Should my builder fit the kitchen or do I need a separate fitter?

Hire a dedicated kitchen fitter. Kitchen fitting is precision carpentry to millimetre tolerances on walls that are never perfectly straight, and a general builder good at structure and blockwork rarely has that skill. A poorly fitted kitchen is visible every day for years.

How much does a kitchen fitter cost for an extension?

Labour-only fitting for a standard extension kitchen of around 15 to 20 units runs £1,500 – £3,500, with day rates around £250 – £350 per day. An island, a utility room, integrated appliances, and a London or South East location all push the cost up.

How do you vet a kitchen fitter?

Get at least three quotes, then judge on quality rather than price alone. Ask to see real kitchens they fitted in the last six months, check the door gaps, worktop joints, and plinth fit, and ask what tools they bring and whether they manage their own electrician and plumber.

How far in advance should you book a kitchen fitter?

Good fitters are typically booked four to ten weeks ahead, so start looking as soon as your kitchen units are ordered rather than when the room is ready. Premium or German kitchens with long lead times give you even less room to manoeuvre.

What does a kitchen fitter's quote not include?

Fitting labour does not cover your electrician or plumber, who connect the oven, hob, sink, dishwasher, and any boiling water tap as part of their own connection work. Budget for those trades separately, and check whether a premium supplier bundles fitting into its package.

Should a kitchen fitter give you a guarantee?

Yes. A fitter's written workmanship guarantee covers the installation itself for 12-24 months, separate from the manufacturer's product warranty on the units and appliances. Ask whether it is insurance-backed, which matters if the firm stops trading before the guarantee runs out.

How much deposit should you pay a kitchen fitter?

It depends on who orders the units. If the fitter supplies them too, usually on their own trade account, a deposit inside 10–20% is normal, since they order your units up front and kitchen orders are largely non-returnable. If you buy the units yourself and hire the fitter for labour only, they carry no materials cost, so expect a small deposit or none. Either way, anything above 25% of the total is a warning sign, and a demand for the full amount before work starts is a walk-away. Pay part of any deposit by credit card for Section 75 protection.

Back to Kitchen Extension

Phase 5 · Specification · Task 06 of 06

Finding a Kitchen Fitter

How to find, vet, and book a kitchen fitter for your extension. Covers costs (£1,500 – £3,500), what's in and out of scope, and when to book.

14 min readUpdated 2026Premium

Four-step process infographic for finding a kitchen fitter: get recommendations, check recent work, get three quotes, and book 4 to 10 weeks ahead

Prerequisites

Complete these first

A mediocre kitchen fitted well will always look better than a premium kitchen fitted badly. Trade forums, homeowner communities, and kitchen suppliers all agree on this. The fitter is the single most important hire in your entire kitchen project.

And yet most self-managing homeowners assume their builder will do it.

What this guide covers

01Why Your Builder Shouldn't Fit Your Kitchen
02Where to Find a Kitchen Fitter
03The Howdens Problem
04How to Vet a Kitchen Fitter
05Insurance and Guarantees
06Contracts and Payment
07Reading and Comparing Quotes
08What Kitchen Fitting Costs
09The Coordination Triangle
10Two Timing Traps That Decide When You Book
11When to Book and How to Manage the Slot

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