Kitchen Renovation Costs in Ireland: Full Breakdown

The kitchen is the most renovated room in Irish homes, and for good reason. It is where families spend most of their time, and a well-designed kitchen adds significant value to your property. But costs can vary enormously depending on your spec, so it pays to understand what drives the price before you start getting quotes.

Kitchen Renovation Cost Ranges

A budget kitchen refresh (new doors and worktops on existing carcasses, painting, new handles) costs between 3,000 and 6,000 euro. This is a great option if your layout works but the kitchen looks tired.

A mid-range full renovation (new units, worktops, appliances, flooring, tiling, painting, electrics, and plumbing) typically costs between 12,000 and 25,000 euro for a standard-sized kitchen. This is where most Irish homeowners land.

A high-end kitchen with premium cabinetry, stone worktops, high-spec appliances, and structural changes costs between 25,000 and 50,000 euro or more. If you are knocking through to a dining room or extending to create an open-plan kitchen-diner, add the extension costs on top.

What Drives Kitchen Costs?

Cabinetry is typically the single biggest cost, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the total budget. Flat-pack units from budget suppliers start at 2,000 to 4,000 euro for a full kitchen. Custom-made units from Irish kitchen companies range from 8,000 to 20,000 euro.

Worktops range from 500 euro for laminate to 4,000 euro or more for natural stone or premium quartz.

Appliances typically account for 2,000 to 6,000 euro. The big-ticket items are the oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, and dishwasher.

Labour for fitting, plumbing, electrics, tiling, and painting typically runs to 4,000 to 8,000 euro depending on the scope of work and your location.

Timeline

A straightforward kitchen renovation where the layout stays the same takes 2 to 3 weeks. If structural work, new plumbing runs, or electrical rewiring is involved, allow 4 to 6 weeks. Add 4 to 8 weeks lead time for custom cabinetry.

Tips for Saving Money

Keep the existing layout if possible, as moving plumbing and electrical points adds cost. Consider refacing existing carcasses if they are structurally sound. Buy appliances during sale periods. And always get at least 3 quotes for the fitting work.

Kitchen Renovation Timeline: Week by Week

A typical Irish kitchen renovation takes 3 to 6 weeks from strip-out to completion. Here is what to expect:

Week 1: Strip-out and preparation. The old kitchen is removed, including units, worktops, flooring, and tiling. Any electrical or plumbing rough-in work is done. This is the messiest phase. You will need an alternative cooking setup (a microwave and kettle in another room is the standard approach).

Week 2: First fix. Electrician and plumber complete their first-fix work, moving sockets, adding lighting circuits, and repositioning water and waste pipes to match the new layout. If walls are being removed or altered, this happens now. Plastering follows.

Week 3: Flooring and tiling. Once plaster is dry, floor tiling or flooring goes down. Wall tiling for splashbacks is done after units are fitted (unless you are doing full-height tiling, which goes in now).

Weeks 4 to 5: Kitchen fitting. Units, worktops, and appliances are installed. This is where the room starts to look like a kitchen again. Worktops are usually templated once units are in and then fabricated, which can add a 1 to 2 week wait for stone worktops.

Week 5 to 6: Second fix and finishing. Electrician returns to fit sockets, switches, and lighting. Plumber connects sink, dishwasher, and washing machine. Splashback tiling is grouted. Final snagging and any touch-up painting completes the job.

Build in a buffer of 1 to 2 weeks for delays. Appliance delivery, worktop fabrication, and weather (if any external work is involved) are the most common causes of slippage.

Common Kitchen Renovation Mistakes

Not planning the layout before choosing units. The most expensive kitchens are not always the best ones. A well-planned layout in a mid-range kitchen will function better than a poorly laid out premium one. Work with your fitter or an interior designer to optimise the work triangle (sink, hob, fridge) before you commit to a cabinet supplier.

Forgetting about ventilation. Building regulations require adequate kitchen ventilation. An extractor hood or fan should vent to the outside, not just recirculate air. Budget 300 to 800 euro for a decent extractor, plus the cost of ductwork if your kitchen is not on an external wall.

Underspecifying electrics. Modern kitchens need more sockets than you think. Plan for at least 6 to 8 double sockets on worktop level, plus dedicated circuits for the oven, hob, and any high-draw appliances. Moving electrics after the kitchen is fitted is expensive and disruptive. Get an electrician involved at the planning stage.

Choosing worktops on looks alone. Marble looks beautiful but stains easily. Granite is durable but heavy. Quartz is low-maintenance and consistent. Laminate is the budget option but wears faster. Consider how you actually use your kitchen before choosing. For a family kitchen with heavy daily use, quartz or granite at 2,000 to 5,000 euro is usually the best value over 15 to 20 years.

For more detail on finding the right tradespeople, visit IrishPropertyGuide.ie.