A kitchen renovation costs between 5,000 and 25,000 euros in 2026. Such a wide range? Yes — replacing only the splashback is very different from rerouting pipes and cables, moving connections and creating wall openings. The fitted kitchen itself (units, appliances) comes on top and is often the largest single item — but is not a construction trade in the strict sense.
Key points at a glance
- Kitchen renovation contractor costs: 5,000–25,000 € (excluding units and appliances) — the biggest cost drivers are rerouting services and tiling
- As soon as water pipes or electrical cables are moved, costs rise sharply — always request an itemised calculation
- Hourly rate in 2026: plumbing/heating/ventilation installer 55–70 €, electrician 50–65 €, tiler 50–62 €
- Typical additional charge trap: moisture damage beneath old tiles or outdated installations that only become visible when walls are opened up
This guide deals exclusively with contractor costs: tiling, electrics, water, flooring and walls. Kitchen design and choosing units are a separate topic.
What does kitchen renovation cost by trade?
| Trade | Approximate cost | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Tiling (wall + floor) | 1,500 to 4,000 € | Removing old tiles, substrate preparation, laying new tiles |
| Electrical installation | 1,200 to 3,000 € | Sockets, light switches, cooker/dishwasher connections |
| Plumbing installation | 800 to 2,500 € | Water connections, drainage, fittings |
| Floor covering (alternative to tiles) | 600 to 1,500 € | Vinyl, luxury vinyl flooring, linoleum |
| Painting (walls/ceiling) | 400 to 900 € | Filling, priming, 2 coats of paint |
| Demolition and disposal | 500 to 1,200 € | Dismantling the old kitchen, removing tiles, skip |
| Drylining (if moving walls) | 800 to 2,000 € | New wall, opening, lintel |
| Total contractor costs | 5,800 to 15,100 € |
The fitted kitchen itself — units and appliances — comes on top. Depending on specification, this costs 3,000 to 20,000 euros, plus 500 to 1,500 euros for installation by the kitchen supplier. Planning can prevent unpleasant surprises. Without planning, you pay additional charges.
Three scenarios with example calculations
Scenario 1: cosmetic refresh (3,000 to 5,000 €)
No service rerouting, no layout changes. Surfaces and appearance.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Renew splashback (6 m²) | 900 to 1,500 € |
| Paint walls and ceiling | 400 to 700 € |
| Replace flooring (10 m²) | 600 to 1,200 € |
| Replace sockets/switches (8 units) | 400 to 800 € |
| New fittings (sink) | 200 to 500 € |
| Dismantle/dispose of old elements | 300 to 600 € |
| Total | 2,800 to 5,300 € |
For this scenario, experienced DIY enthusiasts can do some work themselves (painting, flooring). Electrical and plumbing work should be carried out by specialist contractors.
Scenario 2: partial refurbishment with new electrics (5,000 to 10,000 €)
New services, new floor, but no wall relocation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Remove old tiles + disposal | 500 to 800 € |
| New tiles (wall + floor, 18 m²) | 2,000 to 3,600 € |
| Completely new electrics (10 m² kitchen) | 1,200 to 2,500 € |
| Plumbing (new sink + dishwasher connections) | 800 to 1,500 € |
| Walls and ceiling (filling + painting) | 400 to 800 € |
| Dismantling and disposal | 500 to 1,000 € |
| Total contractor costs | 5,400 to 10,200 € |
Scenario 3: complete refurbishment with layout changes (10,000 to 17,000 €)
Wall removed, open-plan kitchen, everything new.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wall opening / relocation (including lintel) | 1,500 to 3,500 € |
| Drylining (new walls, lining) | 800 to 1,500 € |
| Complete electrical installation | 2,000 to 3,000 € |
| Complete plumbing installation | 1,500 to 2,500 € |
| Screed levelling / new flooring | 1,200 to 2,500 € |
| Tiles (wall, 8 m²) | 1,000 to 1,800 € |
| Painting | 600 to 1,000 € |
| Demolition and disposal | 800 to 1,500 € |
| Total contractor costs | 9,400 to 17,300 € |
For a wall opening, a structural engineer must confirm that the wall is not load-bearing. Structural calculation costs: 300 to 800 euros. No contractor may remove a wall without structural engineer approval.
What really drives costs up?
Quotes for comparable kitchen renovations can differ by 8,000 euros or more. This rarely reflects arbitrary pricing — almost always, one of the following factors is behind it.
1. Rerouting services in an older building
As soon as water or drainage connections are moved (for example, the sink to the opposite wall), plumbing costs rise by 50 to 100 per cent. Drainage pipes need a fall — in older buildings with low ceilings or exposed concrete floors, this is often the real problem. If you do not clarify this beforehand, it becomes an additional charge.
2. Tiling over tiles vs removing tiles
Removing old tiles and preparing the substrate costs 15 to 25 euros per m². Tiling over tiles saves these costs but only works if the existing covering is sound and the build-up height allows it.
3. Special connections
Induction cooker (three-phase supply), steam oven (water connection), downdraught extractor (external exhaust). Each special connection adds 200 to 500 euros and is often forgotten in the quote.
4. Coordinating the trades
A kitchen renovation needs an electrician, plumber, tiler and painter — sometimes drylining and screeding contractors too. Five different businesses in two weeks. If the sequence is wrong, the tiler waits for the electrician, the electrician for the plumber, and you pay for downtime. In our experience, almost half of kitchen renovation variations arise from poor coordination between trades rather than unexpected building fabric issues. A general contractor's quote includes payment for this coordination — but often costs less than a stream of variations from four separate trades.
What a good quote must include
Many kitchen renovation quotes look affordable — then become expensive because important items are simply missing. This list shows what to check before signing.
Check completeness:
- Are dismantling and disposal of the old kitchen included?
- Are all special connections (cooker, dishwasher, extractor) listed?
- Is substrate preparation (priming, levelling) included for tiling and flooring?
- Who plasters over the chases after electrical work?
- Is waterproofing in splash areas (sink) included?
Typical variation risks:
- Surprises in older buildings (deteriorated pipes, asbestos in old tile adhesives)
- Screed levelling was not quoted but is necessary
- Skirting boards, corner profiles and transition strips forgotten
- Painting after electrical work not allowed for
Provider comparison: professional review
| Provider | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Surveyor | 360 to 714 € | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Consumer advice centre | 180 to 370 € | 1 to 3 weeks |
| VPB | 175 €+/hour | By arrangement |
| Cleverbauen24 (Basic) | 79 € | 3 to 4 working days |
| Cleverbauen24 (Express) | 99 € | 24 hours |
Frequently asked questions about kitchen renovation
What does kitchen renovation cost without the fitted kitchen?
Contractor costs alone for a kitchen renovation in 2026 are between 5,000 and 17,000 euros, depending on scope. A cosmetic refresh (tiles, flooring, painting) costs 3,000 to 5,000 euros. A complete refurbishment with new electrics, plumbing and layout changes costs 10,000 to 17,000 euros.
What does having a kitchen completely renovated cost?
Including the fitted kitchen (units + appliances), total costs are 10,000 to 40,000 euros. The fitted kitchen is often the largest item (3,000 to 20,000 euros). Contractor costs (electrics, plumbing, tiling, painting) come on top.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
A cosmetic refresh takes 3 to 5 working days. Partial refurbishment with electrical work takes 1 to 2 weeks. Complete refurbishment with layout changes takes 2 to 4 weeks. Allow an additional 2 to 3 days for kitchen installation by the kitchen supplier.
Can I keep using the kitchen during renovation?
For a cosmetic refresh, yes, with limitations. For complete refurbishment, plan a temporary kitchen (camping stove, kettle) in another room for 2 to 4 weeks. Without water and electricity connections, there is little you can do in the kitchen.
Further guides
- Renovation costs 2026 – Cost overview by trade for all renovation types
- Bathroom refurbishment costs 2026 – Prices per m² and bathroom saving tips
- Electrical installation costs in older buildings – Detailed price table for electrics in older buildings
Sources
- Destatis: construction price index and producer price indices for the trades (as at Q4 2025)
- ZVSHK – Zentralverband Sanitär Heizung Klima: industry benchmarks for plumbing/heating/ventilation hourly rates (as at 2025)
- ZDB – Zentralverband Deutsches Baugewerbe: construction industry economic report 2025. Prices vary regionally by 10 to 25 per cent.
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