How Much Do Fitted Wardrobes Cost UK in 2026? Prices from £350 per Linear Metre

What Affects the Cost of Fitted Wardrobes?

The main variables that drive the cost of fitted wardrobes are the size (total linear metres), the material (MDF versus solid hardwood), the door type (sliding versus hinged), the interior fitment (simple rail and shelf versus drawers and pull-out accessories), and the finish (paint, veneer, or stained hardwood). A basic 2.4-metre wardrobe with sliding doors and a single hanging rail is a very different proposition from a 4-metre L-shaped bespoke wardrobe with full-height panelling, soft-close drawers, and integrated lighting.

Size is the most obvious cost driver. Joiners typically quote fitted wardrobes per linear metre, which makes it straightforward to compare quotes, provided the spec is the same. A wardrobe that runs the full width of a typical UK master bedroom (3 to 3.6 metres) will cost more than one that fits a single alcove, but the price per metre often comes down slightly on larger jobs because the setup time and door mechanisms are spread across more material.

Labour is a significant portion of the total. An experienced joiner charges between £200 and £350 per day in most parts of the UK, and a straightforward 3-metre sliding door wardrobe takes roughly two days from start to finish. In London and the South East, day rates are higher, and the total cost of a fitted wardrobe can be 20 to 30 percent above the national average. If you are comparing quotes and want a benchmark for joinery day rates, see our carpenter and joiner day rate guide for 2026.

The complexity of the room also matters. Rooms with chimney breast alcoves, irregular corners, or non-standard ceiling heights require more cutting, scribing, and fitting time. The same is true for rooms in older properties where walls are not plumb or floors are not level. A good joiner will account for this during the survey, but it is worth discussing upfront to avoid surprises once work starts.

Finally, the choice of handles, drawer runners, and soft-close mechanisms adds up. Even on a mid-range wardrobe, premium handles can add £100 to £300 to the total. Soft-close drawer runners and hinges are worth specifying if longevity matters, particularly for drawers that will be used frequently.

Fitted Wardrobe Costs by Type UK 2026

Sliding door wardrobes are the most common choice for UK bedrooms, particularly in newer builds where floor space is limited. The doors slide on a top-hung or bottom-rolling track, which means you do not need clearance in front of the wardrobe for the doors to open. A basic MDF sliding door wardrobe measuring 2 to 3 metres wide costs £900 to £1,800 supply and fit. Mid-range units with mirror-fronted sliding doors cost £1,500 to £2,500 for the same footprint. Mirrored doors are popular because they double as a bedroom mirror and make a room feel larger, which is particularly useful in smaller rooms.

Hinged door wardrobes are slightly cheaper than sliding door units because the door mechanism is simpler and there are no tracks to install. A 3-metre hinged door wardrobe costs £1,200 to £2,000 supply and fit. The trade-off is that you need clear floor space in front of the wardrobe for the doors to swing open, which makes hinged door wardrobes less suitable for small bedrooms or rooms with beds positioned close to the wardrobe. That said, hinged doors give full-width access to the wardrobe interior in one go, which some people prefer.

Alcove wardrobes take advantage of the recesses that are common in older UK properties, particularly Victorian and Edwardian terraces where chimney breasts create natural alcoves on either side. When a wardrobe fits into an alcove, the cost is lower because two walls are already in place and act as the sides of the unit. An alcove wardrobe 1 to 1.5 metres wide costs £400 to £900 supply and fit with a hinged door and basic interior. If the alcoves on both sides of a chimney breast are fitted simultaneously, most joiners will offer a small discount on the combined job.

Walk-in wardrobes are priced differently, as they are more like a room fit-out than a single wardrobe unit. The walls of the space become the structure, and the joiner fits rails, shelves, drawers, and sometimes island units into the available footprint. A small walk-in wardrobe measuring 1.5 to 2 metres deep and 2.5 to 3 metres wide typically costs £3,000 to £8,000 to design, build, and fit out. Larger walk-in wardrobes with full-height panelling, integrated lighting, and pull-out accessories can reach £15,000 or more.

For tradesmen pricing joinery work, understanding how different wardrobe types affect material and labour costs is important when putting together accurate quotes. Our guide to how to price joinery work in the UK covers the key principles for quoting fitted furniture alongside other joinery jobs.

Material Options and Their Costs

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is the most common material for fitted wardrobes in the UK, and for good reason. It is dimensionally stable, takes paint well, and is significantly cheaper than solid timber. MDF wardrobes can be spray-painted to any RAL colour for a smooth, professional finish that is hard to distinguish from painted solid wood at a glance. Most high-street fitted wardrobe companies, as well as independent joiners working to a budget brief, use MDF as standard. A fully painted MDF wardrobe carcass and door fronts in a standard bedroom will cost less than the equivalent in solid wood by a factor of two to three.

Plywood is a less common but increasingly popular choice, particularly among joiners working on contemporary interiors. It is stronger and lighter than MDF, handles screws better (which matters for drawer runners and hinges), and is more resistant to humidity. This is relevant in bedrooms that adjoin an en-suite bathroom, where moisture levels can affect MDF over time. Plywood is harder to paint to a smooth finish without a lot of preparation, but it can be left with a natural birch face for a Scandinavian aesthetic. Expect to pay 10 to 20 percent more for a plywood carcass compared to MDF.

Solid hardwood, including oak, walnut, and ash, is the premium option. Solid hardwood wardrobes cost two to three times more than MDF equivalents but age well and can be sanded and refinished if they become scratched or worn. In practice, most bespoke wardrobe makers use solid timber for the door frames and visible carcass faces, with a plywood or MDF interior carcass for the shelves and internal structure. This keeps the cost somewhat lower while maintaining the look and feel of solid timber at the door face.

Board-and-batten or shaker style is a popular finish that uses flat-panel boards with applied mouldings to create a traditional shaker appearance. This can be done in MDF at mid-range cost, or in solid timber for a premium finish. Shaker-style wardrobes with painted MDF doors sit in the £600 to £900 per linear metre range installed, while solid timber shaker doors push the price up to £1,200 to £1,800 per linear metre or higher depending on the timber species and specification.

Interior Fitment Costs

The interior of a wardrobe can add significantly to the total cost, and it is an area where it is easy to underestimate when comparing quotes. Many base quotes include only a single hanging rail and one fixed shelf, which gives you the structure but not much practical storage. Once you start adding shelving, drawers, and accessories, the additional cost mounts up quickly.

Additional fixed shelves cost £20 to £40 each installed, which is reasonable for the amount of extra storage they provide. Adjustable shelves on a track system cost a little more but are worth considering if your storage needs are likely to change over time. Pull-out trouser rails run £40 to £80 each, and pull-out shoe racks cost £60 to £120 per unit. These accessories are useful for keeping a wardrobe organised without the interior becoming cluttered.

Drawer units are the most significant interior cost add-on. A standard five-drawer pack costs £150 to £350 depending on the finish and whether the runners are soft-close. Soft-close mechanisms are worth specifying for drawers that will be used daily. Drawers in a bedroom wardrobe get a great deal of use over their lifetime, and cheap runners will become noisy and difficult to operate within a few years. Integrated LED lighting runs £80 to £200 per wardrobe and is increasingly popular, particularly in walk-in wardrobes and larger fitted units where the interior can be dark.

Internal mirrors cost £80 to £200 each depending on size. Jewellery drawers with velvet lining are £80 to £200 per unit. Tie and belt rails, internal hooks, and valet rods each add £30 to £80 to the total. For a full bedroom wardrobe with hanging space, drawers, shelving, integrated lighting, and a couple of pull-out accessories, budget an additional £400 to £800 above the basic carcass and door cost.

When reviewing quotes, always check that the interior specification is itemised separately so you can see exactly what is included. A quote that appears lower than competitors may simply exclude interior fitment or specify cheaper drawer runners. Use our profit margin calculator if you are a tradesman putting together your own fitted wardrobe quotes and want to check your margins on materials and labour.

Getting Quotes and What to Check

Always get three quotes for any fitted wardrobe installation. This is not just about finding the lowest price. It gives you a sense of the range of approaches joiners take, the materials they prefer, and the level of detail they include in their survey. A joiner who arrives with a tape measure and spends 45 minutes understanding the room and discussing your requirements is likely to produce a better result than one who takes a quick measurement and emails a one-line quote the same day.

When comparing quotes, ensure they are like-for-like. The same total size, door type, number of interior elements, and finish. A quote that appears cheaper may exclude interior fitment, handles, or delivery of materials. Some joiners include waste removal in their price; others will leave you to arrange a skip or take materials to the tip. Ask specifically about this if it is not clear from the written quote.

Check that the joiner is quoting to remove existing furniture and make good any damage to walls or ceilings if required. Scribing a wardrobe carcass to an uneven wall or ceiling takes time, and some joiners charge separately for this as it falls outside a standard installation. Ask whether the price includes adjusting doors after the wardrobe has settled, particularly for sliding doors on top-hung tracks, which may need realigning a few weeks after installation. A good joiner will include one revisit for adjustments within the quoted price as a matter of course.

Confirm the lead time for made-to-measure wardrobes. Most bespoke fitted wardrobe makers require a survey visit before production begins, and the lead time from survey to installation is typically two to six weeks. This can be longer during busy periods, particularly in the spring and early autumn when demand for home improvement work is highest in the UK. If you are working to a deadline (a house sale or a renovation schedule), confirm the lead time before committing to a particular joiner.

Pay a deposit of no more than 25 to 30 percent upfront for made-to-measure work. Stage payments are standard for larger jobs: a deposit on survey confirmation, a second payment when materials are ordered, and the final payment on completion once you are satisfied with the installation. Avoid paying in full upfront for bespoke work. If something goes wrong during the job, having money outstanding gives you leverage to ensure problems are resolved before final payment.

If you are a tradesman looking to improve how you quote and manage joinery work, the hourly rate calculator can help you set a day rate that covers your costs and returns a fair margin. See also our guide to bathroom renovation costs UK 2026 for comparable pricing context on other residential fit-out trades.

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