How much deposit should you pay a kitchen fitter?
Getting the payment structure right protects you if anything goes wrong, and it costs nothing. Here is what is normal, how to pay in stages, and the red flags that mean walk away.
A modest deposit to secure the booking and order materials is normal for a kitchen, commonly around 10 to 25 percent of the total; be cautious of any request for a much larger share, or the full amount, before work starts. The safest structure is a smaller deposit, then staged payments tied to visible progress, a payment on delivery of the units, a milestone payment during the fit for larger jobs, and a final payment on satisfactory completion, ideally holding back a small retention until snags are fixed. Pay the deposit and larger amounts by credit card where you can, because Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the card provider jointly liable for credit-card payments between £100 and £30,000 if the work is not done. Get the schedule in writing, tie payments to milestones not dates, and treat a demand for most of the money up front, or cash only with no invoice, as a reason to pause. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
A sensible payment structure
- A deposit to secure the booking and order materials. A modest deposit is normal, commonly around 10 to 25 percent; be cautious of anything much larger before work starts.
- A payment on delivery of the units and materials, once they arrive and you can see them.
- A payment at an agreed milestone during the fit, for a larger job, tied to visible progress rather than a date.
- A final payment on satisfactory completion, ideally holding back a small amount until any snags are put right.
How to pay safely
- Pay the deposit and larger sums by credit card where you can: Section 75 protects credit-card payments between £100 and £30,000 if the work is not carried out.
- Tie every payment to progress you can see, not to a calendar date.
- Get the payment schedule in writing before work starts, as part of the contract or quote.
- Keep a small retention, for example the last 5 to 10 percent, until snags are resolved.
Payment red flags
- A request for a large share of the total up front, or the full amount before work starts.
- Cash only, or a discount for paying cash with no invoice and no VAT.
- Pressure to pay quickly to "hold the price" or "secure a slot".
- No written payment schedule, or payments tied to dates rather than milestones.
The one rule to remember
Never let the money get ahead of the work. As long as what you have paid is roughly in line with what has been done, you keep the leverage to put things right. A reputable fitter is comfortable with that; anyone who is not is telling you something.
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Find a vetted kitchen specialistDeposits and payments: common questions
How much deposit should I pay a kitchen fitter?
A modest deposit to secure the booking and order materials is normal, commonly around 10 to 25 percent of the total. Be cautious of a request for a much larger share, or the full amount, before work starts. The safest structure is a smaller deposit followed by staged payments tied to visible progress, with a final payment, and ideally a small retention, on satisfactory completion.
Is it normal to pay a kitchen fitter in stages?
Yes, and it is the safer approach for both sides. A typical structure is a deposit, a payment on delivery of the units and materials, a milestone payment during the fit for larger jobs, and a final payment on completion. Tie each stage to progress you can see rather than to a date, and keep the schedule in writing as part of the contract.
How can I pay a kitchen fitter safely?
Pay the deposit and larger amounts by credit card where possible, because Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the card provider jointly liable for credit-card payments between £100 and £30,000 if the work is not done. Agree the payment schedule in writing, tie payments to milestones, and hold back a small retention until any snags are fixed. Avoid paying large sums in cash with no invoice.
Should I ever pay a kitchen fitter in full up front?
No. Paying the full amount, or a very large share, before work starts removes your leverage if something goes wrong and is a common warning sign. A reputable fitter expects a modest deposit and staged payments as the work progresses. If someone insists on most or all of the money up front, treat it as a reason to pause and ask why.
This is general information for UK homeowners, not legal or financial advice. Section 75 applies to credit-card purchases between £100 and £30,000. Last reviewed June 2026.
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