Kitchen renovation - costs, options & examples
- 1. What does a new kitchen cost?
- 2. The simple kitchen
- 3. The standard kitchen
- 4. The upscale kitchen
- 5. The luxury kitchen
- 6. Price range per linear meter
- 7. The most important cost factors
- 8. Typical renovation work
- 9. Kitchen renovation or new kitchen?
- 10. Small interventions or complete restart?
A new kitchen is one of the most valuable upgrades for your home – both visually and functionally. But before new fronts, appliances or a complete kitchen solution are planned, the most important question arises: How much does a kitchen renovation really cost? The price range is large and depends heavily on whether you only want to modernize individual elements or completely renovate your kitchen. In this guide, you will receive a clear overview of typical costs, all relevant price factors and practical tips on how to make the most of your budget.
What does a new kitchen cost?
The costs for a new kitchen vary greatly depending on quality, material, appliance selection and installation effort. For a quick overview, here are the realistic price ranges for the most common kitchen levels – from simple to luxurious.
The simple kitchen (without appliances)
Simple kitchens are suitable for studios, granny flats or as a temporary solution. They consist of basic base cabinets, simple fronts and an inexpensive worktop. Installation is usually uncomplicated.
Ideal for: rental apartments, small rooms, budget projects.
Costs:
● Furniture & installation: CHF 4,000 – 7,000
● +CHF 1,500 if appliances need to be minimally supplemented
● Disposal of old kitchen: approx. CHF 800 – 1,200
The standard kitchen (with complete appliances)
The most popular kitchen category. Includes a solid worktop, standard fronts, storage modules and all important appliances such as oven, hob, refrigerator and dishwasher.
Ideal for: condominiums, detached houses, modern renovations.
Costs:
● Complete kitchen incl. appliances & installation: CHF 15,000 – 25,000
● Mid-range appliances: CHF 4,000 – 7,000
● Installation & delivery: often included
The upscale kitchen
More comfort, more individuality, higher quality materials. These include natural stone worktops, dampened pull-outs, LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances.
Ideal for: design-oriented kitchens, larger rooms, increasing the value of the property.
Costs:
● CHF 35,000 – 60,000
● Natural stone worktop: CHF 4,000 – 6,000
● Premium appliances: CHF 10,000 – 14,000
The luxury kitchen
Custom-made kitchens from the carpenter, exclusive materials such as walnut, slate or stainless steel, catering appliances, handleless fronts and high-end design.
Ideal for: premium properties, hobby chefs, architectural objects.
Costs:
● from CHF 60,000, open at the top
● Professional appliances (e.g. vacuum cooker, wine refrigerator): CHF 10,000 – 25,000
Price range per linear meter / per kitchen part
A quick alternative to the overall calculation – ideal for early cost estimates.
Typical guide values:
● Kitchen furniture per linear meter: CHF 2,000 – 4,000
● Natural stone worktop: CHF 300 – 500 per m²
● Fronts (lacquer / wood): CHF 100 – 250 per m²
● Built-in appliances: CHF 1,000 – 2,500 per appliance
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The most important cost factors in kitchen renovation
Dismantling & disposal of the old kitchen
Before a new kitchen is installed, the old one must be professionally dismantled and disposed of. The effort depends on how firmly the kitchen is installed and whether appliances, water connections and pipes also need to be disconnected.
Costs:
● Dismantling standard kitchen: CHF 800 – 1,400
● Disposal incl. appliances: CHF 400 – 600
Kitchen layout (line, L-shape, U-shape, island)
The more complex the layout, the higher the installation times, the custom work and the amount of material. Kitchen islands and U-shapes require additional work space, more cabinets and often adjustments to electricity or water.
Costs:
● Kitchen line: from CHF 3,000
● L-shape: from CHF 10,000
● U-shape: from CHF 12,000
● Island kitchen: from CHF 18,000
Material selection for fronts & worktops
The choice of material has the greatest influence on the overall price. Plastic and laminate are inexpensive, while solid wood, granite or ceramic are many times more expensive – but more durable and higher quality.
Costs:
● Fronts (plastic): CHF 100 – 200 per m²
● Fronts (solid wood): CHF 200 – 400 per m²
● Worktop laminate: CHF 170 – 300 per linear meter
● Worktop natural stone: CHF 300 – 1,000 per linear meter
● Ceramic/quartz composite: CHF 500 – 1,500 per linear meter
Appliance quality & energy efficiency
Kitchen appliances often account for 20–40% of the total costs. High-quality appliances last longer, consume less energy and offer additional functions such as steam cooking, pyrolysis or smart control.
Costs:
● Standard appliance set (glass ceramic, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator): CHF 3,000 – 5,000
● Mid-range: CHF 5,000 – 10,000
● Premium/catering: CHF 15,000 – 25,000
Installations (electrical, plumbing, ventilation)
When replacing a kitchen, sockets, water connections or exhaust systems often have to be moved or renewed. Especially with old kitchens, additional line or fuse adjustments may be required.
Costs:
● Electrician (adjustments, new lines): CHF 400 – 1,500
● Plumbing (connections, fittings): CHF 400 – 1,500
● Adjusting extractor hood/exhaust air: CHF 300 – 700
Installation effort & adjustment work
Custom kitchens or irregular rooms increase the effort for cutting, alignment and fine adjustment. Wall corrections, new baseboards or adapting old connections also cause extra costs.
Costs:
● Standard installation: CHF 1,500 – 2,500
● Custom installation / complex rooms: CHF 3,000 – 5,000
Delivery costs & regional price differences
Kitchen builders in cities like Zurich or Geneva work more expensively than in rural areas. Delivery routes, transport height (e.g. old building floors) or difficult access also influence the price.
Costs:
● Delivery & transport costs: CHF 300 – 500
● Regional price differences: +10 – 20% in metropolitan areas
Typical renovation work and what it costs
Renew / paint / replace fronts
New fronts change the appearance of the kitchen as much as hardly any other measure. Existing fronts can be painted or foiled – this is inexpensive and ideal if the carcase is still good. Replacing them with new fronts is worthwhile if old doors are warped, heavily worn or of poor quality.
Costs:
● Painting fronts: CHF 80 – 130 per m²
● New fronts (plastic): CHF 2,000 – 3,000 for a standard kitchen
● New fronts (real wood): CHF 4,000 – 7,000
Replace worktop (wood, stone, ceramic, artificial stone)
The work surface is heavily used – cuts, heat and moisture leave traces. If you want to modernize the look, you can achieve a lot with a new cover. Natural stone or ceramic in particular are durable and high-quality, while wood offers a warm, natural look.
Costs:
● Laminate board: CHF 170 – 300 per linear meter
● Solid wood: CHF 200 – 400 per linear meter
● Granite / quartzite: CHF 500 – 1,500 per linear meter
● Ceramic / high-end: CHF 400 – 1,000 per linear meter
● Removal + disposal of old board: CHF 300 – 500
Replace splashback / back panel (glass, stone, panels, metal)
A new back panel is a small intervention with a big effect – functional and visual. Glass is easy to clean, metal looks modern, stone is particularly elegant. Composite panels are also popular because they are inexpensive and quick to install.
Costs:
● Glass back panel (custom-made): CHF 500 – 1,000 per segment
● Composite/laminate board: CHF 400 – 600
● Renew tiles: CHF 100 – 200 per m²
● Back panel made of natural stone: CHF 400 – 800 per linear meter
Replace appliances (oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, hob, etc.)
Appliances have the shortest lifespan in the kitchen. A replacement significantly increases comfort, energy efficiency and the value of the kitchen. A replacement is particularly useful in the event of defects or high power consumption of older appliances.
Costs:
● Dishwasher: CHF 800 – 1,200
● Oven: CHF 1,000 – 2,000
● Hob (induction): CHF 1,000 – 2,000
● Refrigerator with freezer compartment: CHF 800 – 2,500
● Installation & connection: CHF 100 – 250 per appliance
Modernize lighting & electrical planning
Modern kitchens benefit enormously from good lighting – be it LED substructure, spots or new sockets. Optimization is particularly worthwhile for older kitchens in which there is too little light or sockets.
Costs:
● LED substructure lights: CHF 200 – 500
● New spots / ceiling lights: CHF 300 – 800
● Electrical adjustments (sockets, lines): CHF 150 – 500
● Complete electrical modernization: CHF 800 – 2,500
Small repairs & cosmetic renovations (painting, handles, seals)
For a small budget, great visual improvements can be achieved with just a few measures. New handles, fresh paint or renewing silicone joints work wonders and extend the life of the kitchen. Ideal if the substance is good, but the look is outdated.
Costs:
● Painting kitchen wall: CHF 150 – 400
● New handles: CHF 80 – 250
● Replacing silicone joints: CHF 80 – 150 per area
● Minor repairs (adjust drawers, doors): CHF 150 – 400
Kitchen renovation or new kitchen?
Many owners today ask themselves – often directly in the AI or on Google – whether it is more worthwhile to renovate the existing kitchen, or whether a completely new kitchen is cheaper and more sensible in the long term. The answer depends heavily on the condition of the kitchen, the desired quality and the available budget. Here you will find a clear decision-making aid.
When is a kitchen renovation worthwhile?
A renovation is ideal if the basic substance of the kitchen is still good: the cabinets are stable, the layout fits and the appliances are largely functional. Renovating is also suitable for anyone who wants to achieve as much visual impact as possible with a limited budget – for example, with new fronts, worktops or fresh colors.
Typical situations in which renovating is worthwhile:
● Kitchen fronts are worn, but carcases are intact
● Appliances have already been replaced and are modern
● Budget is limited (e.g. CHF 2,000 – 10,000)
● The ergonomic arrangement of the kitchen fits well
● Only visual improvements are necessary
When is a completely new kitchen more sensible?
A complete replacement is worthwhile as soon as technology, ergonomics or basic substance are outdated. Especially older kitchens (20–40 years) often have problems with electricity, ventilation or statics – this makes a „partial renovation“ quickly expensive and inefficient. Even if the room layout no longer fits your everyday life, a new kitchen is usually the better choice.
Typical reasons for a new kitchen:
● Appliances are old, inefficient or defective
● Fronts and carcases are worn, swollen or damaged
● Layout no longer fits (e.g. desire for an island)
● Lines (electrical, plumbing) have to be renewed anyway
● Desire for more comfort / intelligent kitchen planning
What is cheaper – kitchen renovation or new kitchen?
Renovating is almost always cheaper in the short term – but only if the basic structure is solid. However, if several areas of the kitchen need to be modernized (fronts, appliances, worktop, installations), the individual items quickly add up. Then a new kitchen is often more economical.
Kitchen renovation – small interventions or complete restart?
A kitchen renovation offers enormous potential: Even small adjustments such as new fronts, modern appliances or a robust worktop can massively enhance the look and functionality of your kitchen – often for a fraction of the cost of a complete renovation.
However, if installations are outdated, appliances are running inefficiently or the layout no longer fits, it is often worth taking the step to a completely new kitchen. Both ways can be useful – the condition, budget and your long-term living plans are decisive.
Expert advice helps to avoid expensive misplanning and get the most out of your budget.
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With just a few clicks, receive up to 3 kitchen offers from certified specialist companies in your area.