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John Lewis kitchens review
We put John Lewis kitchens through our rigorous lab tests and also surveyed Which? members, including those who had bought kitchens from John Lewis.
All John Lewis kitchens come fully assembled with soft-close hinges as standard.
We assessed its Glue & Dowel kitchen units in our lab, but as of May 2024, they are not taking new orders on their fitted kitchens.
The John Lewis website says: 'We’re presently finalising our brand new range of Fitted Kitchens. We’ll update the website as soon as we’re able to take new orders.'
To see how John Lewis compares with other leading brands we reviewed, discover the best and worst kitchen brands according to our analysis
John Lewis kitchens overall score
Our overall scores combine expert lab assessment results and customer survey data from real owners.
Log in now or join Which? to reveal the results for John Lewis.
| Unit | Overall score | Lab assessment score | Brand customer score | Customer service | How well the kitchen lasted | Visit retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glue & Dowel | John Lewis kitchens |
Table notes: The overall score is based on the lab assessment of the units (60% weighting) and feedback from our customer survey (40% weighting), which incorporates the customer score, plus ratings for the level of customer service and how well the kitchen lasted. The customer survey was conducted online in February 2023 among 4,378 Which? members who have bought a new kitchen in the past 10 years. John Lewis sample size: 110.
We tested 19 kitchen ranges from various brands, giving them an overall score based on their performance in the lab and customer ratings.
The best kitchen we assessed achieved an overall score of 81%. Our five best kitchen suppliers all scored over 75%.
At the bottom end of the table, our lowest-scoring kitchen earned 59%. In fact, eight kitchens from four brands all got scores of less than 70%.
For advice on creating a stylish, functional kitchen, read our guide to kitchen planning
John Lewis kitchens lab assessment score
Our expert lab tests are specially designed to test how kitchens will stand up to everyday use.
Log in now or join Which? to reveal the results.
| Unit | Lab assessment score | Quality of units | Loading shelves | Drawers and runners | Hinges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glue & Dowel |
Table notes: Lab assessment scores are calculated based on a kitchen’s performance in 19 tests across four key areas - quality of units, loading shelves, drawers and runners and hinges. Ratings are combined to create an overall assessment score.
Our top scorer in the lab achieved an overall score of 89%, while the bottom scorer achieved just 54% – and failed one of our tests.
Find out how we test kitchens in our lab.
John Lewis kitchens customer survey score
We spoke to 110 Which? members with a John Lewis kitchen to find out how real owners rate their kitchens.
Log in now or join Which? to find out what John Lewis customers told us.
| Customer survey category | Scores and ratings |
|---|---|
| Customer score | |
| Customer service | |
| Quality of cupboards, doors, drawers and worktops | |
| Quality of finish | |
| How well cupboards, doors, drawers and worktops lasted | |
| Value for money |
Table notes: Based on the responses of 110 John Lewis customers in an online survey of 4,378 Which? members conducted in January and February 2023. Customer score is a combined score based on customer ratings of satisfaction with their kitchen and likelihood of recommending to a friend. Customers also rated other aspects of the service, shown as star ratings.
Our top overall scorer achieved an outstanding score of 86% in our customer survey.
At the other end of the table, some of the brands we assessed scored less than 65% overall – including some two-star ratings.
We also used our reader survey to find the 7 things people regret most about their kitchen design
How to buy a John Lewis kitchen
As of May 2024, John Lewis is not taking new orders on their fitted kitchens.
The website says: 'We’re presently finalising our brand new range of Fitted Kitchens. We’ll update the website as soon as we’re able to take new orders.'
The John Lewis buying process for kitchens typically runs as follows:
- Attend a design appointment - Book an in-store or online appointment to design your kitchen via the John Lewis website
- Measure your kitchen - You can do this yourself or have a member of the John Lewis team do this for you.
- Finalise your design (if necessary)- Once you have your measurements, you can choose the final configuration of your kitchen.
- Organise installation - You can do this yourself, use John Lewis service, or book your own trader.
John Lewis design service
You can choose between an in-store or virtual appointment to plan your kitchen. Both are free and last an hour.
During your appointment, you'll discuss style, function and your budget. You'll also get advice on how to measure your space and how to start the planning process.
A kitchen planner can visit your home if you wish. When you know what you want, you'll speak to a kitchen planner who will design your kitchen.
John Lewis doesn't offer online planning software.
John Lewis kitchen installation
Fitting a John Lewis kitchen yourself
John Lewis kitchens arrive fully assembled. The company does not recommend that you install the kitchen yourself.
Does John Lewis install kitchens?
Yes, an optional fitting service is available at an extra cost. It's not carried out by John Lewis installers, but is organised by the company.
You can choose your own installer if you prefer – use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable kitchen fitter near you.
How much does it cost to fit a John Lewis kitchen?
To find out how much the average kitchen installation costs in 2024, we consulted the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) database.
They estimate labour rates based on the current Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council wage agreement and a model of the average kitchen.
They told us that the total cost of labour should be 20-30% of your total spend. Fitting a bespoke kitchen costs 20-35% more than fitting a standard kitchen.
Log in now to or join Which? find out how much you can expect to spend on labour when renovating your kitchen
House type (floor size) | Number of units | Standard kitchen | Bespoke kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terraced (8sqm) | 8 | ||
| Semi-detached (15sqm) | 12 | ||
| Detached (24sqm) | 16 |
Table notes: Prices includes the cost of stripping your old kitchen, fitting your cabinets and finishing the kitchen. Prices also include VAT. Data copyright RICS 2023, reproduced with permission. Data is correct as of December 2023.
We recommend that you always get at least three quotes from different traders before you start any job, and get a fixed price contract if possible (this means the prices can not go up expect in pre-agreed circumstances).
Which? members can see a full breakdown of how much a new kitchen costs in 2024, including for labour, kitchen islands and worktops.
See our guide to how to work with your trader to find out more money-saving tips
John Lewis kitchen ranges and unit sizes
According to the John Lewis website, they are currently finalising their new fitted kitchen ranges.
Previously, the brand offered ten kitchen ranges in classic, shaker and modern designs.
Unit sizes will be confirmed when John Lewis finalise their new ranges.
John Lewis kitchen guarantees
John Lewis offers a 25-year guarantee on its cabinets and a 10-year guarantee on doors and fittings. There's also a two-year guarantee on workmanship across all ranges.
Find out more at johnlewis.com
This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved