Fitted wardrobes and built-in storage: costs and what to expect

Fitted wardrobes and built-in storage are among the more significant carpentry projects most homeowners take on, both because of the cost involved and because, done well, they can genuinely transform how a room works. Understanding typical prices and material choices before you start getting quotes makes it much easier to compare what different carpenters are actually offering.

On cost, fitted wardrobes cover a wide range depending on size, materials and complexity. Overall, prices commonly run from around £1,500 up to £7,000 or more, with an average figure cited around £2,600 across UK pricing guides. Broken down by type, a standard three-door fitted wardrobe averages roughly £3,250, a six-door version around £4,800, and sliding-door wardrobes — often chosen to save floor space in smaller rooms — average around £3,700. A two-section custom-built wardrobe averages roughly £3,400. If you'd rather think in terms of price per linear metre of wardrobe run, expect around £600-£900 for a quality mid-range fit, or £900-£1,500-plus for fully bespoke joinery with custom internal fittings. At the budget end, a single made-to-measure unit can start from around £800, while a luxury double-height suite from a national supplier can run to £10,000 or beyond.

Material choice is one of the biggest factors behind these price differences, and it's worth understanding the practical trade-offs rather than just the cost. MDF (medium-density fibreboard) is generally the most affordable option, and because it has no visible grain or seams, it takes a smooth, flat painted finish extremely well — this is why it's a common choice for wardrobe doors and internal carcasses that will be painted rather than left as bare wood. Its main drawbacks are that it doesn't hold screws quite as securely as timber or plywood, and standard MDF can swell and become permanently damaged if it gets wet, so a moisture-resistant grade is worth specifying anywhere near a bathroom or an exterior wall prone to condensation.

Plywood, built from thin layers of real wood glued and pressed together, sits in the middle on price and offers a genuinely useful combination of strength and moisture resistance. Its layered construction makes it a strong choice for load-bearing shelving and cabinet carcasses, and it copes with occasional damp far better than standard MDF. It also takes wood stain more successfully than MDF, if you'd like to see some grain through the finish rather than a flat painted look.

Solid wood is the most expensive of the three, and for good reason: it's genuinely the most durable option, ages well, and offers a natural, unique grain that engineered boards can't replicate. Its main practical consideration is that solid timber expands and contracts slightly with changes in humidity, so a well-fitted solid wood wardrobe needs to allow for that natural movement, particularly in a room without consistent heating. For most fitted wardrobes, a mixed approach is common in practice — plywood or solid wood used for structural carcasses and shelving that need to bear weight, with painted MDF doors or panels for a clean, contemporary finish.

The process itself typically starts with a home visit and survey, where the carpenter measures the space precisely, accounting for any uneven walls, sloped ceilings or skirting that the design will need to work around — this is a step worth taking seriously, since a good fit against real, imperfect walls is what separates a genuinely "fitted" wardrobe from a flat-pack unit pushed into an alcove. From there, you'll typically discuss door style (hinged or sliding), material and finish, and any internal fittings you want, such as hanging rails, shelving, drawer units or shoe racking. Depending on the carpenter and the design's complexity, the carcasses and doors may then be built off-site in a workshop and delivered ready to install, or built up largely in place — either way, final fitting on-site usually involves securing carcasses to the wall studs or masonry, hanging and aligning doors, and fitting any soft-close hinges or running gear, followed by a final snagging check to make sure everything opens, closes and sits flush as it should.

Because this is a significant, semi-permanent piece of work, it's worth getting a written, itemised quote from more than one carpenter, specifying the exact materials, finish and internal fittings included, so you're comparing like-for-like rather than just a headline figure.

Frequently asked questions