Guides · Renovation
Kitchen renovation in Switzerland: costs and process
The kitchen is the most used room in the house — and the most expensive per square metre. All the more reason to put the money into the right decisions.
In this article I show you what a kitchen renovation costs in Switzerland, which single decision doubles or halves the budget, and how the project runs without you eating out of the microwave for weeks.
The one question that decides everything
Does the layout stay, or does it move? As long as the sink, hob and fridge stay where they are, the water, drainage, extraction and high-voltage lines stay put too — and the renovation is essentially a furniture swap with connection work. The moment the sink changes walls or a kitchen island arrives, the plumber, electrician and builders join in. That is no reason to hold back. It is the reason to decide it consciously.
| Scope | What gets done | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Replace fronts, worktop, appliances | CHF 15,000 to 30,000 |
| New kitchen, same layout | Completely new kitchen in the same place | CHF 25,000 to 45,000 |
| New layout | Relocate pipework, possibly open a wall, island | CHF 45,000 to 70,000 and up |
The big line items behind that: cabinetry and worktop make up about half, appliances a quarter, installation and building work the rest. Saving intelligently means solid Swiss standard modules paired with a good worktop and good fittings — not the other way round.
The open-plan kitchen: more than knocking through a wall
The most common wish in a kitchen renovation is opening it up to the living room. Then the wall question arises: if it is load-bearing, you need a structural engineer and a permit — what that costs depends on span and construction. Add the invisible issues: where does the extraction go? How much cooking noise can the living room take? An open-plan kitchen is a spatial concept, not a hole in the wall. This is exactly where an architect earns their fee — not in picking out cabinet fronts.
Good to know: replacing a kitchen without a change of use generally needs no permit in the Canton of Zurich. Cutting into load-bearing walls does — details in the article on building permits in the Canton of Zurich.
The process in four steps
- Concept. Layout, work paths, storage, light. First the floor plan, then the catalogue.
- Selection and ordering. Kitchen builder, appliances, worktop. Delivery times of six to twelve weeks set the schedule.
- Demolition and installation. Old kitchen out, adjustments to pipework and walls, new flooring where needed.
- Fitting. Cabinetry, worktop, appliances, connections. A kitchen in the same spot is fitted in one to two weeks — with a new layout, more like three to four.
The three most common mistakes
- Starting with the catalogue. Pick the fronts first and you rebuild your old kitchen, just prettier. First the work paths and the light, then the materials.
- Underestimating storage. The most beautiful kitchen loses against the reality of four shopping bags. Tall cabinets and deep drawers beat open shelving.
- Forgetting the temporary kitchen. Two to four weeks without a kitchen need organising: a hotplate, fridge and somewhere to wash up in a stopgap spot.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a kitchen last?
Appliances 10 to 15 years, cabinetry 20 to 30. Choose timeless fronts and swappable appliances now, and the next renovation becomes a minor job.
Is a kitchen renovation worth it before selling?
Rarely at full value. A well-kept, clean kitchen sells better than a new one in the seller's taste. Invest for your own living, not for the sales listing.
Renovate kitchen and bathroom at the same time?
If both are due: yes. The plumber, electrician and plasterer are already in the house, and the coordination happens once instead of twice. What to watch out for with the bathroom is in the article on renovating your bathroom.
Your kitchen could be more?
I design your kitchen as part of the living space — layout, light, materials, trades. The first consultation is free and without obligation.
