IKEA vs Howdens vs DIY Kitchens: Which Should You Choose?

How do IKEA, Howdens and DIY Kitchens compare?

IKEA, Howdens and DIY Kitchens differ most in how you buy them and how they arrive, not in whether they can make a good kitchen. All three can look excellent when they're fitted properly. This table puts the practical differences side by side.

Prices are our November 2026 fitting prices with no VAT added. The cost of the kitchen itself depends on the range, the size and any sale, so compare full quotes from each supplier.

What are the pros and cons of an IKEA kitchen?

An IKEA kitchen gives you a lot of choice and control at a sharp price, in exchange for more work before and during the fit.

Why people choose IKEA

• You can see it and touch it. IKEA Glasgow at Braehead has full kitchens on display, and you can plan your layout in IKEA's kitchen planner at home.
• Long cabinet guarantee. IKEA offers a free 25-year guarantee on the METOD kitchen system for domestic use.
• Flexible. The METOD system comes in many sizes, and other companies make replacement doors designed to fit IKEA cabinets if you want a different look later.
• Easy to carry. Flat boxes go up a narrow common stair far more easily than ready-built cabinets.

What to watch for with IKEA

• Assembly time. Every cabinet has to be built before it's fitted, which adds 1 to 2 days and £25 a cabinet with us.
• Lots of small parts. A single kitchen can include hundreds of items, so check the delivery against your order list straight away.
• Its own system. Wall cabinets hang on a suspension rail and base cabinets stand on adjustable legs, so your fitter needs to know the METOD system well.

What are the pros and cons of a Howdens kitchen?

A Howdens kitchen suits homeowners who'd rather choose a style and hand over the ordering, because Howdens only sells through tradespeople.

Why people choose Howdens

• Ready-built cabinets. Howdens cabinets arrive rigid, so there's no assembly and fitting starts on day one.
• Local depots. Glasgow has several Howdens depots, many with kitchen displays, and a forgotten part can often be collected quickly.
• Your fitter handles it. Because a tradesperson orders it, your fitter takes responsibility for the order matching the room.
• Own-brand appliances. Lamona appliances are sold alongside Howdens kitchens, with a 3-year guarantee from Howdens.

What to watch for with Howdens

• You can't buy it yourself. You need a tradesperson with a trade account, so you rely on their choice of what to order.
• Price transparency. The price depends on who orders it and how they price it, so ask for a quote that shows the kitchen and the fitting as separate lines.
• Full-size cabinets. Tall and corner units arrive built, so check your doors and stair at the survey.

What are the pros and cons of DIY Kitchens?

DIY Kitchens suits confident planners who want ready-built cabinets at an online price and are happy to organise their own fitter.

Why people choose DIY Kitchens

• Rigid units bought online. DIY Kitchens makes its cabinets in its West Yorkshire factory and supplies them fully built.
• No assembly charge. Fitting starts on day one, which keeps fitting time and cost down.
• Price shown upfront. You see the price of every cabinet as you plan, rather than waiting for a quote.

What to watch for with DIY Kitchens

• You arrange the fitter. DIY Kitchens makes and delivers the kitchen; the fitting is up to you.
• Booked delivery slots. Each order goes into a scheduled delivery slot, so the delivery and fitting dates need to line up.
• Access. DIY Kitchens' own advice is to check doorways are wide enough for tall and corner units, and in a tenement that includes the close and the stair.

Which is cheapest once fitting is included?

Once fitting is included, ready-built kitchens often close the gap on flat-pack ones, because there's no assembly to pay for. For a typical 12-unit kitchen fitted by us:

To compare fairly, add the price of the kitchen from each supplier to the fitting total, and remember removal of the old kitchen (from £195) and any gas or electrical work. Our Glasgow kitchen fitting price guide has worked examples for each.

Which works best in a Glasgow tenement flat?

All three can work in a tenement, but they suit different buildings. Flat-pack has the edge on a narrow, winding stair, while rigid units save time once they're inside.

• IKEA: flat boxes go up any stair, and METOD's adjustable legs help level cabinets on a sloping tenement floor.
• DIY Kitchens and Howdens: check the close entrance, every turn of the stair and the flat's own doors against your tallest and widest units before you order.
• Any brand: high tenement ceilings suit taller wall units, and the wall rail or wall units need fixings that suit lath and plaster or stone.

Our tenement kitchen fitting page explains how we handle old walls, sloping floors and narrow stairs.

Which should you choose?

Choose the supplier that matches how you like to work. These rules of thumb cover most Glasgow homeowners:

• Choose IKEA if you want to see the kitchen in person, plan it yourself, keep the unit cost down and don't mind an extra day or two for assembly.
• Choose Howdens if you want to choose a style at a local depot and have your fitter take care of the order and the fitting.
• Choose DIY Kitchens if you're comfortable planning online and want ready-built cabinets with no assembly charge.
• Not sure? Book a free survey first. We'll measure the room and tell you honestly which option suits your home and budget.

Whichever you pick, see our pages on IKEA kitchen fitting, DIY Kitchens fitting and Howdens kitchen fitting, or read our guide to flat-pack vs rigid kitchen units.