If you are planning a new kitchen, one of the first decisions you will face is whether to go with a supply and fit service or a fit only installation. Both routes lead to the same result, a finished kitchen, but they work very differently in practice. The right choice depends on how much control you want, how much time you have, and whether you want one company managing the full project or prefer to source your own units.
This guide explains both options honestly so you can decide which one suits your situation before you start getting quotes.
What Is Supply and Fit?
A supply and fit kitchen service means the company you hire sources the kitchen units, worktops, and hardware on your behalf, then installs everything as a complete package. You get a single quote covering materials and labour, and the fitter manages the full process from design to final finish.
This is the route most homeowners take when they want one company to handle everything. You discuss what you want, agree on a specification, and the fitter takes care of ordering, delivery, and installation.
What is typically included
- Kitchen design and layout planning
- Sourcing and ordering units, worktops, and hardware
- Delivery coordination
- Full installation including unit fitting, worktop cutting, and appliance connection
- Associated carpentry such as pelmets, cornicing, and kickboard trims
- Coordination of plumbing and electrical trades if needed
Our kitchen fitting service offers both supply and fit and fit only options, so you can choose the route that works best for your project.
What Is Fit Only?
A fit only kitchen installation means you purchase the kitchen units and worktops yourself from whichever supplier you choose, and then hire a fitter to install them. The fitter handles the physical installation but does not source or order the materials.
This is the route homeowners often take when they have already found a kitchen they love from a specific supplier, whether that is IKEA, Howdens, Wren, B&Q, or an independent kitchen studio.
What is typically included
- Removal of the old kitchen
- Assembly and installation of new units (if flat-pack)
- Worktop templating, cutting, and fitting
- Appliance connection
- Associated carpentry work
- Coordination with plumber and electrician (if offered by the fitter)
The key difference is that you manage the product selection, ordering, and delivery yourself. The fitter installs what you provide.
Supply and Fit: The Advantages
One point of contact
The biggest advantage of supply and fit is simplicity. You deal with one company for everything. If there is an issue with a damaged unit, a missing part, or a change to the specification, your fitter handles it. You do not need to chase a supplier separately.
Trade pricing on materials
Most experienced kitchen fitters have trade accounts with suppliers. This means they can often source units and worktops at lower prices than you would pay at retail. In some cases, the trade discount offsets the markup, so supply and fit can cost the same as or less than buying retail and hiring a fitter separately.
Design expertise
A fitter who supplies kitchens regularly knows what works and what does not. They can advise on layout efficiency, unit sizes that avoid awkward fillers, worktop materials that hold up in daily use, and hardware that lasts. This practical knowledge comes from fitting hundreds of kitchens, not from a showroom display.
Fewer coordination headaches
When one company is responsible for both materials and installation, the schedule is simpler. The fitter orders materials to arrive when they are needed, checks deliveries against the order, and resolves any issues before installation day. You do not need to manage delivery slots, check boxes, or store flat-pack units in your living room for two weeks.
Fit Only: The Advantages
Full control over product selection
If you have a specific kitchen in mind, fit only gives you complete control. You choose the exact units, finish, handles, and worktop material from whichever supplier you prefer. This is particularly appealing if you have found a kitchen range that is not available through your fitter’s usual suppliers.
Potential to save on materials
If you are a confident buyer and can access good deals, fit only lets you shop around. Sales, clearance ranges, and online suppliers can offer significant savings on units. You are not locked into one supplier’s range or pricing.
Works well with flat-pack kitchens
IKEA kitchens are the most common fit only project we see. The IKEA kitchen planner lets you design your layout, the units are well made for the price, and you can collect or have them delivered on your own schedule. The missing piece is a skilled fitter to assemble and install them properly, which is exactly what a fit only service provides.
You already have a kitchen purchased
Sometimes the decision has already been made. You might have bought a kitchen from Howdens, Wren, or an online supplier before finding a fitter. In that case, fit only is the obvious route. A good fitter will install any kitchen from any supplier to the same standard.
Supply and Fit: The Drawbacks
Less control over the specific product
With supply and fit, the fitter typically works with a set range of suppliers. You may have fewer options for unit styles, finishes, or handle designs compared to browsing every supplier yourself. That said, most fitters work with multiple suppliers and can accommodate a wide range of tastes and budgets.
Harder to compare quotes
When quotes include both materials and labour, it can be harder to compare prices between companies. One fitter might quote higher-quality units while another quotes budget units, and the total price alone does not tell you which is better value. Always ask for a breakdown of materials and labour separately, even with a supply and fit quote.
Fit Only: The Drawbacks
You manage the supply chain
With fit only, you are responsible for ordering the right products, checking deliveries, managing returns for damaged items, and making sure everything arrives before the fitter is due to start. A missing panel, wrong-sized unit, or delayed worktop can stall the entire installation. If the fitter arrives and a critical component is missing, you may lose your installation slot while waiting for a replacement.
Measuring mistakes are yours to own
If you design and order the kitchen yourself and the measurements are wrong, the cost of replacement units falls on you. A professional fitter who supplies the kitchen takes responsibility for measurements and ordering accuracy. This is one of the most common issues we see with self-supplied kitchens, particularly with complex layouts.
Appliance and worktop compatibility
Not all worktops fit all unit configurations, and not all appliances fit all housing units. If you order a 600mm integrated dishwasher housing but your dishwasher needs a 598mm opening, things get complicated on installation day. A fitter who supplies the kitchen checks all of this in advance. With fit only, it is your responsibility.
Coordination is on you
If your kitchen project involves plumbing, electrics, tiling, and flooring as well as the unit installation, you need to coordinate those trades alongside the fitter. With supply and fit through a company like ours, we manage the schedule across all trades through our all-trades service. With fit only, you may need to arrange plumbing and electrical work separately.
Which Option Suits You Best?
There is no universally right answer. The best choice depends on your circumstances.
Supply and fit is usually better if you:
- Want one company to manage the full project
- Do not have strong preferences about a specific kitchen brand
- Value convenience and coordination over maximum product control
- Are combining the kitchen with other work such as flooring or a wider property renovation
- Want trade pricing and professional design input
Fit only is usually better if you:
- Have already purchased or chosen a specific kitchen
- Want to buy from IKEA, a specific online supplier, or a showroom your fitter does not work with
- Are confident managing deliveries, checking orders, and coordinating timelines
- Have a straightforward kitchen layout with minimal plumbing or electrical changes
- Want to separate material and labour costs for budget control
What to Ask Your Kitchen Fitter
Whichever route you choose, ask these questions before committing:
- Is the quote fixed or estimated? A fixed quote protects you from price creep. An estimate can change.
- What is included in the labour? Does it cover worktop cutting, appliance connection, tiling, and decoration? Or just the unit fitting?
- Do you coordinate plumbing and electrics? If the answer is no, you will need to arrange those trades separately.
- What happens if a unit arrives damaged? With supply and fit, the fitter should handle replacements. With fit only, confirm who is responsible.
- Can I see examples of previous work? Any experienced fitter should have completed projects to show you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I supply some items and have the fitter supply others? Yes. A common approach is to buy the kitchen units yourself but have the fitter supply and fit the worktops. Worktop templating and cutting requires experience and specialist tools, so this is often worth leaving to the professional even on a fit only project.
Is fit only cheaper than supply and fit? Not always. Fit only saves on the fitter’s markup on materials, but you lose trade pricing and take on the risk of ordering errors. In some cases, supply and fit works out at a similar total cost with less hassle. For a detailed comparison of kitchen costs, see our kitchen cost guide.
Do you fit IKEA kitchens? Yes. IKEA kitchen fitting is one of our most popular fit only services. We assemble and install IKEA METOD kitchens regularly and know the system well. Just confirm your kitchen order and delivery date and we will schedule the install.
Can you fit a kitchen I bought from Howdens? Yes. Howdens kitchens are designed for trade fitting, and we install them frequently. Howdens will deal directly with your chosen fitter on trade pricing, so in many cases it makes sense to go supply and fit through us with Howdens units rather than buying retail yourself.
What if my kitchen is part of a bigger renovation? If your kitchen is part of a wider project involving bathrooms, flooring, or structural changes, a supply and fit approach with a company that manages all trades is usually the most efficient route. It keeps the whole project under one schedule and one point of contact. See our home renovation guide for more on coordinating multi-room projects.
Get Advice on Your Kitchen Project
If you are still unsure which route is right for your kitchen, get in touch. We will talk through your options honestly and recommend the approach that makes the most sense for your specific situation. We offer both supply and fit and fit only kitchen installation in Falkirk and across Central Scotland.
Call us on 07727 488881 or fill in the quote form to start the conversation.