What a kitchen actually costs in Perth in 2026: refacing vs replacing

"How much does a new kitchen cost?" is the question we are asked more than any other, and most websites dodge it. So let us be straight with you. In 2026 the kitchen market is shifting. Howdens, one of the industry’s biggest suppliers, has told the market it expects the UK kitchen market to be broadly flat on value and slightly down on volume this year. In plain terms, people are spending more carefully. At the same time, Scottish house prices rose 4.4% in the year to May 2026, well ahead of the UK average, whilst the number of homes changing hands has stayed flat. Put those two together and the picture is clear: across Perth and Tayside, more people are choosing to improve rather than move. Here is what that improvement actually costs.

Kitchen refacing: the budget-friendly transformation

Refacing keeps your existing units and worktops where they are and replaces the parts you see and touch: the doors, drawer fronts, handles, and often the worktops and end panels. Because there is no ripping out, no plastering and far less disruption, it is significantly cheaper than a full replacement.

As a guide, a typical refacing project in the Perth area falls somewhere between £2,000 and £6,000, depending on the size of the kitchen, the door style and materials you choose, and whether you upgrade the worktops at the same time. Most refacing jobs are completed in a few days rather than a few weeks.

Refacing tends to make sense when:

• Your units are solid and well laid out, but the doors look tired or dated.
• You want a fresh look without the cost and upheaval of a full refit.
• You are improving a home you plan to stay in, or preparing it for sale.

A brand-new fitted kitchen: when it's worth it

If your layout no longer works, your units are damaged, or you want to change the footprint of the room, a full fitted kitchen is the right call. Here you are paying for new units, worktops, appliances, and the labour to design the kitchen, remove the old one and install the new.

Costs vary widely with size and specification, but as a realistic guide a new fitted kitchen in Perth typically starts from around £8,000 for a smaller kitchen and rises to £20,000 or more for a larger room with premium materials and appliances. The biggest factors are the number of units, the worktop material, and the appliances you choose.

A new kitchen is usually the better investment when:

• You want to change the layout or knock through to open up the space.
• The existing units are beyond saving.
• You are renovating for the long term and want everything new.

Refacing vs replacing: which adds up?

There is no single right answer; it depends on the state of your current kitchen and what you want from it. As a rough rule, if the bones of your kitchen are good, refacing gives you the biggest visual change for the smallest spend. If the layout or the units need to go, a new kitchen is money better spent. In a year where the smart money is on improving rather than moving, both are sound ways to add comfort and value to your Perth home.

Every kitchen and every budget is different, so the figures above are guides rather than quotes. The only way to get a real number is a proper look at your space.

Get an honest quote

At HIS Design Ltd we have been designing, refacing and fitting kitchens across Perth, Kinross, Dundee, Fife, Stirling and Tayside for over 30 years. We will tell you honestly whether refacing or replacing is better value for your home, with no hard sell. Call us on 01738 550022 or email mark@hisdesignltd.co.uk to arrange your free, no-obligation consultation.