Kitchen Renovation Cost by Tier
Kitchen renovation costs in Manchester fall into three broad tiers, depending on how much of the layout and services you're changing. Here's what each one typically includes:
| Tier | Price range | What's typically included |
|---|---|---|
| Budget refurbishment | £9,000–£14,000 | New units fitted in the existing layout, no plumbing or electrical relocation, standard worktops, like-for-like appliance swaps |
| Mid-range renovation | £14,000–£22,000 | Repositioned sink/hob, new electrical circuits, quartz or solid wood worktops, upgraded flooring, integrated appliances |
| Full open-plan conversion | £22,000–£40,000+ | Structural wall removal, full re-wire and re-plumb, bespoke cabinetry, kitchen island, premium appliances and finishes |
As a rough per-square-metre guide, expect £900–£1,800/m² depending on specification, a small galley kitchen will sit at the lower end of a tier's range, while a large open-plan space pushes toward the top.
What Actually Drives the Cost Up or Down
Two kitchens of the same size can have wildly different price tags. Here's what causes the spread:
1. Whether you're moving plumbing and electrics
Keeping your sink, hob and appliances in their current positions is the single biggest cost saver. Relocating a sink across the room means new waste runs, new water supply pipework, and often lifting the floor, easily £800–£1,500 in additional first-fix work alone.
2. Structural changes
Removing a wall to create an open-plan kitchen-diner, extremely common in Victorian and Edwardian terraces across Chorlton, Didsbury and Levenshulme, typically adds £1,500–£3,500. That covers the structural engineer's calculations, the steel beam (RSJ), padstones, and the building control application and inspection.
3. Worktop material
Laminate worktops start from around £40–£60 per linear metre fitted. Quartz and granite run £180–£350 per linear metre. Solid wood sits in between at roughly £120–£220 per linear metre. For an average kitchen needing 5–6 linear metres, that's a difference of £700–£1,500 on worktops alone.
4. Cabinetry: flat-pack vs rigid vs bespoke
Flat-pack units (Howdens trade range, IKEA) are the most cost-effective. Rigid pre-built units cost roughly 20–30% more but install faster and last longer. Fully bespoke joinery, built to your exact dimensions, typically costs double a mid-range flat-pack kitchen but is the only option for awkward or non-standard layouts.
5. Appliances
A basic integrated appliance package (oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher) starts around £1,800–£2,500. Mid-range branded appliances (Bosch, Neff) run £3,000–£5,000. Premium ranges (Siemens, Miele) can exceed £8,000.
Costs Often Forgotten in DIY Budgets
- Skip hire and waste disposal — £300–£500 for a full strip-out
- Building control fees — £200–£450 if structural work is involved
- Temporary kitchen facilities — if you're living in the property during the work
- Making good adjoining rooms — redecorating the hallway or dining room where new flooring meets old
- Contingency — we recommend budgeting 10% extra for older properties, where unexpected issues (damp, old wiring, uneven floors) are more likely to surface once work starts
Is It Cheaper to Reface Instead of Replace?
If your existing carcasses are solid and the layout works for you, a kitchen makeover, refacing with just new doors, drawer fronts and worktop while keeping the existing units, typically costs £3,000–£6,000. That's roughly a third of a full refit and can transform the look of a kitchen that's structurally fine but visually dated. It only makes sense if the carcasses themselves are in good condition; chipboard units that have swollen from water damage aren't worth refacing.
How to Get an Accurate Quote (Not a Vague Estimate)
Online calculators and national "average cost" guides are a starting point at best, they can't account for your property's specific layout, existing services, or local labour rates. The only way to get a number you can actually budget against is a site survey, where a project manager can see:
- Whether any walls are load-bearing
- The condition and routing of existing plumbing and electrics
- Floor levels and whether they need correcting
- Access for materials and any scaffolding or skip requirements
We provide a free site survey and return a fixed, itemised quote, not a ballpark estimate, so you know the exact price before any work starts. See real examples of completed kitchens, with before-and-after detail, on our projects page.