Kitchen extension costs - an expert guide on how much you can expect to spend

Kitchen extension costs can be hard to quantify as there are so many different factors – size, design, difficulty, access, materials and finishes chosen. But there is no doubt that adding one of the best kitchen extensions onto your home opens up all sorts of possibilities in terms of look, feel and functionality, so it’s worth doing well and not skimping on costs to get the desired result. We asked some of our experts to give us an idea of what to expect.

1.CONSIDER THE OPTIONS

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“If you are thinking about extending, first consider how long you intend to stay in your house. Is this your forever home? Is this a one-off project and therefore an opportunity to create your dream kitchen? Or might you move in a few years’ time?" asks George Forsyth of Handmade Furniture Company, Drew Forsyth & Co. "If you are extending to sell soon after, while a quality kitchen will be a huge selling point, you might not spend as much as if this is your forever home."

It also depends on whether you're keeping the kitchen in the same location. "The first thing to ask when planning a major kitchen refurb or extension is “is the kitchen actually in the right room of the house?” Consider the space and the room and how the room is accessed from other rooms," George says. "Do you want to have views from your kitchen? Does your lounge have better views that you never get to appreciate because you can’t see them when you’re sat on the sofa?  While how much to spend on a new kitchen will be down to personal circumstances, even with small kitchen extension ideas it's usually 5%-10% of the value of your home.” 

2. PLAN VIRTUALLY 

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“The bigger the extension, the bigger the kitchen to complete it and therefore the cost.” Says Kye Ranson, Designer at InHouse Inspired Room Designs. Knowing how to plan a kitchen extension will help you keep on track. "Once you have your plans, why not ask a good interior designer to plan your kitchen virtually, before you start your build. Visit showrooms and shortlist the type of kitchen cabinets, appliance makes and models before you commit to laying the foundations. It’s easier to change on paper than once it's built and therefore you are less likely to make expensive mistakes.”

3. the cost of a kitchen extension in the US

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According to reports, the median spend on major kitchen remodels, in which all of the cabinets and appliances are replaced, is $35,000. Although this is for remodels, not kitchen extension costs, it's a good guide. Homeowners renovating their kitchens are overwhelmingly choosing custom or semi-custom cabinetry (76 %). Shaker-style and white cabinet doors continue to be the leading choices in the USA. 

4 CHEAPER THAN MOVING?

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“Today, the high costs of moving home, stamp duty etc, have had a significant impact on the housing market, it makes financial sense to investigate the possibility of extending your existing home," says Richard Atkins, Design Director of Design Space London. "If the footprint of your property allows, it may be possible to extend upwards, sideways and backwards and to increase living, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, at a cost which in many cases would be less than the combined costs of buying a larger property.” 

5 DECIDE ON THE SIZE

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“The cost of an extension depends on the size and requirements," says Luisa Scotto di Fasano of ALM Studios. "It could be anywhere between £50-150k or more. This would include the extensions, bi-fold doors, glass kitchen extension ideas, the kitchen itself, flooring and perhaps underfloor heating.” 

6. Ball park figures for kitchen extension costs that include utility rooms

A wrap around extension creating a large open-plan kitchen-dining area, galley-style utility and boot room would cost around £500,00 suggests Create Bespoke and Alexander Owen Architects.

The cost of extending a Victorian terrace

According to Amos Goldreich Architecture, an extension to a Victorian terraced house with double doors and a statement window with a border would cost around £200,000.