How Much Do Fitted Wardrobes Cost in the UK?

When people start researching fitted wardrobes the first questions are almost always about price:

• What is the average price of fitted wardrobes?

• How much do built-in wardrobes typically cost?

• How much does it cost to install built-in wardrobes?

• Is it cheaper to buy or build a wardrobe?

The problem is that there isn’t one “standard price”. Because fitted wardrobes aren’t one standard product.

A £2,500 fitted wardrobe and a £5,000 fitted wardrobe can look similar in photos but the materials, construction methods, finish standard as well as time involved can be completely different.

This guide explains typical UK price ranges, what drives the cost as well as what to ask so you can compare suppliers properly.

New to the subject? Start with our definition guide: What Is a Fitted Wardrobe?
Or browse our full guide hub: Fitted Wardrobes Guide.

Typical UK Price Ranges for Fitted Wardrobes

Most homeowners searching “average fitted wardrobe price” are trying to understand whether they are in the right ballpark.

As a general guide:

Low-end / entry fitted wardrobes (from ~£2,500)

This tends to include more system-based approaches and simplified finishes. It can be a perfectly valid option depending on the brief, but it usually involves more compromises in materials, flexibility or finishing detail.

Mid-range fitted wardrobes (from ~£3,200)

This is where you typically see better material choices, stronger build quality as well as a higher finishing standard — but prices still vary widely depending on specification.

Higher-quality fitted wardrobes (often £3,500+ for a typical run)

At this level you’re paying for a more complete furniture standard: stronger boards, better finishing, more thoughtful design and a better “built-in” result.

For many homes a typical fitted wardrobe project often falls in the region of £3,000–£5,000, depending on what you are building, what’s included and the finishing standard required.

What Actually Makes One Fitted Wardrobe More Expensive Than Another?

If you are comparing quotes the useful question isn’t “who is cheapest?” — it’s:

“What is the quote actually paying for?”

Here are the real cost drivers.

1) Construction method

Fitted wardrobes can be built in different ways, including:

• Carcass-based systems (cabinets with backs, tops, sides and floors)

• Frame-based systems (a frame fixed to the room, with internals fixed to the wall)

• Hybrid builds (a mix of both)

These choices affect:

• material use

• long-term rigidity and performance

• internal protection

• finishing possibilities

If you want to understand how these differences show up visually, the guide hub links to practical examples.

2) Finishing standard – the “details that give it away”

Two wardrobes can have identical doors, but look completely different in real life based on finishing.

Finishing details that often separate a premium fitted wardrobe from a modular-looking installation include:

• continuous, clean plinth detailing
  see this guide: Why Plinth Construction Makes or Breaks the Finished Look

• true consistency across doors, scribes and panels
  see this guide for more: Why Fitted Wardrobe Colours Don’t Always Match)

• tight scribing around walls, floors, skirting as well as ceilings

• alignment, shadow gaps and door reveals

These are the things most people can’t describe — but they’re the first things your eye notices once installed.

3) Materials and board quality

This is one of the least discussed factors in the industry, but one of the most important.

Even within “fitted wardrobes” board choice varies hugely:

• thickness

• density and rigidity

• edge durability

• how well it holds hinges and fixings over time

• how it copes with adjustment and use

4) Room complexity

Costs rise when the room requires more adaptation:

• sloped ceilings

• alcoves and chimney breasts

• uneven walls and floors

• unusual layouts

• structural obstacles

This is where “made to measure” really matters — because the room dictates the design.

5) Internal specification

Internals can materially change the price:

• drawers and the quality of drawer runner systems

• pull-out storage

• lighting

• bespoke layouts

Two wardrobes with the same external look can have very different internal value.

How Much Does It Cost to Install Built-in Wardrobes?

In most cases installation is included in a fitted wardrobe quote as part of the complete project price.

If you ever see installation shown separately, it’s usually broken into something like:

• materials / manufacture

• labour / fitting

The key point is that installation isn’t just “putting it together”.

Installation quality affects:

• alignments and door performance

• scribing and finish

• how well the wardrobe sits long-term

• how it looks as one built-in feature rather than multiple units

A wardrobe can be manufactured well and still look poor if installed to weak tolerances.

Is It Cheaper to Buy or Build a Wardrobe?

Sometimes yes — but it depends on what you are comparing.

Many “cheaper alternatives” are not like-for-like with a truly fitted wardrobe. They can still be good options for the right brief but you need to understand what you are actually getting.

Option 1: IKEA PAX hacks (and similar systems)

These have a real place in the market and can look great when styled and finished well.

But they are not a direct comparison to bespoke fitted wardrobes because:

• they are typically offered in limited height options
  (often too short for standard ceilings or too tall for many homes)

• the board is generally thinner / lighter than furniture-grade board used in bespoke fitted work

• back panels are typically thin

• achieving a “fitted look” often requires:

  • tall plinths

  • tall top scribes

  • extra finishing work

Many PAX hacks also involve adding new doors, fillers and paint finishing. Once you total:

• the system

• the fitting

• the finishing materials

• the time involved

  it’s common for the overall cost to land closer than expected to a purpose-built fitted solution.

The outcome can still be excellent but it is important to understand it is fundamentally a converted modular system not a wardrobe designed from scratch around the room.

Option 2: Site-built MDF wardrobes (trade-built)

This approach can also work well and it’s often used by good tradespeople.

But homeowners should be aware of how the costs stack up:

• MDF wardrobes built on site can take multiple days to cut, assemble and fit

• internal storage and drawers may also be built on site

• they almost always require a separate finishing stage
  (usually painting, often by a specialist)

Many people don’t account for the full painting process:

• edge prep

• priming

• multiple coats

• drying time

• labour

It is not unusual for paint finishing to become a significant extra cost on top of the build and it is often only quoted once the MDF is already installed.

So yes: it can start cheaper on paper but once you factor in time, disruption and finishing costs it often isn’t the saving people expect.

The Best Way to Compare Quotes Without Getting Misled

If you want to compare fitted wardrobe quotes properly ask questions that reveal the build standard:

Useful questions to ask any supplier

• Is the design truly made-to-measure or adapted from set module sizes?

• What material are the doors made from and what about the visible panels?

• Will all visible panels be finished to match the doors?

• How are plinths finished across a run of multiple wardrobes?

• Are backs used or do internals sit against the wall?

• What is included in the finish (scribes, fillers, end panels, top panels)?

• Is decoration required after installation (e.g., painting)?

If a supplier can answer these clearly without dodging or oversimplifying it’s a strong signal you’re dealing with someone who understands the detail — not just the sale.

Where to Go Next

This page covers cost and comparison at a high level.

If you want to understand the construction details that most strongly affect how fitted wardrobes look once installed, explore these guide pages next:

• Why Plinth Construction Makes or Breaks the Finished Look

• Why Fitted Wardrobe Colours Don’t Always Match

• Fitted Wardrobes Guide hub

Fitted Wardrobe Costs FAQs