The honest answer is "it depends" — so here's exactly what it depends on, what a good quote includes, and how to compare prices fairly.
Anyone who quotes a firm price for bespoke joinery without seeing the space and discussing the design is guessing. The cost of a real project depends on the timber you choose, the size and complexity of the piece, the finish, and how it's fitted. Two fitted wardrobes the same width can be hundreds of pounds apart.
Rather than give you a number that turns out to be wrong, here's what actually drives the price — so when you do get a quote, you'll understand every line of it.
A painted softwood unit, a solid oak kitchen, and a walnut staircase are worlds apart in both material cost and the hours of work involved. Hardwoods cost more to buy and take more skill to machine, joint, and finish than softwoods or ply.
A single alcove bookcase is a different proposition to a full run of fitted wardrobes or a whole bespoke kitchen. More material, more joinery, and more time on site all feed into the price.
Simple, clean lines are quicker to build than curved work, intricate mouldings, glazed doors, or pieces that have to navigate awkward alcoves, sloped ceilings, and period features. The more involved the design, the more workshop time it takes.
How a piece is finished matters — hand-painting, oiling, lacquering, or traditional French polishing each take different time and materials. A high-end sprayed or polished finish is more involved than a single coat of oil.
Soft-close runners, quality hinges, handles, sliding-door gear, and integrated lighting all vary widely in cost. Better hardware lasts longer and works more smoothly, and it shows up in the quote.
Bespoke joinery is scribed to your actual walls and floors, which are rarely perfectly straight. Difficult access, removing old units, or making good around a fitting all add to the time on site.
Replicating an existing moulding, panel door, or the timber and finish of period features takes extra care and sometimes custom tooling — common in older and listed properties, and worth getting right.
Bespoke work starts with measuring, designing, and often drawings before anything is built. Where you supply a finished design or rough sketch versus asking us to develop one changes the design line of your quote.
Tell us about your project and we'll see the space, talk through the design, and give you a clear, no-obligation quote — every line explained.
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