a price match promise.
What we don’t like: Limited worktop colour options.
Wickes is our best fitted kitchen design service. Wickes offers both in-person and virtual design consultations at its UK stores. You’ll be supported by one of Wickes’ designers and have access to expert recommendations throughout the design process.
With Wickes, you have 14 showroom kitchen styles and five ready-to-fit kitchens to choose from. Each comes in a variety of colours, and you can choose either a matt or gloss finish.
The brand offers virtual and in-person design consultations at one of its 230 UK stores. A professional designer can give you advice and recommendations based on your budget and preferences. They will create a 3D render of your kitchen so you can get an idea of what the finished result will look like.
When it comes to installation, Wickes has you covered – the company offers full wet and dry installation.
Wickes also offers a 20-year warranty on its cabinet units, hinges and drawer runners. Doors and drawer fronts are guaranteed for 20 years, while their blum hinges and drawer systems are guaranteed for up to 20 years.
Wickes’ showroom kitchens are listed in two different price brackets, but you’ll need to talk to a designer to confirm how much your kitchen will cost.
The brand’s Lifestyle is most affordable, at £1,000 to £4,000 while Wickes bespoke kitchens are avilable from £4,000.
Wickes is an excellent all-rounder when it comes to kitchen remodelling, with a variety of attractive designs, good product warranties, personalised services and installation options at affordable prices. It’s a great choice if you want your kitchen supplier to support you throughout the process.
What we like: Flat-pack and ready-built products are DIY-friendly (available for selected items), and estimated prices available via the website.
What we don’t like: Limited kitchen appliance options available.
Wren Kitchens is best suited for homeowners who would like the option of DIY installation or professional. If you’re planning to install it yourself, our experts recommend choosing flat-pack or ready-built products – you’ll find these marked up on Wren’s website.
Wren Kitchens features a range of styles and finishes for worktops and doors. It also offers a free remote or in-store design appointment for you to speak with an expert kitchen designer.
You’ll have the option to include up to six appliances in your order which includes kitchen staples – oven, fridge freezer and a dishwasher.
You can choose Wren’s installation service for an additional fee or find a kitchen installer yourself. To save money, DIY installation may be an option to consider. Wren offers detailed how-to guides on its websites. The videos are easy to follow along – you’ll find everything from base units and kitchen tops to sink and tap installation guides.
The cost of Wren kitchens varies. Our researchers found its flat-pack Vogue range to be the cheapest. With three appliances and eight units, the overall cost is £1,754. Wren’s Kitchens can be paid in full or you can choose one of three financing options – Interest-Free Credit, Buy now, pay later or pay monthly finance.
Wren is an excellent choice for homeowners on a budget or considering DIY installation. We found its pricing transparency a great feature – its pricing estimator allows you to play around with adding or removing items to bring down the cost.
It offers lots of flat-pack products that are easy to install along with installation guides. Choose Wren Kitchens if you’re looking for good financing options and don’t wish to pay out for installation.
What we like: Manufacturing sites hold a (BS) ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management system accreditation – ensuring high-quality products and fitting standards.
What we don’t like: Lack of pricing transparency. Its prices are supplied to tradesmen, who acquire individual deals.
Howdens is a high-quality, trade-only fitted kitchen brand with 10 different ranges and three styles that can be combined and modified in 75 different ways. The Elmbridge Dove Grey Kitchen won the award for 2022 Best Classic Kitchen in the Ideal Home Kitchen Awards.
What sets Howdens apart is its locally stocked depots across the UK – offering timely delivery and cutting customer waiting time.
With 10 different kitchen designs, you have a lot of choices with Howdens. Decide between gloss, grain or matt finishes, or select a paintable kitchen, if you fancy getting stuck into DIT. There are also several accessories and appliance packages available to help complete your kitchen.
All Howdens’s UK-manufactured cabinets are backed by a generous 25-year warranty against issues arising from defects in the manufacturing process or raw materials. Doors are guaranteed for five years.
Howdens includes a free design service at each of its depots. The service includes a free home survey and a visit to your home from a designer who will take measurements and help you find the right products for your home.
You’ll need to find a kitchen fitter yourself as Howdens only sells to tradespeople. Howdens can help you find one if you require one.
Howdens prices are only supplied to the trade, with each tradesperson getting an individual deal. Our researchers were not impressed by the lack of pricing transparency. How much you pay depends on the products you choose and the builder you work with.
From online reviews, the average Howdens kitchen appears to cost anywhere from £5,000 to £15,000 depending on the installer, appliances, finishes and the choice of flooring or tiling.
Howdens works differently from most kitchen suppliers. If finding a kitchen fitter yourself is not for you – choose a different kitchen company. Prices are only made available to builders, you must find a fair and trustworthy builder to work with.
We recommend Howdens for homeowners who value high-quality products.
What we like: Good credit and financing options along with lengthy warranties.
What we don’t like: No installation service offered.
Homebase offers great variety at a good price. In addition to the Homebase kitchen range, which features six different designs, the company also offers two further kitchen collections in collaboration with House Beautiful and Country Living magazines.
The Homebase range arrives flat-packed with a 15-year warranty period, which makes it ideal for those considering installing the cabinets themselves. The other brands come with a 20-year warranty period and offer attractive styles that arrive pre-built for ease of installation.
Homebase doesn’t offer installation, so if you require this service we reccomend choosing a different supplier. It does, however, have afully accredited virtual or in-store design consultation services to help you choose the right kitchen for you
You’ll need to find a trusted local tradesperson to install your kitchen – alternatively, you can install your kitchen yourself.
What we really like about this kitchen brand is its financing options. It’s not always possible to pay for a kitchen upfront, and many people depend on financing. Homebase offers interest-free credit (or interest-bearing credit for up to seven years) and a deposit-free ‘buy now, pay later’ plan. The interest-free plan requires a £500 minimum spend. You can pay it off over nine months or up to five years without early settlement penalties.
The price of Homebase kitchens varies depending on the style and number of cabinets purchased. In general, a Homebase kitchen will cost anywhere between £2,000 and £6,000, not including installation.
Homebase is a good choice for its financing options and lengthy warranties. If you’re looking for a kitchen supplier with lengthy warranties – Homebase offers 15 to 20 years for its cabinets. There is also an additional guarantee on inserts, baskets and laminate worktops for up to five years.
Overall, Homebase is a great option if you want to purchase your new kitchen on credit without compromising on quality or limiting your design options.
The best kitchen suppliers offer a range of choices and different service options, so you can get as involved with the process as you want. Kitchens should be beautifully designed and manufactured using high-quality materials.
Our researchers share their top tips on how to find the best kitchen supplier for you:
Start by measuring your kitchen. Consider the floor and the wall size. These measurements will help you and your designer (if you use one) when it comes to finalising your kitchen layout and shopping list.
Decide on your budget and stick to it. Consider all of the components you’ll need to purchase – cabinets are the highest cost, but you also have to consider fixtures, flooring, tiling, appliances and installation costs. To save on costs, our top tip is like swapping wood for laminate.
The best way to approach this is to aim for a balance between your personal preference and what suits your home. If you plan to sell your home, keep in mind what may appeal to future occupants.
The layout of your kitchen can impact price and style choices. Smaller kitchens tend to work best with a one-wall galley and fitted appliances flush with storage. larger kitchens are well-suited to a U-shaped design or L-shaped countertops. An island can also inject life and energy into a kitchen if you have the space for one.
To compile this report, we read thousands of customer reviews, professional reports and technical documentation, as well as third-party media articles. We then compiled a scoring system to rate the UK’s kitchen suppliers against one another based on the factors consumers care about most.
This included:
A final total score out of 100 points was given for each brand.
