How much do IKEA kitchens actually cost?
IKEA Kitchen costs can pose a big ol’ question mark.
Especially when you’re trying to compare costs with different kitchen companies.
But in truth, asking ourselves “How much do IKEA kitchens cost?” is like asking how long a piece of string is 😅
Because it seriously depends.
Frustrated, I worked out an easy way to calculate your kitchen costs. So keep reading.
Why listen to me? 😅
Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to help many homeowners estimate and design their dream kitchens, for years now.
I’m an interior designer specialising in affordable design, and I have some tips to pass on to you to plan & cost up your IKEA kitchen so that it becomes a space you love, within your budget.
Let me tell you this first though…
Even though the lack of clarity around IKEA kitchen costs may throw a barrier to making an informed decision quickly…
What’s more urgent is that you learn about some of the hidden costs associated with installing IKEA kitchens.
I revealed some truths in my Youtube video below 👇🏻
Download my free How to Design Your Dream Kitchen guide to get support with your layout and design, while you’re watching.
So, back to the cost of an IKEA kitchen…
How much does an IKEA kitchen cost? Here are some things to consider:
Baking in an ikea kitchen - IMAGE: @ikeauk
1. They come flat packed – you might be paying a higher cost for installation
First of all, as with all IKEA products, they come in flat pack form.
So unlike Howdens kitchens or other leading brands, your kitchen will require building and fitting. This can mean one of two things and it totally depends on your level of DIY confidence.
Either you’re saving a nice bit of money fitting it yourself with the skills you have. Or you’ll have to fork out the additional cost of fitting by a professional.
The same goes for DIY Kitchens prices, which is part of what makes them so affordable.
IKEA does offer an installation service but doesn’t list a cost publically. So, if you’re looking at third-party installation, Airtasker lists the average installation cost at £2,950 which, considering the low price point of IKEA units, can add quite a chunk on to your overall total.
Still, IKEA remains a solid option for renovating on a budget.
2. Each component is individually priced so you need to understand your design first
A large part of the reason it’s so difficult to get a guide price on an IKEA kitchen is because each and every component, little and large, is individually priced.
This means your total can vary wildly depending on your choices.
Cupboard pulls start from £1, drawer fronts from £7 and a standard size base cabinet at £35. But how do you compute those small numbers when you don’t have an exact design plan drawn up?!
You’ve got 2 options here 😃
Either put together your detailed kitchen design plan so that you can gather costs for each kitchen piece you need – I have online courses to help you floor plan and design or start with my free How to Design Your Dream Kitchen guide.
Or if you just need a rough estimate, try my calculation below.
(By the way, I also have my planning a kitchen if you’d rather read another blog post for very handy tips to visualise your kitchen before buying).
Calculating your IKEA kitchen cost estimate (supply only)
Here are the calculations I run for clients who don’t have any designs or plans in place but want a loose estimate of how much an IKEA kitchen may cost them, for supply only.
First I need to understand how many units the kitchen could typically have on each wall (base units and wall units):
Length of kitchen wall (in mm) ÷ 600mm (The average unit width) = Average number of units required for base units
This will give me a total number of units needed in the design.
Run this calculation again if there will be wall units on the same wall and add the totals together for your total number of units required in the room.
Example: If my client’s wall measures 3900mm. I divide this by 600mm (the average unit width) and I get a total of 6.5 base units required on that wall.
I run this calculation again for wall units (if the client doesn’t want open shelving) and do this whole calculation again for all other walls that will have units within the kitchen area.
Then, I jump back onto IKEA to calculate costs.
Because you will know a rough average of units you require, you should be able to create a basket for the number of METOD basic units (the white carcasses) and add your doors and drawer fronts.
Bear in mind, the big costs come in when you add appliances and things like basins and taps which are fairly easy to cost up.
Any kind of different base or upper unit to incorporate an appliance or integrated storage systems will also bump the price up.
Ultimately it’s entirely down to you and your kitchen needs.
ikea kitchen shelving - IMAGE: @ikeauk
3. You could save on IKEA kitchen costs by using a hybrid design
There are so many companies out there now who design and manufacture cupboard and draw fronts to fit IKEA METOD units.
So if you’re looking for something a little more high-end and design-forward than a standard IKEA kitchen but don’t quite have the funds in the bank, consider going with the best of both worlds.
You’ll still get the quality of IKEA carcasses (i.e the white insides) but with the aesthetic benefits of something design-focused. We’ve heard good things about Holte, Custom Fronts and Husk.
Reno club member Anna’s IKEa kitchen
Reno Club spotlight!
We love celebrating our Reno Club member’ renovations and we’re big fans of seeing kitchen renovations done on a healthy budget.
Check out Anna’s fantastic Cornish IKEA kitchen. She completed her full home renovation for under £40,000!
4. Check warranty periods when purchasing kitchens
IKEA is pretty transparent in ‘what you see is what you get’ so there aren’t many frills to speak of.
But there is a nice 25-year warranty on all kitchens that covers ‘defects in the material and workmanship’ on the METOD range.
Units aside, mixer taps have a 10-year warranty and most appliances come with a 5-year warranty.
Of course, the warranties are always subject to terms to make sure you read the small print so you’re covered.
The online kitchen planner service is free and IKEA has specialists to help answer your questions and meet your needs so that’s a good place to start if you’re exploring your options.
ikea kitchen storage - IMAGE: @ikeauk
5. Get a quick quote on IKEA kitchen costs
“How can I just get a straight up cost without designing first?”
That’s the question on everyone’s lips. But try out my calculation (above) and you’ll be surprised.
We also tried out their online quick quoter which was actually pretty accurate.
So, we can solidly say that an average family-sized L-shaped kitchen in a classic shaker style will set you back around £4,681*. And a simple single-sided formation costs around £2,722*.
But remember, that’s the components on their own. Add installation costs if you can’t do it yourself. Add fancier appliances. And the number jumps up if you’ve got a large kitchen to fill.
*obtained through IKEA quick quoter
If you’re a total newbie then count on us for your ultimate kitchen guide – it’s free
Designing and ordering a kitchen can be the biggest, most intimidating part of a renovation – Neil and I seriously feel your pain.
We’ve taken the hard work out of it and want to share our step-by-step guide to walk you through the process and considering things you might never have thought of.
Sign up for our free guide – How to Design and Order a Kitchen ››
Huge thanks to Isobel, our team member & expert in interiors for her research and writing of the original post!
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