The price of a fitted kitchen is not calculated by linear metre
There is a widespread idea that the cost of a fitted kitchen is measured by linear metre of worktop. It is a useful myth for comparing quick quotes, but misleading when applied to reality. The same 60 cm module can cost three times as much depending on the opening system, the type of interior drawer or the finish of the front. In practice, serious quotes are broken down by item: furniture, appliances, worktop, installation and associated building work.
Myths that inflate or deflate the bill
Myth 1: the bigger it is, the more expensive it is proportionally
False. A 12 m² kitchen does not cost twice as much as a 6 m² one. Fixed costs (travel, electrical installation, plumbing, finishing touches) are spread over more metres. According to documentation from the furniture sector, the cost per linear metre tends to decrease beyond a certain surface area because straight runs are cheaper than corners and curves.
Myth 2: the worktop is the most expensive part
It depends. In a small kitchen with a compact quartz worktop, that element can exceed 20% of the budget. In a large kitchen with melamine, the furniture weighs much more heavily. The common mistake is to request a quote for the worktop without having first finalised the layout of the modules: a change in the position of the sink means cutting and re-drilling, and that is charged separately.
Myth 3: the price always includes installation
No. Many quotes separate the supply from the assembly and the removal of waste. Installation can represent an additional 10% to 20%, and the removal of the old kitchen, another fixed amount. It is worth asking expressly whether the price includes dismantling, transport and debris management.
Realities that move the final figure
The drawer system adds more cost than the door
A drawer with full-extension runners and soft-close costs considerably more than a hinged door with the same front. That is why two visually identical kitchens can differ by hundreds of euros: one has drawers in all the base units and the other only doors.
Hidden building work is the item that surprises the most
Moving the dishwasher’s water supply, changing the cable gauge or levelling an uneven floor are jobs that do not appear in the render but do appear on the bill. In old flats, the electrical installation usually needs updating to handle the oven, hob and dishwasher at the same time. This cannot be budgeted accurately without seeing the existing installation.
Appliances are not interchangeable in price
A basic induction hob and a high-end one with flexible zones can triple the cost. The same applies to a pyrolytic oven versus a conventional one. If the budget includes appliances, it is worth reviewing them model by model: sometimes the manufacturer’s package makes the set more expensive than buying separately.
A specific case that illustrates the problem
In a recent renovation, the client compared two quotes that were almost identical in metres and finishes. The difference was several hundred euros. On reviewing the items, the cheaper one did not include the aluminium plinth, the side finishing pieces or the sealing of the worktop against the wall. This type of omission is common and explains why the lowest price is not always the most economical in the end.
What doesn’t work for comparing prices
Comparing only the total figure of two quotes is useless if the items are not broken down. Nor does asking for a fixed price without a layout plan work: the professional has to estimate blindly and usually adds a safety margin. And it is not realistic to expect an exact price over the phone with approximate measurements.
How to read a quote with judgement
It is worth demanding the breakdown by furniture, worktop, appliances, installation and building work. Asking what the assembly includes, whether waste is removed and what warranty covers each item. According to sector studies, the price range is wide and depends more on the configuration than on the surface area. No serious quote guarantees a final amount without visiting the kitchen and reviewing the existing installations.