An interior fit-out in London costs roughly £600 to £5,000 per square metre in 2026, depending on specification. A light residential fit-out is about £600-£1,000 per square metre; a standard design-and-fit-out is £1,200-£2,000; a high-end scheme with bespoke joinery is £2,000-£3,500; and prime central London work runs £3,000-£5,000+. Commercial office fit-out is typically £550-£2,400 per square metre depending on whether it is Cat A or a fully fitted Cat B. All figures exclude VAT.
In This Guide
- Interior Fit-Out Cost at a Glance
- Fit-Out vs Refurbishment vs Renovation
- Residential Interior Fit-Out Cost
- Commercial and Office Fit-Out Cost
- Where the Money Goes
- What Drives Fit-Out Cost
- Joinery-Led Fit-Out: Our Approach
- Where Structural Work Fits
- How Long a Fit-Out Takes
- Frequently Asked Questions
Interior Fit-Out Cost at a Glance (2026 London Prices)
Interior fit-out cost is usually quoted per square metre, because that is how the scope scales. The table below is a 2026 London guide for residential schemes, excluding VAT, and assumes a finished shell: the structure, services and plastering are in place, and the fit-out covers joinery, finishes, flooring, decoration and the installation of kitchens and bathrooms.
| Fit-Out Level | Cost per m2 (London) | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Light / cosmetic | £600-£1,000 | Redecoration, new flooring, light joinery, refreshed fittings. Layout unchanged. |
| Standard design-and-fit-out | £1,200-£2,000 | New joinery, kitchen and bathroom installation, flooring, lighting, full decoration. |
| High-end | £2,000-£3,500 | Bespoke joinery throughout, premium finishes, feature lighting, integrated storage and media. |
| Prime central London / period | £3,000-£5,000+ | Fully bespoke joinery, natural stone, specialist finishes, panelling and heritage detailing. |
These bands match the figures in our house renovation costs guide, where joinery and finishes together typically account for 20% to 35% of a full project budget.
Fit-Out vs Refurbishment vs Renovation
These words are often used interchangeably, but they describe different scopes, and the difference matters for your budget.
- Fit-out turns a finished or stripped-back shell into a usable, finished interior: joinery, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, decoration. It is the interior layer.
- Refurbishment upgrades an existing, occupied interior, keeping much of what is there and improving the rest.
- Renovation is the whole job, often including structural work, new services and layout changes, with the fit-out as its final stage.
In commercial property you will also see Cat A and Cat B. A Cat A fit-out delivers a functional but blank space: raised floors, suspended ceilings, basic finishes and building services. A Cat B fit-out is the occupier layer on top: the joinery, meeting rooms, kitchens, branding and finishes that make the space specific to a business.
Residential Interior Fit-Out Cost
For homes, residential fit-out cost tracks the specification bands above. A standard London apartment fit-out of £1,200-£2,000 per square metre delivers new fitted joinery, a kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, lighting and full decoration to a good standard. A high-end scheme at £2,000-£3,500 per square metre is built around bespoke cabinetry, integrated storage, media walls and premium finishes. Prime central London and period properties sit at £3,000-£5,000 or more, where panelling, natural stone and heritage detailing drive the figure.
Most of a residential fit-out budget is joinery and finishes, which is where a studio like ours concentrates the value: wall panelling, fitted wardrobes, media walls, loft and eaves storage, and bespoke kitchens. For the kitchen element specifically, see our kitchen renovation cost guide.
Commercial and Office Fit-Out Cost
Commercial fit-out is quoted per square metre or per square foot. The figures below are a London market guide for 2026; the exact number depends heavily on specification, services and the building.
| Fit-Out Type | Cost per m2 | Cost per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Cat A (base build-out) | £550-£900 | £50-£85 |
| Cat B (occupier fit-out) | £800-£1,600 | £75-£150 |
| High-spec / premium | £1,600-£2,400 | £150-£220 |
We take on selected boutique commercial projects, such as studios, showrooms and hospitality spaces, where the joinery and finishes are the point. For large-scale corporate fit-out, a specialist main contractor is usually the better fit, and we are happy to say so.
Where the Money Goes
| Element | Share of a typical residential fit-out |
|---|---|
| Joinery, cabinetry and fitted furniture | 25% to 40% |
| Finishes, flooring and decoration | 15% to 25% |
| Kitchen and bathroom installation | 15% to 25% |
| Electrics, lighting and services | 10% to 18% |
| Design, management and contingency | 10% to 15% |
What Drives Fit-Out Cost
- Specification. Off-the-shelf joinery and standard finishes sit at the lower end; bespoke cabinetry, natural stone and panelling move you up.
- Bespoke joinery content. The more of the interior that is made to measure, the higher the figure and the better the fit.
- Services. New wiring, lighting design, heating and smart-home integration add cost beyond the visible finishes.
- Building and access. Period properties, upper floors and restricted London streets affect labour and delivery.
- Programme. Compressed timescales and out-of-hours work, common in commercial projects, carry a premium.
Joinery-Led Fit-Out: Our Approach
Noba and Stod is a bespoke joinery and furniture studio, so we approach a fit-out from the joinery outward. We design the fitted furniture, kitchens, media walls and storage first, build them in our own workshop from premium carcass materials with high-quality soft-close hardware, and coordinate one dedicated team of qualified trades through the finishes, flooring, electrics and decoration. Panels are shaped to follow the contours of walls in older London buildings, and metalwork options such as brass inlays or metal-framed doors are available as a premium detail.
You get a single point of contact from design to handover. If you are comparing studios, our guide to choosing a London joinery company sets out what to look for, and our interior fit-out service explains how we work.
Where Structural Work Fits
A fit-out assumes a sound shell. If your project also needs structural work, new layouts, extensions or a loft or basement built out, that is a build job in its own right. Our sister company houseUP handles the structure, services and shell, from extensions to loft conversions, and Noba and Stod delivers the joinery and fit-out inside it. Running both under one owner keeps the build and the bespoke interior joined up, with no gap between trades.
How Long a Fit-Out Takes
A light residential fit-out takes about 3 to 6 weeks on site. A standard apartment fit-out runs 6 to 12 weeks, and a high-end scheme with extensive bespoke joinery takes 10 to 16 weeks or more, plus lead time for made-to-measure cabinetry and specialist materials. Add 2 to 4 weeks of design and ordering at the start. Commercial programmes are often faster but more intensive, with work phased around a handover date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an interior fit-out cost in London in 2026?
An interior fit-out in London costs roughly £600 to £5,000 per square metre in 2026, excluding VAT. A light residential fit-out is about £600-£1,000 per square metre, a standard design-and-fit-out is £1,200-£2,000, a high-end scheme is £2,000-£3,500, and prime central London or period work runs £3,000-£5,000 or more. Commercial office fit-out is typically £550-£2,400 per square metre depending on the category and specification.
What is the difference between a fit-out and a renovation?
A fit-out turns a finished or stripped-back shell into a usable interior, covering joinery, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and decoration. A renovation is the whole job and often includes structural work, new services and layout changes, with the fit-out as its final stage. A refurbishment sits in between, upgrading an existing interior while keeping much of what is there.
What is the difference between a Cat A and Cat B fit-out?
A Cat A fit-out delivers a functional but blank commercial space, with raised floors, suspended ceilings, basic finishes and building services. A Cat B fit-out is the occupier layer on top: the joinery, meeting rooms, kitchens, branding and finishes that make the space specific to a business. Cat A typically costs £550-£900 per square metre and Cat B £800-£1,600, with premium schemes higher.
How much of a fit-out budget is joinery?
In a typical residential fit-out, joinery, cabinetry and fitted furniture account for roughly 25% to 40% of the budget, making it the largest single category. This is why a joinery-led studio can add so much value: the fitted furniture is where a space is made specific, functional and durable.
Do you take on commercial fit-out projects?
We take on selected boutique commercial projects, such as studios, showrooms and hospitality spaces, where bespoke joinery and finishes are the focus. For large-scale corporate fit-out, a specialist main contractor is usually the better fit, and we will tell you so rather than overstretch.
Who handles the structural work if my project needs it?
A fit-out assumes a sound shell. If your project also needs structural work, new layouts, an extension, or a loft or basement built out, our sister company houseUP handles the structure, services and build, and Noba and Stod delivers the joinery and fit-out inside it. Both run under one owner, so the build and the bespoke interior stay coordinated.
Last reviewed October 2026. Prices are a London market guide for planning and exclude VAT; we quote each project after a site visit.
