How Many Quotes Should You Get for a Kitchen Renovation?
Get three. For most kitchen renovations, three quotes gives you enough information to spot an outlier without creating unnecessary admin. Two gives you a comparison; three gives you a pattern.
The important thing is that all three builders price exactly the same scope. If one includes flooring, decoration and electrics while another doesn’t, you aren’t comparing prices — you’re comparing different projects.
A £30,000 quote next to a £45,000 quote doesn’t automatically mean the second builder is expensive. The cheaper quote may simply be missing work. Always read the exclusions before looking at the headline number.
For a straightforward kitchen refit under £30,000, two quotes may be enough.
For larger renovations involving structural work, layout changes or extensions, get three.
Before approaching builders, prepare a written schedule of works covering cabinets, worktops, appliances, electrics, plumbing, flooring, decoration and waste removal. Give the exact same document to every builder.
If something is unknown — such as structural work or floor repairs — give every builder the same provisional allowance. Otherwise, each builder makes a different guess and the totals become meaningless.
Try to get three builders to visit the property, ideally before they price. Kitchens often uncover surprises behind walls, floors and existing services that drawings alone won't show.
And don’t show builders each other’s prices. Share the scope, not the numbers. You want each builder pricing the work properly, not trying to hit a competitor’s figure.
Three quotes. One scope. Same assumptions. Then compare what’s actually included — not just the final number.
