We’ve surveyed thousands of kitchen buyers and tested kitchens in our lab to bring you ratings for big-name fitted kitchen brands – find out which have emerged triumphant as Best Buys.
A new kitchen is a big investment – so it makes sense to choose a trusted brand and a kitchen that was rated highly in our lab tests.
To find the best and worst fitted kitchen companies, and the kitchen cabinets worthy of a Best Buy accolade, we’ve surveyed thousands of kitchen owners and assessed kitchen units from almost all the big-name brands in our lab, including Ikea, John Lewis and Wickes.
To become a Best Buy, a kitchen had to score more than 70% overall. Our overall scores incorporate both lab-test results and customer feedback.
The top-scoring brand achieved 79% overall, while the lowest score was 57%. Only brands achieving more than 70% overall were awarded Best Buys.
Which? members can find out the kitchen brands that made the grade in our kitchen Best Buy section, below. Or click the links to jump straight to the section you want.
Best Buy kitchens
Here we’ve listed all of the kitchen ranges that we tested in our lab, along with the scores the brands got in our customer survey. The overall score takes into account both the lab test results and customer feedback.
Kitchens from only three brands made the cut for a Best Buy. The top-scoring kitchen achieved 79% overall, while other Best Buys scored 73%, 72% and 71%. Kitchens must score more than 70% to be eligible.
Which? members can log in now to see the full results and which are our kitchen Best Buys. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get access to these and thousands of other product and service reviews.
Kitchen brands rated by customers
The table below reveals customer scores for each of these brands, as well as star ratings given by kitchen owners for customer service, value for money and the durability of their kitchen, so you can compare the strengths and weaknesses of each brand.
Which? members can log in now to unlock the scores in the table below and our Best Buy ratings lower down. If you’re not already a member, you can join Which? to get instant access.
Independent kitchen companies are small companies not widely known outside a local area.
Our unique Which? customer score ratings are based on how satisfied customers are with the brand overall, and whether or not they’d recommend it to a friend. The star ratings are calculated based on how owners rated these attributes on a scale between excellent and very poor.
For in-depth information on each of the brands rated above, choose a company from the left-hand menu at the top of this page. This includes customers’ ratings for the individual components of their kitchen including cupboards, doors, drawers and worktops.
To find out which are the best and worst kitchen brands, in May and June 2019 we surveyed 2,238 Which? members about the kitchen they bought in the last 10 years, and their experiences with the brand they bought it from.
This included rating the durability of the kitchen (overall and its different components), the brand’s customer service, value for money and the kitchen installation service (if used).
Overall brand customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand and how likely they were to recommend it to a friend.
Installation isn’t factored into kitchen Best Buys. Find out more about kitchen installations in our dedicated guide.
Kitchens on test
We also tested kitchens from most of the biggest brands in our lab to find out how well-built they are, and how they stand up to everyday use from everyone in the family.
Many of the national kitchen companies use the same one or two kitchen ‘carcasses’ (i.e. the basic cabinets and drawers) for all of their kitchens. Then different doors and accessories are added depending on which range you choose.
So we’ve tested the carcasses on sale for brands including Ikea, John Lewis and Wickes.
For each different one within a brand, we looked at a drawer unit, a floor cupboard unit and a wall unit, both with shelves.
Which? members can see our test results in the table below. Log in now if you can’t see them. Or join Which to reveal the results.
Ratings are overall and encompass a number of different assessments
Find out more about how we test kitchens.
Kitchen design ideas and advice
As you’ll be spending a lot of time in your new kitchen, it’s important to get the design right, so that it suits your needs and style.
Our planning a kitchen guide has lots of advice on how to get the best layout and maximise space. You’ll find design ideas for modern and country kitchens, and top tips to help you make the most of your budget.
If you’re planning to buy new appliances, you’ll need to know how much space to allow for these in your design. Our kitchen appliance size guide gives typical sizes for all the kitchen essentials, and we’ve got hundreds of Best Buy cookers, cooker hoods, hobs, ovens, dishwashers, fridge freezers and washing machines to choose from.