If you’ve ever looked at two kitchen designs that seem almost identical, then looked at the prices and thought “How on earth can there be that much difference?”… you’re not alone.
It’s a question we hear time and time again once people start comparing options.
The short answer is this:
kitchens are priced on what they’re made from and how they’re built, not how they look in a picture.
Let’s break it down properly.
“But they look the same…”
At first glance, two kitchens can look almost identical. Same colour, same style, a similar layout on the screen. It’s completely understandable to assume they should cost roughly the same, especially when you’re flicking between images or comparing designs side by side.
The problem is that kitchens are one of those things where appearances tell you very little. A photo can’t show you the quality of the materials behind the doors, how the drawers are engineered, or how well the cabinets will cope with being opened, closed, leaned on and overloaded every single day for the next twenty years. All the important stuff lives out of sight.
And that’s usually where the price difference sits. Not in how the kitchen looks on day one, but in how it’s built, how it performs, and how well it stands up to real life over time. Two kitchens can look the same on a screen, but feel completely different once you start using them.
Materials: the Weetabix vs flapjack test
One of the biggest differences between kitchens sits behind the doors, hidden in the furniture board used to make the cabinets. It’s not something you notice at first glance, because from the outside most kitchens look perfectly solid. But over time, this is one of the areas that separates a kitchen that quietly gets on with life from one that slowly starts to feel tired.
Some manufacturers use a lighter, more loosely bonded board. It does the job initially and looks fine when everything is new, but it doesn’t handle long-term stress particularly well. Hinges and drawer runners are constantly pulling against the same fixing points, shelves get loaded up, and doors are opened and closed thousands of times. Over the years, that strain starts to show.
The easiest way to picture the difference is this… One kitchen is like a Weetabix. The other is like a homemade flapjack… Same size, similar shape, and they look much the same at a glance. But pick them up and your wrist instantly knows which one is which. That extra density is what allows a good German-built kitchen to cope with heavy daily use for twenty-five years or more without sagging, loosening or giving up.
What’s hiding behind the doors?
This is usually the point where kitchen prices really start to separate, even though nothing obvious has changed on the outside. Two kitchens can look almost identical from the front, but what’s going on behind the doors can be completely different.
A simple cupboard with a shelf is, well… simple. A drawer unit, on the other hand, is a small piece of engineering. Drawer boxes, runners, soft-close mechanisms, extra frontals and more involved manufacturing all come into play.
That’s why drawers feel so good to use, glide smoothly and cope with weight — and also why they add more to the cost than a plain cupboard. You’re not just paying for storage, you’re paying for how that storage behaves every single day.
The same thinking applies to internal storage and clever mechanisms. Some pull-outs and corner solutions are genuinely brilliant and make awkward spaces far easier to live with. Others look impressive in a showroom but don’t add much once you’re at home using the kitchen normally. This is why two kitchens can look the same at first glance, yet one contains far more engineering, moving parts and long-term usability than the other.
Appliances that look similar but aren’t
Appliances are another area where prices quietly drift apart, often without it being obvious at first glance. Two appliances can look almost identical in a showroom or online image, yet behave very differently once they’re being used day in, day out.
Boiling water taps are a good example. From the outside, many of them look much the same, but performance, reliability, output temperature and longevity can vary hugely. The same applies to extraction hobs, ovens and dishwashers. What you’re really paying for isn’t just the sleek glass front, but how consistently the appliance performs over time and how well it stands up to everyday use.
Lower-priced quotes will often include entry-level versions to reach a certain headline figure. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, as long as it’s clear what’s being specified. This is where reviews and real-world feedback matter.
Not all shiny things perform equally once they’re used every day, and understanding those differences early on helps avoid disappointment later.
Below is a simplified illustration showing how appliance costs typically differ between major manufacturers. It’s not based on specific models or prices, but it helps visualise how brands tend to sit in different pricing tiers.
Installation, project management and aftercare
Installation, project management and aftercare are areas that are often overlooked when comparing kitchen prices, simply because they’re less visible than doors and worktops. Yet they can have a huge impact on how smooth the whole process feels from start to finish.
Some quotes include experienced installers, proper coordination of trades and support once the kitchen is in and being used. Others are more stripped back, leaving things like scheduling, problem-solving and chasing people up to the homeowner. Neither approach is wrong, but they are very different experiences, and they naturally affect the price.
If installation and project management aren’t included, the figure will usually be lower. The trade-off is that more of the organisation, decision-making and stress sits with you instead.
As long as you understand which parts are covered and which aren’t, you can choose the option that suits you best.
Why cheaper quotes are rarely like-for-like
When one kitchen quote comes in significantly cheaper than the rest, it’s rarely because one of the companies is trying to rip you off. In reality, most kitchen companies tend to operate within a similar profit margin. Big price gaps are far more often down to differences in what’s included, rather than anyone doing anything underhand.
The differences usually sit in the detail. Things like décor panels, lighting, wall panelling, higher-spec hardware or certain installation elements can easily be left out or simplified to reach a lower headline figure. On paper the kitchens may still look similar, but the specification underneath tells a different story.
This is where disappointment tends to creep in. Not because anyone has done anything wrong, but because those missing pieces often only come to light once the kitchen has been installed or the project is well underway.
That’s why understanding exactly what’s included at the start makes comparing prices far less confusing and far more meaningful.
How to compare kitchen quotes properly
When it comes to comparing kitchen quotes, the total at the bottom of the page is generally not the most useful place to start. A better approach is to look at what’s actually included and how closely the specifications line up.
Pay attention to the materials used, the internal specification behind the doors, the appliances being allowed for, and exactly what the installation covers. It’s also worth understanding what happens after the kitchen is fitted — whether aftercare and support are part of the service, or something you’ll need to manage yourself.
Once those elements are aligned, the numbers usually start to make a lot more sense. Kitchens rarely differ wildly in price when you’re genuinely comparing like-for-like — it’s the hidden differences in specification and scope that tend to create confusion.
The takeaway
Kitchen prices don’t vary wildly because one company is greedy and another is generous.
They vary because kitchens are complex, bespoke projects with hundreds of variables.
Once you understand what you’re actually paying for, the confusion disappears and good decisions become much easier.
If you want help making sense of your own quotes, or understanding where the differences really are, you can always book a chat with one of our designers by clicking Here>>
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Similar Kitchens Have Such Different Prices? - FAQ's
Why are kitchen quotes so different when the designs look the same?
Because kitchens are priced on what they are made from and what is included behind the scenes, not just how they look. Differences in cabinet materials, internal specification, appliance tiers, installation scope, project management and aftercare can create big price gaps even when two designs look similar.
What should I compare to make sure quotes are like-for-like?
Compare materials (including cabinet board quality), internal specification (drawers, runners, hinges and storage mechanisms), appliance models or tiers, what installation includes, and what support you get after fitting. Once those are aligned, totals usually make far more sense.
Do drawers really affect the cost of a kitchen?
Yes. Drawer units include more components and engineering than a standard cupboard, such as drawer boxes, runners and soft-close mechanisms, plus additional manufacturing. They often improve day-to-day usability, but they increase the cost compared with simple cupboards.
Why can appliances change the price so much?
Many appliances look similar at a glance but sit in different price tiers depending on brand, features and build quality. Quotes can vary if one includes entry-level appliances and another includes more premium models, so it is worth checking exactly what is specified.
Does installation and aftercare affect the quote?
Often, yes. Some quotes include experienced installers, coordination of trades, and support after the kitchen is fitted. Others reduce scope and leave more organisation and problem-solving with the homeowner. Different scopes can change the price and the overall experience.
