myjobquote

Home Cost Guides Cost of Fitted WardrobesArticle

Fitted Wardrobes Cost

By Josh

Last updated 27th September 2024 - Reading time: 20 mins

At a Glance

The average cost of fitted wardrobes is around £2,600.
Installing fitted wardrobes takes between 1 – 14 days to complete.

In this article, you'll discover the following:

A complete breakdown of what impacts how much fitted wardrobes cost in the UK, along with what's involved in this type of job.
How long it takes a specialist to fit custom wardrobes, as well as additional costs you might need to consider.
How to find and hire a local tradesperson to install fitted wardrobes for you.

Looking to find out how much fitted wardrobes cost in the UK?

The average cost of fitted wardrobes in the UK is around £2,600. However, what a fitted wardrobe costs you can be impacted by a variety of things.

This guide covers everything you need to know about fitted wardrobe prices in 2024. This includes typical materials costs, as well as how much a wardrobe fitter tends to charge per day.

In need of a quick quote?

We have a wide range of local furniture fitters ready to offer you a free, no obligation quote!

Read on for further information.

fitted sliding wardrobes in a bedroom in the UK

Average Cost of Fitted Wardrobes in the UK:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 1 – 14 Days

£2,600

How Much Do Fitted Wardrobes Cost
- Fitted Wardrobe Prices
How Much Are Fitted Wardrobe Materials?
Additional Fitted Wardrobe Costs
How Much Do Wardrobe Installers Charge?
What Impacts the Cost of FItted Wardrobes?
What's Involved in Installing Fitted Wardrobes?
Can I Install Fitted Wardrobes Myself?
Choosing Fitted Wardrobes
2-Door vs 4-Door vs 6-Door Fitted Wardrobes
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Fitted Wardrobes
Benefits of Fitted Wardrobes
Cost of Fitted Wardrobe Removal
Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Install Fitted Wardrobes
FAQs
Sources

How Much Do Fitted Wardrobes Cost

Fitted wardrobes are the envy of many, and they really increase the value and aesthetics of any bedroom they are placed in.

The benefits stretch further than just pleasing décor as fitted bedroom wardrobes (where they are commonly used) make far better use of the space available in your home, giving you ample space to store just about anything.

The average fitted wardrobe costs around £2,600 to get installed by a specialist. It can take as little as one day to install a fitted wardrobe or up to two weeks for more complex jobs.

However, the cost of fitted wardrobes and the time it takes to install them will ultimately depend on the size and style of the cabinet, as well as the room it's being installed in.

large sliding mirrored fitted wardrobes in a bedroom

Designers are always introducing new and modernised versions of fitted wardrobes, from interesting door access to stunning aesthetics. However, this variety affects the time it takes to install and the overall difficulty of the job.

Due to the complexity and sheer size of fitted wardrobes, the cost of fitted wardrobes can dramatically vary based on your preferred style, shape, and material.

For example: Mirrored sliding doors are considerably more expensive than more traditional handled doors.

On top of that, fitted wardrobes cost more if you add features like spotlights, shelving units, drawers, TV units, or other features.

I'm finding it hard to plan out my wardrobes. Can I ask a carpenter to help with the design of fitted wardrobes before building them?

"Absolutely ask a carpenter about design. One of the services we offer is using our interior designer to help get the most out of these spaces."

Whyte Design

Fitted Wardrobe Prices

How much are fitted wardrobes of different sizes with varying features?

Let's take a look at this in the table below.

Job Description	Install Time	Cost of Materials	Cost of Labour
Sliding Doors with No Features	3 – 4 Days	£1,400	£600
Sliding Doors with Shelves and Rails	4 – 5 Days	£1,600	£750
2 Door with No Features	1 – 2 Days	£800	£300
2 Door with Shelves and Rails	2 – 3 Days	£1,000	£400
3 Door with No Features	2 – 4 Days	£1,200	£600
3 Door with Shelves and Rails	2 – 4 Days	£1,400	£700
4 Door with No Features	6 – 8 Days	£1,600	£900
4 Door with Shelves and Rails	6 – 8 Days	£1,800	£1,000
6 Door with No Features	7 – 14 Days	£2,000	£1,200
6 Door with Shelves and Rails	7 – 14 Days	£2,200	£1,200

Want a custom price?

Post your job

How Much Are Fitted Wardrobe Materials?

Materials usually account for around 70% of the overall cost of fitted wardrobes installation.

As you can see from the table above, there is quite a stark contrast in price depending on the wardrobe's size and whether you want to incorporate any internal features — like shelving and rails — in your fitted wardrobe.

An important element to consider when preparing for the cost of fitted wardrobe installation is whether you want a bespoke, custom-built cabinet, or whether you want to choose a predesigned one from a DIY or specialist shop.

Bespoke fitted wardrobes carry quite a high premium, as a joiner or carpenter will need to design and build the wardrobe from scratch. But if you have the budget for this, you will definitely be pleased with the finished result.

custom fitted wardrobe with a TV space in a loft conversion

You should also consider the materials you wish to use for your wardrobe.

Solid woods like oak cost much more than a standard uPVC material. Again, it's all about finding the right balance between quality and cost-efficiency, depending on your budget.

As we'll discuss in more detail further along in this article, sourcing the materials yourself is perfectly fine if you know what you're looking for and understand what will be required by the installer.

However, we would suggest against trying to fit them yourself unless you have extensive wardrobe installation experience.

Additional Fitted Wardrobe Costs

Waste Removal Cost

A hidden cost of fitted wardrobe installation, especially if a homeowner is replacing an existing wardrobe, is the cost of waste removal

The best course of action is usually to hire a skip while the work is being completed. The average cost of skip hire is about £220 — but it can be more or less depending on the amount of waste you're going to need to dispose of.

fitted wardrobe that has been custom designed to fit a space

Measurement Errors

Another (expensive) additional cost is the reorder of materials if the measurements provided weren't accurate.

If you hire a specialist to carry out the work for you, this is of no worry to you at all. However, if you opt to order the materials yourself and don't get the measurements correct to the millimetre, it could greatly increase the total cost of your fitted wardrobe installation.

This further highlights the value of hiring a qualified and experienced wardrobe fitter to handle this all for you.

Other Home Improvement Costs

Once newly fitted wardrobes have been installed, some homeowners often look to other areas of the room that might need some attention — to refresh it or give it a completely new look.

This could include:

Carpet Fitting — The average cost of fitting a carpet is around £400, but the cost will be higher if you want to use premium materials or have a larger than usual bedroom.
Bedroom Painting — The average cost to paint a room that's between 12m² and 15m² is about £400. This would ideally be a job that's done before you get fitted wardrobes installed.
New Window Blinds — The average cost of new blinds is around £70, which makes them an affordable upgrade you can make when improving a bedroom.
New Light Fittings — The average cost to install light fixtures is around £100, making this another low-cost improvement that can upgrade the look and feel of a bedroom.
New Radiator —The average cost to replace a radiator is about £200, but the price will be higher if you need to move it to somewhere else in the room due to the extra work involved.

Often things like painting skirting boards and window sills should also be considered along with a fitted wardrobe installation.

How Much Do Wardrobe Installers Charge?

Let's take a look at labour costs, as well as how long this type of job takes to complete.

Wardrobe installers typically work at a rate of about £150 per day, although some tradesmen prefer to price per job instead of the time due to the complexity of some installations. When the tradesmen provide their quote, ensure you ask what that includes.

Generally, this will include the installation and materials, but the quote will be for installation only if you're sourcing the materials yourself. Ensure that you both are on the same page to avoid any confusion.

As we mentioned earlier in the article, if you have an existing fitted wardrobe, enquire about whether there are waste removal services available from the installation team or whether that's a task for you.

It's fairly common for skip hire to be organised by the person having the work done, but it's always worth asking the question first.

The bulk of the time will be spent installing the wardrobe after a period of measurements and preparation of the cabinet's space. Even the slightest miscalculation can be detrimental to the entire project, so be patient during this measuring stage. Even if it feels like it's dragging on a little, it's done for a reason.

The tradesman will give you some indication of how long each stage will take throughout the installation process. However, don't be surprised if they change at the drop of a hat; some complications are impossible to predict, and no matter how easy they are to rectify, they can still alter the timescale.

How much can I expect it to cost to install 2.6m wide x 2.3m high wardrobe with sliding doors?

"Depends on the model, but normally a good joiner will charge about £20 – £25 per hour. In my area, it would cost you around £20 per hour."

K Yunchov Ltd

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

What Impacts the Cost of FItted Wardrobes?

Several different factors can affect your fitted wardrobe installation's overall pricing, from location to ease of access and many others. So, we're going to break down the main factors and what you can expect from them.

Location in the UK

The most common cost-affecting factor for trades, in general, is the location of your home. If you live in a popular city like Manchester or London, you will pay an inflated price compared to other, quieter places in the country.

This is down to the cost of living in those areas, and the price increases are pretty much spread across all services in these areas.

Ease of Access

This is generally more of an issue for outdoor work like aerial installations or roof cleaning. Still, if the room you're hoping to have a fitted wardrobe installed in has any access issues, you can expect the price to increase in turn.

Some people have oddly shaped rooms, either with the layout of the room, its shape, or even sloped ceilings. Once some installation experts have been out to quote the job, they'll be able to identify any access issues that they may come across.

Type or Size of Wardrobe

The cost of your wardrobe installation will vary greatly depending on the cost of the materials. You have quite a vast array of options for the material for a fitted wardrobe, with uPVC, oak, pine and some fitted wardrobes are made from MDF.

The customisation available with fitted wardrobes can also hike the price up quite a bit. You can customise your cabinets in any way you wish, and popular choices have been the additions of mirrors, leather padding and laminate.

What's Involved in Installing Fitted Wardrobes?

Many people may be in the dark about what installing fitted wardrobes entails, so we've broken it down into a step-by-step guide to help you understand what is involved when installing fitted wardrobes.

First, the installer will review the space where you want your fitted wardrobe to be installed, making marks and notes as to where everything will be while measuring the area to ensure everything has been checked and double-checked for accuracy.
The next step will vary depending on whether you have bought the materials pre-cut and measured or whether the installer is working with the raw materials at the time of fitting. Either way, the materials will be prepared and ready to be installed.
Next, the frame of the wardrobe will be built. This sturdy frame will act as the bones of the cabinet and will be fixed to the wall and ceiling to provide the shape and structure of the fitted wardrobe.
After this, the frame will be firmly fixed to the floor as well; this can be tricky if you have any flooring other than wooden.
Once the frame is in place and sturdy, the other panels (made up of whichever material you have chosen) will be attached to the frame. From here, the wardrobe will begin to take shape and start to look like what you had envisioned for your room.
Doors, whether sliding or handled, will be added next. Sometimes sliding doors will be added at an earlier stage, depending on where the sliding fixture is placed on the wardrobes.
Lastly, any internal features will be added and completed before the job is finished. Each of these stages can take varying lengths of time depending on what challenges the installer comes up against. Some installers may have developed their preferred installation techniques in a similar way, so don't think they're mistaken for not following the steps outlined here!

Can I Install Fitted Wardrobes Myself?

As we've mentioned earlier in the article, a significant aspect of getting fitted wardrobes right is to ensure that they are installed and prepared to absolute precision. Fitted wardrobes are often very heavy, so if you were to tackle this as a DIY job, you could really do with a few pairs of spare hands to help out.

We would advise you to use a licensed and experienced professional for a job as important as this one, as even a slight miscalculation can throw the entire project into turmoil.

However, if you intend to attempt it yourself, do some research and follow the guides to the letter. It may also be beneficial to try something similar on a small scale to see if you find it trickier or easier than expected. That should give you a good indication as to whether you'll be able to complete a larger job successfully.

If you attempt this as a DIY job ensure you have all the tools and materials to hand, ensure you use safety precautions when cutting materials and wear gloves throughout the installation to protect your hands from any slips or traps.

How much roughly would it cost to build a wardrobe in a bedroom about 4ft across by 8ft height?

"It all depends on what you need and the finishes of the wardrobe. It can cost between £100 to £1000. If you have had something on your mind and put it on paper and draw it out, it will be easier for someone to price it."

John Handyman

Choosing Fitted Wardrobes

We've put together a pros and cons list for the most popular fitted wardrobe options to help you choose the wardrobe that best suits your needs.

Sliding Mirror Fitted Wardrobe Cost

These are probably the most popular options with fitted wardrobes. They really add a classy look to whatever room they are installed in, and certainly make the room look like a larger space.

fitted sliding mirror wardrobe in a bedroom

Pros:

✔ Mirrored wardrobes can make the room look and feel much bigger
✔ Mirrored wardrobes are sleek, modern, and will remain at their best if looked after properly
✔ Sliding doors help maximise all the space available in the room, without the need to account for opening doors

Cons:

✖ Mirrored wardrobes can look grubby and dirty if they're not cleaned often, especially if there are small children in the house
✖ Sliding doors can be difficult to reattach if they are knocked out of their sliding module

Corner Fitted Wardrobe Cost

Corner wardrobes sit snugly in the corner of the room and work with either a handled door or very smart, but expensive, sliding doors in which the door overlaps to the other side of the wardrobe.

While these types of wardrobes are relatively rare, they are an excellent choice for those with limited space, as corners are often written off as lost space.

Pros:

✔ Corner wardrobes make use of space that is often overlooked and ignored
✔ Corner wardrobes often have a large surface area of space inside which can be used for larger items like boxes or small units

Cons:

✖ Corner wardrobes can be a little tricky to install, making them a little more expensive than other options
✖ Limited to few door options

Gloss Fitted Wardrobe Cost

This type of wardrobe has become more popular in recent years due to the lightweight, inexpensive materials and sleek look they provide. The wardrobe doors, either sliding or handled, are covered in glossy plastic.

Pros:

✔ Inexpensive when compared to other fitted wardrobe options
✔ Very customisable, even after installation it's pretty easy to remove the glossy covering to change to a different colour
✔ Some reflection without using the more expensive mirror

Cons:

✖ Can sometimes look a little cheaper than other options
✖ Can dull over time after multiple cleans

2-Door vs 4-Door vs 6-Door Fitted Wardrobes

A big question people ask when considering a handled fitted wardrobe is how many doors to incorporate into them.

Generally, the larger the wardrobe, the more doors you have, but some cupboards incorporate larger and fewer doors if they have the room available.

Whereas some people prefer to have narrower doors, so they can have more sections within the wardrobe.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Fitted Wardrobes

You don't need planning permission to install fitted wardrobes, provided you don't change the permanent structure of the walls within your home. Fitted wardrobes are still technically removable if needed without causing damage to the structure.

Benefits of Fitted Wardrobes

Custom Fit

When you pay to have a fitted wardrobe installed in your home, it's a perfect fit for where you want it to be. When you buy a freestanding cabinet, you do your best to pick one that fits the space you have, but you'll be hard-pressed to find one that fits flush to the walls and the ceiling.

Efficient Use of Room Space

With the custom fit of the wardrobe, no space will be left unused. You'll be surprised just how much spare space you have leftover, even with a large, fitted wardrobe in the room. If you have mirrored wardrobe doors, the room will look and feel bigger too!

New Décor

A new fitted wardrobe can revitalise your bedroom space, giving it a new lease of life, while bringing much more light into the room. Many people design their bedrooms around a new fitted wardrobe, so giving your room a fresh lick of paint and adding new furniture can really transform the space.

Cost of Fitted Wardrobe Removal

Removing a fitted wardrobe is considerably easier than installing one and is certainly a job that can be done DIY if you take it slow and have help. Take the wardrobe apart piece by piece until you get down to the frame. From there, you can look for the fixings and remove them with the necessary tools.

The cost of fitted wardrobe removal is between £100 – £300. However, the exact price you're quoted by a tradesperson to do this will depend on the size of the wardrobe and what it's made from.

However, this typically won't include waste removal costs. To dispose of an old fitted wardrobe, you can either hire a skip to put all the pieces in before it's taken away or you can break it down and take it to your local recycling plant.

You could also ask the tradesperson to include this in their quote if you don't want to handle it. If you're just removing a single fitted wardrobe, they may be happy to dispose of it for no extra cost.

What is the cost to remove built in wardrobes and doors?

"You will be looking at about £180 – £230 for removal and £40 – £80 for disposal"

Luna Lights Ltd

Checklist: Hiring Contractors to Install Fitted Wardrobes

When considering any tradesmen to carry out work on your home, it's essential to check them over thoroughly before hiring them:

You should ask them about their experience in installing fitted wardrobes, especially in the style you want and see if they have any photos of past projects that they can show you.
You can check reviews online from multiple websites like Yell and Google. Good customer reviews are always a good sign.
It's important to get different quotes from different people to see if anyone is trying to charge too much for the installation.
You should also ask them about any accreditations that they hold and check them online.

FAQs

What is a fitted wardrobe?

A fitted wardrobe is a structure that is fixed to your walls and floor instead of the more standard freestanding cabinet. They look much neater, make better use of space and generally offer far more storage space than any freestanding wardrobe.

How much space do I need for a fitted wardrobe?

As fitted wardrobes are customised to the space you have available, you don't need much space at all. If you can fit a freestanding wardrobe in the room, you'll be able to install a fitted wardrobe.

How can I customise my fitted wardrobe?

Many people add shelves, rails and drawers into their fitted wardrobe system, but you can get quite inventive when it comes to customisation. Some people have actually implemented TV units into their fitted wardrobes so they can shut the doors on it when not in use. This makes the room look much tidier and neater.

Can you place electric's inside a fitted wardrobe?

Yes. If you need electrical sockets or ports in your fitted wardrobe for any reason, an electrician will be able to install these either in the space before it's fitted, or once the cabinet has been installed.

Do fitted wardrobes require regular maintenance?

If you have sliding doors, you may want to lubricate them periodically to keep them running smoothly. However, apart from that, there isn't much maintenance needed, apart from regular cleaning to remove dust and marks from the doors and mirrors.