Respraying the kitchen you already have costs from £1,500 and usually takes 3 to 5 working days. A new fitted kitchen typically costs £10,000 to £30,000 and takes 4 to 8 weeks. If your layout works and the units are sound, a respray gives you a new colour for a fraction of the cost and disruption. If the units are failing or you want a different layout, replacement is the right call.
- Cost: a kitchen respray starts from £1,500, and most Yorkshire kitchens cost £1,800 to £3,500. A new fitted kitchen typically costs £10,000 to £30,000.
- Time: a respray usually takes 3 to 5 working days; a new kitchen typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
- Layout: a respray keeps your layout. Moving the sink, adding an island or reconfiguring the room means replacement.
- Condition: swollen, water-damaged or delaminating units are not good candidates for respraying.
- Guarantee: ColourHaus kitchen resprays carry a 5-year written guarantee on the coating.
Respray vs New Kitchen at a Glance
| Kitchen respray | New fitted kitchen | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | From £1,500 (most kitchens £1,800 to £3,500) | £10,000 to £30,000 |
| Time | Usually 3 to 5 working days | Typically 4 to 8 weeks |
| Layout | Stays the same | Can be changed |
| Strip-out and waste | None: units, worktops and appliances stay | Old kitchen removed |
| Trades involved | One spraying team | Fitter, plus plumbing, electrics, tiling and decorating as needed |
| Guarantee | 5-year written guarantee on the coating | Depends on the supplier and fitter |
The Cost Comparison
A ColourHaus kitchen respray starts from £1,500 for a smaller kitchen with up to 10 doors and drawer fronts. Most kitchens we respray in Yorkshire cost between £1,800 and £3,500. Large kitchens, islands, two-tone schemes and in-frame doors are given a fixed quote after a survey. Every quote is fixed in writing before work begins, and our kitchen spray painting cost guide breaks down what drives the price.
A full replacement, meaning new units, worktops, fitting and the follow-on trades, typically costs £10,000 to £30,000 depending on specification. On top of the money, you lose the use of your kitchen for weeks and the old units go into the skip. Our new kitchen or respray page sets out that comparison in more detail.
If the worktops, tiles and handles also need attention, a kitchen makeover covers the whole room in one project, and tired worktops can be resurfaced with spray granite rather than replaced.
The Timeline Comparison
Most kitchen resprays take 3 to 5 working days from preparation to the final walk-through. Doors and drawer fronts are usually collected and sprayed at our workshop in Sheepscar, Leeds, while frames and end panels are sprayed in place. The carcasses, worktops, sink and appliances stay where they are, so there is no strip-out. Our guide to what to expect during a kitchen respray covers living with the work day by day.
A new fitted kitchen typically takes 4 to 8 weeks once you include supply lead times, removal of the old kitchen, fitting, and follow-on work such as plumbing, electrics, plastering and tiling. For much of that time the kitchen cannot be used.
When a Respray Is the Right Choice
- The layout suits you. You like where everything is; you just do not like how it looks.
- The carcasses are sound. The boxes behind the doors are solid, square and dry.
- You want a colour or style change. Dated oak, tired cream or scuffed gloss can all be resprayed in any RAL, NCS, Farrow & Ball or Little Greene colour.
- You want minimal disruption. Families with young children, people working from home, or anyone who does not want weeks without a kitchen.
- Budget matters. The cost difference is large, and 0% finance may be available, subject to status.
When to Choose Full Replacement Instead
A respray is not always the answer, and we will tell you at the survey if it is not right for your kitchen:
- Swollen or delaminating doors. If door faces are lifting or the MDF has swollen from water, the surface cannot be refinished to a good standard.
- Failing carcasses. If the units are sagging, falling apart or water-damaged, new units are needed.
- Damaged worktops beyond resurfacing. A respray covers doors, drawer fronts and frames, not cracked or waterlogged worktops.
- A new layout. Moving the sink, adding an island or reconfiguring the room means replacement.
What to Look for in a Kitchen Respray Specialist
- Genuine reviews you can read on Google, from customers who describe the job, not just testimonials on a website.
- Real photos of finished kitchens, ideally before and after.
- A written guarantee that says what is covered and for how long, rather than a verbal assurance.
- Spray equipment, such as HVLP sprayers, rather than brush and roller.
- A real address and a fixed written quote after a site visit.
Our list of kitchen cabinet painting mistakes shows what goes wrong when these are missing. You can read what customers say on our reviews page.
The Environmental Argument
Replacing a kitchen sends the old units to waste: a large volume of MDF, chipboard, plastic and metal. A respray keeps all of it in use, which makes it the lower-waste choice when the units are sound.
Summary
If your layout works, the carcasses are sound and you want a new look without the cost and upheaval of a refit, a respray is almost certainly the better choice. If the units are failing or you want a different layout, replace them. If you are unsure, book a free survey and we will give you an honest view, with sprayed colour samples and a fixed written quote within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to respray or replace a kitchen?
Respraying is much cheaper. A ColourHaus kitchen respray starts from £1,500 and most Yorkshire kitchens cost £1,800 to £3,500. A new fitted kitchen typically costs £10,000 to £30,000 once units, worktops, fitting and follow-on trades are included.
How long does a kitchen respray take compared with a new kitchen?
Most kitchen resprays take 3 to 5 working days. A new fitted kitchen typically takes 4 to 8 weeks, including supply lead times, strip-out, fitting and follow-on work.
When is replacing a kitchen better than respraying it?
Replacement is the better choice when the carcasses are failing or water-damaged, the doors are swollen or delaminating, or you want to change the layout, for example by moving the sink or adding an island.
What guarantee comes with a kitchen respray?
ColourHaus kitchen resprays carry a 5-year written guarantee covering the coating against peeling, flaking and adhesion failure caused by our workmanship under normal domestic use.
About the author. Matthew Ramsden founded ColourHaus in 2015. He still leads the spraying work on site from the workshop in Sheepscar, Leeds, and writes the guides on this blog.
Written by Matthew Ramsden, founder of ColourHaus · Published 23 March 2026 · Updated 19 October 2026 · More articles