Fit-Only vs Supply and Fit Kitchens: Which Is Better?
Fit-only or supply and fit? Compare cost, risk, timing and who's responsible when things go wrong, with real Glasgow prices from £795. No VAT added.
Fit-Only Kitchen Fitter in Glasgow
Kitchen Fitter Glasgow is a fit-only kitchen fitter for homes across Glasgow and Renfrewshire: you buy the kitchen, and we fit it, from £795 for up to 8 units. We fit any brand, including IKEA flat-packs, DIY Kitchens, Howdens, Wren, B&Q, Wickes and Magnet. James McCallum, a time-served joiner, has fitted kitchens for 15 years from our base in Johnstone, and every fit carries a 2-year written guarantee with no VAT added.
- 2-year written guarantee
- Gas Safe registered engineer
- No VAT added
- Fit-only fittingfrom £795
- Home surveyFree
- Workmanship guarantee2 years, in writing
- VATNone added
What is fit-only kitchen fitting?
Fit-only kitchen fitting, also called labour-only or installation-only, means you buy the kitchen from a retailer and pay a fitter to install it. You choose and order the units, doors, worktops and appliances, and the fitter brings the skill, tools and time. It's the most popular way to get a new kitchen for less, because you can shop the sales at IKEA, DIY Kitchens or B&Q and stay in control of the budget, while the fitting is still done to a professional standard.
What goes wrong when a fit-only kitchen is fitted badly?
Most fit-only problems start with one of three things: a fitter who won't take on a flat-pack kitchen, parts that go missing between the order and the fitting day, or a kitchen fitted as if the walls and floors were perfectly straight.
Fitters who turn down flat-pack kitchens
Some fitters won't take on IKEA and other flat-pack kitchens, or price them so high that they might as well refuse, because every cabinet has to be built before it can be fitted. Homeowners who've already paid for the kitchen end up with boxes stacked in the hall, a delivery date that came and went, and no one booked to fit it.
Missing or damaged parts found on fitting day
A typical kitchen arrives in dozens of boxes. If nobody checks the delivery until the morning a plinth, filler or end panel is needed, the fit stops halfway. The fitter moves on to the next job, and you're left with half a kitchen, no sink and a wait of days for a replacement part.
Gaps, crooked doors and worktops that don't meet the wall
Units fixed straight onto an uneven floor, or worktops cut square for a wall that isn't, leave gaps behind the worktop, doors that don't line up and drawers that drift open on their own. It's the most common complaint about cheap kitchen fits, and it's especially likely in older Glasgow tenements and houses, where few walls are truly square.
Any one of these can turn a three-day fit into a three-week saga, and putting a badly fitted kitchen right almost always costs more than fitting it properly first time.
How does our fit-only kitchen service work?
Our fit-only service is built to stop those problems before they start, with six steps from the first visit to the finished kitchen.
- Free home survey. We measure the room and check the walls, floors, plumbing and electrics, then talk through the kitchen you've bought or plan to buy.
- Plan check before you order. Send us your retailer's kitchen plan and we'll check it against our measurements. We flag anything missing, such as fillers, end panels, plinths or a cornice, and anything that won't fit, like a dishwasher where a pipe runs.
- Fixed written quote. You get a written price for every task. Flat-pack assembly and removing the old kitchen are listed separately, so you can see exactly what you're paying for. A 25% deposit books your start date.
- Delivery check. When your kitchen arrives, check the boxes against your order straight away. We'll tell you what to look for, so missing parts are reordered before fitting day, not on it.
- Fitting. We assemble flat-pack cabinets, level every unit to the floor, scribe worktops and end panels to the wall, and fit the sink, tap, doors and integrated appliances. A Gas Safe registered engineer and a certified electrician, both trusted partners of ours, carry out any gas and electrical work.
- Walk-through and guarantee. We go round the finished kitchen with you, put right any snags, clean up and hand over your 2-year written guarantee.
What does a fit-only kitchen price include?
A fit-only price covers the labour to install everything you've bought, from the first base unit to the last plinth.
Included in the fitting price:
- Base, wall and tall units fixed level and secure
- Laminate worktops cut, joined and scribed, with sink and hob cut-outs sealed against water
- Sink, tap and waste fitted and connected to the existing plumbing
- Doors and drawers hung and adjusted so the gaps are even
- Handles, plinths, end panels, fillers and cornice fitted
- Integrated appliances such as an oven, dishwasher and fridge-freezer housed and fitted
Listed separately on your quote:
- Flat-pack assembly, from £25 per unit
- Removing and disposing of the old kitchen, from £195
- Gas connections by our partner Gas Safe registered engineer
- New sockets, lighting or a cooker circuit by our partner certified electrician
- Solid wood or quartz worktops, which need extra time or templating
- Tiling, flooring and plastering
How much does fit-only kitchen fitting cost in Glasgow?
Fit-only kitchen fitting in Glasgow costs from £795 with us, and the price depends mostly on the number of units. These are our November 2026 prices, with no VAT to add.
| Kitchen size | Units | Fit-only price | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (galley or single wall) | Up to 8 | £795 to £1,250 | 2 to 3 days |
| Standard (L-shape or double galley) | 9 to 15 | £1,250 to £2,200 | 3 to 5 days |
| Large (U-shape, island or kitchen-diner) | 16 or more | £2,200 to £3,500 | 5 to 7 days |
| Flat-pack assembly | Per unit | From £25 | Adds 1 to 2 days |
| Old kitchen removal | Whole kitchen | £195 to £395 | Half a day to 1 day |
For worked examples, including a full IKEA kitchen in Paisley, see our Glasgow kitchen fitting price guide.
Which kitchen brands do we fit?
We fit any brand of kitchen, and each one arrives and fits a little differently. This is what to expect from the brands Glasgow homeowners buy most.
| Brand | How it arrives | What it means for your fit |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA (METOD) | Flat-pack | Every cabinet is built first, wall units hang on IKEA's suspension rail, and base units stand on adjustable legs. IKEA Glasgow at Braehead is a short drive from our base, handy if a hinge pack goes missing. See IKEA kitchen fitting |
| DIY Kitchens | Rigid, ready-built | No assembly charge, so fitting starts on day one. See DIY Kitchens fitting |
| Howdens | Rigid, sold to trade only | We can order it for you through the trade, then fit it. See Howdens kitchen fitting |
| Wren, B&Q, Wickes, Magnet | Rigid or flat-pack, depending on the range | We check which you've ordered at the plan check and price assembly only if it's needed. See Wren, B&Q, Wickes and Magnet kitchens |
If your kitchen is from another supplier, or second-hand, we'll look at it at the survey and tell you honestly whether it can be fitted well.
How long does a fit-only kitchen take to fit?
A standard fit-only kitchen of 9 to 15 rigid units takes us 3 to 5 days. This is how a typical five-day fit runs when the old kitchen is coming out too.
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Old kitchen removed, services safely disconnected, walls and floor checked and marked out |
| Day 2 | Base units and tall housings levelled and fixed |
| Day 3 | Wall units hung; worktops cut, joined and scribed to the wall |
| Day 4 | Sink, tap and waste fitted; integrated appliances installed; gas and electrical connections by our partner trades |
| Day 5 | Doors, drawers, plinths, end panels and fillers fitted; snag list, clean and walk-through |
Flat-pack kitchens add 1 to 2 days at the start for assembly, and small kitchens are often finished in 2 to 3 days. Read more about how long a kitchen takes to fit.
What should you do before your fitter arrives?
A little preparation keeps a fit-only kitchen on schedule. Before your start date:
- Check the delivery against your order the day it arrives, and report anything missing or damaged to the retailer straight away
- Keep the boxes together in a dry room near the kitchen, not in a damp garage or shed
- Empty the kitchen of food, crockery and anything on the walls
- Have your appliances on site, along with their installation instructions
- Sort parking for our van if your street has restrictions
- Set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere, with a kettle, microwave and a few plates
Is there a fit-only kitchen fitter near you?
If you're in Glasgow or Renfrewshire, yes. Kitchen Fitter Glasgow is based in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, and fits kitchens across the whole city and the surrounding towns. If you've been searching for a "fit-only kitchen fitter near me", these are the areas we cover most:
| Area | Towns and neighbourhoods | Postcodes |
|---|---|---|
| Renfrewshire | Johnstone, Elderslie, Kilbarchan, Paisley, Linwood, Renfrew, Erskine | PA1 to PA6, PA8, PA10 |
| Glasgow | West End, Southside, City Centre, Dennistoun, Shettleston, Maryhill | G1, G11, G12, G20, G31, G32, G41 to G44 |
| South and east | Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, East Kilbride | G46, G72 to G77 |
| North | Bearsden, Milngavie, Bishopbriggs | G61, G62, G64 |
See all the areas we cover, or browse our other kitchen fitting services, including kitchen worktop fitting.
Guides that help you plan
Free, practical guides from James, written for Glasgow homes and checked against our current prices.
How to Measure Your Kitchen for New Units
Measure your kitchen properly before you order: tools, a step-by-step method, what to record, and the mistakes that cause missing panels and wrong units.
Flat-Pack vs Rigid Kitchen Units: Which Is Better?
Flat-pack or rigid kitchen units? Compare strength, cost, fitting time and access up a Glasgow stair, plus which brands sell which. Assembly £25 a cabinet.
Book your fit-only kitchen survey
Tell us which kitchen you've bought or are thinking of buying, and we'll arrange a free home survey and a fixed fitting price.
Fit-only kitchen fitting questions
Will you fit a kitchen I've already bought?
Yes. Fit-only is exactly that: you've bought the kitchen, and we fit it. It doesn't matter whether it came from IKEA, DIY Kitchens, Howdens, B&Q, Wickes, Wren, Magnet or a smaller supplier. Send us the plan and order list, and we'll check them against our measurements before fitting day.
Do you fit IKEA kitchens?
Yes, and we're happy to. IKEA METOD kitchens arrive flat-packed, so we build every cabinet before fitting it, which costs from £25 per unit. A typical 8-unit IKEA kitchen costs £795 to £1,250 to fit, plus £200 for assembly. IKEA Glasgow at Braehead is close to our Johnstone base.
Do I need to buy the worktops and sink as well?
Yes, for fit-only. You buy the whole kitchen, including the worktops, sink, tap and appliances, and we supply the fitting. If you'd rather we sourced everything, our supply and fit service covers the full kitchen. We'll tell you at the survey if anything on your order list is missing.
What happens if parts are missing on fitting day?
We fit everything we can, then agree a return visit once the missing part arrives. That's why we check your plan before you order and ask you to check the delivery the day it arrives. Extra visits caused by missing or faulty supplied parts may be charged at the rate on your quote.
Do you connect gas hobs and electric ovens?
Yes. Gas hobs and cookers are connected by our partner Gas Safe registered engineer, and new cooker circuits or sockets are installed by our partner certified electrician, who provides an electrical certificate. Plug-in appliances and integrated units that use existing sockets are fitted as part of the standard fit.
How long does fit-only kitchen fitting take?
Most fit-only kitchens take 2 to 5 days. A small kitchen of up to 8 units takes 2 to 3 days, a standard 9 to 15 unit kitchen takes 3 to 5 days, and flat-pack assembly adds 1 to 2 days. Your quote includes the expected number of days on site.
Is a kitchen I bought myself covered by your guarantee?
Our 2-year written workmanship guarantee covers the fitting: if anything we fitted fails because of our workmanship, we put it right at no cost. Faults in the units, worktops or appliances themselves are covered by the retailer's or manufacturer's warranty, and we'll help you show the retailer what's wrong.
Do you fit kitchens near me in Paisley or Johnstone?
Yes. Our base is in Johnstone, so Paisley, Elderslie, Kilbarchan, Linwood and Renfrew are the closest areas we cover. We also fit kitchens across all of Glasgow and in Newton Mearns, Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Rutherglen and East Kilbride, and IKEA Glasgow at Braehead is only a short drive from Paisley too.