The three price tiers, honestly explained
"New kitchen" covers everything from replacing cupboard doors to gutting the room. The tiers below are how Cape Town contractors and kitchen companies actually think about it:
| Tier | Typical range | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Facelift | R45k – R90k | Keep the layout and carcasses. New doors and handles, new tops (laminate or entry-level engineered stone), new sink and mixer, paint and lighting refresh. |
| Full mid-range renovation | R90k – R200k | New cabinetry throughout, engineered stone tops, new splashback and flooring, updated plumbing and electrical points, decent appliances. |
| High-end kitchen | R200k – R450k+ | Layout changes (walls, island, scullery), premium boards and finishes, quartz or granite, integrated appliances, gas hob installation, designer lighting. |
As with all our guides: these are planning ranges drawn from Western Cape quoting activity, not a quote against your kitchen. Sizes, board choices and appliances swing the number enormously — get two or three written quotes before locking a budget.
What actually drives the price
1. Cabinetry — the budget's centre of gravity
Cupboards are typically 40–50% of a kitchen budget, and the range within cabinetry is huge: melamine on chipboard at the entry level, wrapped or sprayed doors in the middle, duco or solid timber at the top. Soft-close hardware, drawer systems and clever corner units all add up. If you're cutting cost, keep the carcasses and replace doors — it looks 90% as new for a fraction of the price.
2. Tops and splashbacks
Laminate tops start affordable; engineered stone (the mid-market default) costs several times more per linear metre; granite and quartz sit above that. Waterfall ends, undermount sink cutouts and thick profiles all add. Decide your top material before requesting quotes so they're comparable.
3. Moving services — water, drainage, gas, electrics
Keeping the sink, hob and appliances in their current positions saves real money. Moving the sink means moving drainage; adding an island with a hob or sink means chasing services through the floor. And two compliance items are non-negotiable: a gas installation must be done by a SAQCC-registered installer who issues a gas CoC (insurers require it), and new or moved electrical points need an electrical Certificate of Compliance.
4. Appliances — decide early
Appliances can be R25 000 or R150 000 for the same kitchen. More importantly, integrated appliances change the cabinetry design — so choose appliances (or at least their sizes) before the cupboards are ordered, not after.
Red flags in kitchen quotes
- A large deposit before manufacture starts — a materials deposit is normal, but staged payments should follow delivery and installation milestones.
- Gas work with no mention of a SAQCC installer or gas CoC.
- No board or hardware brands specified — "kitchen cupboards" can mean anything.
- One mysterious total instead of line items.
- A lead time that sounds too good — quality cabinetry takes weeks to manufacture.
Ready to price your actual kitchen?
Post your project free — verified Cape Town contractors and kitchen specialists quote against your real space, and you compare up to 3 quotes with no obligation.
Get 3 free quotes →Common questions
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Typically 3–6 weeks on site for a full renovation — but add 3–6 weeks before that for cabinetry manufacture. A facelift can be done in under two weeks. Plan a temporary kitchen setup; you'll be without a sink and hob for part of it.
Is it worth keeping my existing carcasses?
If they're structurally sound and the layout works, absolutely — new doors, tops and handles deliver most of the visual change at a fraction of the cost. If carcasses are water-damaged or the layout fights you daily, replace.
Do I need plans to renovate a kitchen?
Not for a like-for-like renovation. Removing walls (very common for open-plan kitchens) may be structural and can require an engineer and municipal plan approval — ask Marli or post the project and let verified pros advise.
Gas hob or induction?
Both are popular in Cape Town for load-shedding resilience and cooking preference respectively. Gas requires a SAQCC-certified installation and CoC and a safe cylinder position; induction needs good electrical capacity. Cost-wise they land similar once installation is included — choose on cooking style and backup-power plans.
Prices in this guide are 2026 planning estimates for the Cape Town metro and will vary with your kitchen's size, layout and finishes. They are not a quote. For accurate pricing, post your project and compare written quotes from verified contractors.