11 min read
You have got three kitchen renovation quotes in front of you. One is £14,500. One is £19,000. One is £22,000. The problem is you have no idea whether they are quoting for the same thing, because none of them tell you clearly what is and is not included.
This is the situation most North East homeowners find themselves in. And the guides that are supposed to help — national comparison sites, London-based renovation blogs — quote figures that reflect South East labour rates and rarely explain which line items are actually in the price.
This post breaks down exactly what a kitchen renovation quote should contain, what the realistic 2026 figures look like for the North East of England, and which omissions are most likely to turn a £16,000 quote into a £21,000 final bill.
In short
In short: a properly itemised kitchen renovation quote should list at minimum fourteen separate categories — strip-out, waste disposal, cabinets, worktops, plumbing, electrics, gas, plastering, tiling, flooring, appliances (supply and fit separately), decoration, and project management. For a mid-range family kitchen in the North East, expect a realistic all-in total of £15,000–£22,000 once the common exclusions are added back in. Budget kitchens can land around £9,000–£12,000; high-end or structurally complex projects run from £28,000 upward. Any quote that does not itemise at least the major trades is not a quote — it is a holding number.
Why most kitchen quote guides mislead you
National guides typically present kitchen renovation costs as a single band: something like £10,000 to £25,000 for a full kitchen. That range is so wide it is almost useless. More importantly, it rarely tells you what that figure includes — and the difference between an inclusive quote and a stripped-back one can easily be £4,000 to £8,000 on a standard family kitchen.
The other issue is geography. Labour rates in the North East run roughly 10–20% lower than in the South East. A project quoted at £18,000 by a London firm might come in at £15,000–£16,000 in Newcastle or County Durham for identical materials and scope. That is a genuine regional saving — but only if you are comparing like for like. If a cheaper quote has simply left out flooring, plastering, and waste disposal, you are not saving anything.
The only way to compare quotes honestly is to know what a complete quote looks like.
The three budget tiers (2026 UK figures)
Before going line by line, here is a realistic summary of what full kitchen renovations actually cost in 2026 across the UK, with North East adjustments noted.
| Tier | Spec | UK national range | North East estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Small–medium kitchen, standard units, laminate worktops, basic appliances | £8,000–£12,000 | £8,000–£10,500 |
| Mid-range | 3.5×4m kitchen, rigid units, quartz worktops, branded integrated appliances | £15,000–£28,000 | £13,500–£24,000 |
| High-end / bespoke | Premium or custom units, stone worktops, full integration, possible structural work | £28,000–£45,000+ | £26,000–£42,000+ |
These are all-in figures assuming a complete, properly scoped quote. The North East savings are primarily on labour; material costs — units, worktops, appliances, tiles — are largely identical to the rest of the country.
What should be in a kitchen renovation quote: line by line
Here is every category a proper quote should address. For each one, we have noted what to look for, what typical 2026 costs are, and what gets left out.
1. Strip-out and demolition
This covers removal of the old kitchen — units, worktops, pelmets, tiles, and old flooring if it is being replaced. It also includes capping redundant pipes and cables safely.
Waste removal deserves its own line. Skip hire or a licensed waste carrier typically costs £250–£450 for a kitchen job. This is one of the most commonly buried or omitted items — sometimes noted in small print as ‘by client.’ Find out before work starts, not after.
2. Cabinets and units
The quote should name the brand and range (Howdens, Wren, a bespoke joinery supplier), state the number of base, wall, and tall units, specify whether carcasses are flat-pack or rigid, and include installation labour — scribing to walls, fitting cornice, pelmet, and end panels.
| Tier | Unit supply only | Installation labour |
|---|---|---|
| Budget units | £2,500–£4,000 | £1,200–£1,800 |
| Mid-range units | £4,000–£6,000 | £1,500–£2,500 |
| Premium / bespoke | £6,000–£10,000+ | £2,000–£3,500+ |
Watch out for a single lump sum labelled ‘kitchen supply and fit’ with no unit count or brand. You cannot compare that against another quote with any confidence.
3. Worktops
The quote should state the material, the linear metres, and whether cut-outs for the hob, sink, and taps are included. For stone and quartz, templating and fabrication should be a named line — not a later surprise.
| Material | Typical supply cost (standard kitchen) |
|---|---|
| Laminate | £400–£700 |
| Solid wood | £800–£1,500 |
| Quartz / mid-range composite | £1,500–£2,500 |
| Premium stone / sintered stone | £2,500–£4,500+ |
A common trap: the quote specifies laminate but the homeowner has assumed quartz. Upgrading mid-project adds £1,000–£2,000 or more, and delays fabrication by weeks.
4. Appliances — supply versus fit
These must be listed separately. ‘Appliances included’ means nothing on its own. The quote should state which appliances are being supplied (with brand and model if possible) and which are being connected only, with the homeowner supplying the units themselves.
| Tier | Appliance supply budget |
|---|---|
| Budget | £800–£1,500 |
| Mid-range (integrated) | £2,000–£4,000 |
| High-end / full integration | £5,000–£15,000+ |
Appliance prices are set nationally. The North East saving is only on fitting labour, not on the appliances themselves.
5. Plumbing
A proper quote covers both first-fix (moving or adding pipe runs for sink, dishwasher, fridge, boiling water tap) and second-fix (connecting taps, sink, appliances, fitting isolation valves and traps). If the sink position is moving, that should be called out explicitly.
Moving a sink across the room typically adds £1,000–£2,500 to the project, because it involves lifting floors, running new pipe and waste routes, and making good afterwards. In the North East, plumbing day-rates sit toward the lower end of national ranges, so this may land closer to £1,000–£1,500 for a straightforward relocation.
The trap: a quote covers connections only, not relocation. The homeowner only finds out when they ask to shift the sink.
6. Electrics
This is one of the most under-specified sections in kitchen quotes. ‘Electrics included’ can mean anything from a few new sockets to a full rewire of the kitchen circuits. The quote should itemise:
- New socket positions and quantities
- Dedicated circuits for induction hob, single or double oven, American fridge-freezer
- Lighting — ceiling spots, under-cabinet, plinth lighting
- Any consumer unit or RCD upgrade if existing circuits are undersized
- Part P certification and electrical installation certificate
Upgrading undersized circuits for modern appliances — particularly common in older North East terraces and semis — typically adds £500–£2,500 to a project. This rarely appears in a basic quote.
7. Gas
If there is a gas hob, the quote should include a Gas Safe registered engineer to move or install pipework, and to cap off redundant feeds. This is a compliance requirement, not optional. A straightforward hob relocation typically runs a few hundred pounds but must appear as a named line — not left as ‘by others.’
8. Plastering and making good
After tile removal, units coming down, and new lighting going in, walls and ceilings will need work. A full re-skim after tile removal typically costs £400–£800 for a kitchen. General patching, cornerbead repairs, and ceiling repairs sit in a similar range.
Kitchen companies frequently quote for installation only and leave all plasterwork to the homeowner to organise. This is one of the most consistently underestimated costs in kitchen projects.
9. Tiling and splashbacks
The quote should state the area in square metres, the tile specification (ceramic, porcelain, stone, glass), and whether tile supply is included or fitting only. If a glass or acrylic splashback is specified instead of tiles, that should be a separate named item with supply and fit both addressed.
Mid-range tiling allowances in full-scope quotes typically run £300–£800 for a standard kitchen area. Tile supply can add several hundred pounds on top depending on choice.
10. Flooring
Flooring is one of the most commonly omitted categories in kitchen quotes — sometimes left out entirely, sometimes quoted for fitting only without supply. The quote should state the material (LVT, porcelain, engineered wood, laminate), the area, subfloor preparation including levelling compound or ply-boarding, and skirting removal and refitting.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| New flooring (supply and fit) | £500–£2,500 depending on material and area |
| Underfloor heating (electric mat system) | £800–£1,500 added to flooring cost |
Flooring labour in the North East tends to be cheaper than the national average; materials are broadly the same. Damage to the subfloor found after strip-out is a further variable that should carry a contingency, not a zero.
11. Decoration
Many kitchen companies exclude decoration entirely. The quote should include painting walls, ceilings, and woodwork after plastering, caulking and filling, and a final clean. Combined with plastering, decoration for a typical kitchen typically falls in the £400–£1,200 range. If it is not in the quote, the homeowner needs to budget for it separately or factor in their own time.
12. Structural work
If the project involves removing a wall, creating an open-plan kitchen-diner, or installing a steel beam, this must be a separate and clearly scoped section — not buried in general works.
| Item | Typical cost (2026 UK) |
|---|---|
| Structural wall removal with RSJ / steel beam | £2,000–£8,000 depending on span and load |
| Structural engineer calculations and sign-off | £300–£800 separately |
Kitchen quotes that ignore structural requirements leave homeowners facing a separate builder, engineer, and decorator bill mid-project. In the North East, building control requirements are the same as nationally — no shortcuts apply.
13. Waste removal
As noted under strip-out: skip hire or a licensed waste carrier should be a named line, not assumed. Budget £250–£450. If it says ‘by client,’ price it before you sign.
14. Design and project management
In premium kitchen projects, professional design — detailed planning, elevations, material specification — may be charged at £500–£1,000 separately or bundled into the package. Project management (coordinating trades, scheduling deliveries, supervising site) is often absorbed into labour margins, but it is worth asking how trade coordination is handled, especially if you are not running the project yourself.
Add a contingency of 10–15% on top of the quoted total. On older properties in particular — Victorian terraces in Newcastle, Edwardian semis across County Durham, stone-built houses in Northumberland — concealed problems with electrics, plumbing, and subfloors are the rule, not the exception.
The exclusions that cause the most damage
Here is a summary of the items most likely to generate surprise bills on a North East kitchen renovation, with the typical additional cost if they were left out of the original quote.
| Exclusion | Typical additional cost |
|---|---|
| Appliance supply (fitting only quoted) | £800–£4,000+ |
| Flooring — supply and subfloor prep | £500–£2,500 |
| Electrical circuit upgrades | £500–£2,500 |
| Plumbing relocation (sink, island, cooker) | £1,000–£2,500 |
| Structural work — wall removal / steel | £2,000–£8,000 |
| Full plastering and decoration | £400–£1,200 |
| Waste removal / skip hire | £250–£450 |
| Tile and splashback supply | £200–£600+ |
| Design fees (where not bundled) | £500–£1,000 |
The realistic worst case: a quote that omits appliance supply, flooring, electrical upgrades, and plastering can be understated by £3,000–£8,000 before anything goes wrong on site.
Why the North East is different
The North East is not a footnote to a national average. Labour rates here — for kitchen fitting, carpentry, plastering, tiling, and plumbing — consistently run 10–20% below South East levels. That saving is real, and for a £20,000 kitchen it can mean £2,000–£4,000 less on labour across the project.
What does not change: materials. Units from Howdens, quartz worktops from national fabricators, appliances from mainstream brands, tiles and flooring — all priced nationally. The saving is in skilled hands, not in what those hands are installing.
Local considerations worth knowing about:
- Many North East properties are older stock — Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Gateshead and Newcastle, stone-built houses in Northumberland, 1930s semis across County Durham. Subfloor condition, lead or corroded pipework, and undersized electrical systems are common and add genuine cost when uncovered.
- North East labour is in demand. Quality tradespeople — Gas Safe engineers, Part P electricians, skilled kitchen fitters — book out weeks ahead. A quote that seems cheap but comes with a next-week start date deserves scrutiny.
- Conservation areas and listed buildings (common in parts of Northumberland and historic parts of Newcastle and Durham) may impose restrictions on external elements even in a kitchen renovation. If your property has any designation, check before committing to anything structural.
A worked example: mid-range kitchen in the North East
To make this concrete: a 3.5×4m kitchen renovation in a 1930s semi in Gateshead, replacing a tired dated kitchen with a mid-range fitted kitchen, quartz worktops, integrated appliances, and new flooring throughout.
| Line item | Estimated cost (North East, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Strip-out and demolition | £400–£600 |
| Waste removal | £300–£400 |
| Cabinets — rigid units, supply and fit | £5,500–£8,000 |
| Quartz worktops — supply, fabrication and fit | £1,800–£2,500 |
| Appliances — supply and installation | £2,500–£3,500 |
| Plumbing — first and second fix (no relocation) | £600–£1,000 |
| Electrics — new circuits, sockets, lighting, certification | £900–£1,800 |
| Gas — hob connection by Gas Safe engineer | £200–£400 |
| Plastering and making good | £500–£800 |
| Wall tiling — supply and fit (splashback area) | £500–£800 |
| LVT flooring — supply, prep and fit | £800–£1,400 |
| Decoration | £400–£700 |
| Design and project management | included or £500–£800 |
| Subtotal | £14,400–£22,700 |
| Contingency (10–15%) | £1,440–£3,400 |
| Realistic total range | £16,000–£26,000 |
This is a realistic, complete estimate — not a stripped-back number designed to look competitive at quote stage. The actual figure depends on unit brand and count, worktop specification, appliance choices, and what is found under the floor and behind the walls.
How to compare kitchen renovation quotes properly
When you have quotes from different companies, do the following before drawing any conclusions about price.
- List every line item from each quote. If a category is absent from one quote, it is not included — it is just hidden. Add the missing item at its typical cost before comparing totals.
- Standardise the specification. Are all quotes using the same worktop material? The same appliance tier? If not, you are comparing different products, not different prices.
- Check the exclusions list explicitly. A well-written quote will have one. If there is no exclusions section, ask for it in writing before signing anything.
- Ask about trade coordination. If the kitchen company is using subcontracted electricians, plumbers, and plasterers, find out who manages that and what happens when something goes wrong mid-project.
- Ask what happens if something unexpected is found. Rotten joists, old lead pipework, a consumer unit that needs replacing — find out what the variation process looks like before you are in the middle of it.
- Add your contingency before comparing. Add 10–15% to every quote and treat that as your true budget exposure. Then compare.
We are working on a detailed post — How to Compare Renovation Quotes Without Getting Burned — which will take this further and walk through a side-by-side quote comparison with a real worked example. Keep an eye out for that one if you are in the process of gathering quotes now.
A note on how Hollinside works
If you are planning a kitchen renovation in Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, or County Durham and you would like a straight conversation about what your project actually involves and what it is likely to cost, we are happy to talk it through — no pressure, no obligation.
We take a small number of projects at a time. That is deliberate. It means we can give each job proper attention rather than fitting as many kitchens as possible. If the timing works and it looks like a good fit on both sides, we can talk about next steps.
When you are ready, get in touch and tell us what you are planning.
Last updated: June 2025. All figures are guidance based on current UK market data and North East labour conditions. They are not a quote and will vary depending on your property, specification, and project scope.