IKEA vs Magnet kitchens?

[Alphacentaurius]

Hello! We've invited Magnet kitchen designer to get a quote for our new kitchen; it became 12,000 just for the cabinets.

Then I went to IKEA kitchen design tool and for same amount/size of cabinets it costs 3,000 for the cabinets.

I checked that the cabinet structure and doors in Magnet and IKEA are done from same materials. There are 9 low, 3 wall mounted and 2 tall cabinets altogether.

So do Magnet charge 9,000 just for assembling them or there is something that I am missing here?

Thanks in advance...

I like my IKEA kitchen and would have one again.
Big price difference!

I have had both a magnet kitchen and an IKEA one in the last 8 years (different houses-i put them in).
Honestly, there was nothing in the quality. They were v different style kitchens so it's harder to compare. But I honestly wouldn't pay magnet prices again. I get lots of compliments in my IKEA kitchen! I did in the magnet one too to be fair .

I'm sure someone will come along and give you information that states magnet are superior in what they are made of or something. But I can't tell the difference

Don't get a Magnet installer - the fucker didn't even use a spirit level - took me nearly two years to get someone to admit they did a shit job and fix the kitchen. I would get a really good carpenter to put in an Ikea Kitchen - the carpentry is everything.

Similar to you, OP! Price difference is staggering, and both are basically chipboard cupboards with plastic-wrapped doors. I just can’t see where the extra money goes with Magnet.

We’ve decided to go with Ikea but will buy handles and appliances elsewhere.

Thanks @Saz12! Are you going to call IKEA people to assembly and install the cupboards (as they arrive flat packed)? I spoke with some builders and they are reluctant to install IKEA kitchens, looks like they don't like the idea they arrive flat packed and not assembled. I am also suspicious about IKEA assembly people, I would rather find special people who will just assembly the cupboards and separate builders who will hang them.

@Alphacentaurius I have always used my own fitters (they are a rare beast the ones that will do an ikea install) but a competent carpenter will do. I renovate properties so buy a lot of kitchens but only use IKEA. for my own kitchen at my private house using a local chap was 1/3rd of the cost of the quote an ikea team installer. And for that I got cupboards cut down to fit etc. I sourced my own marble, appliances, splashback quooker etc. once you know what you’d like get all your measurements (don’t forget ceiling heights and positioning of the doors and windows in the room etc) and then visit a store around 2pm midweek - everyone else is either on the school run or not yet finished work. I generally can persuade someone to draw it on the computer for me 😉

I hadn’t realised difficulty in getting a fitter for Ikea kitchen. DH and I will probably do the cabinetry ourselves, then get a plumber and electrician for the scary bits! We’re going to get the acrylic worktop which needs specialist fitters anyway.

My brother in law is an architect and he really rates Ikea cabinetry for durability. Between Magnet and Ikea I would always choose Ikea.

@Alphacentaurius Have you checked out DIY Kitchens? You can price the same thing directly on their website. Quality is good and units come pre-assembled.

Seriously unimpressed with my Magnet kitchen. It's only 4 years old and most of the doors are chipped (I have honestly not been rough with them). Poorly fitted too.
Not a patch on my previous Howdens kitchen.

second take a look at DIY kitchens their cabinets come ready assembled ours is 18 months old now and looks like its brand new and we went for gloss units ours is four wall and five base units and it came to £3000 but that was a sink top and worktops as well

We have an IKEA kitchen and I love it. 7 years old and as good as the day it was installed, it also came with a 25 guarantee. I loved the way that the price you see is the price you pay, and the endless options. We used their fitters, had a quartz worktop and the whole thing (incl fitting and appliances) was less than £10k.

We did buy our own appliances though, as I wanted Siemens.

Another recommendation for diykitchens. Excellent quality and customer service. If you go for their solid wood painted range, they will colour match the colour of your choice. Only drawback might be their long lead times.

Magnet kitchens also come flatpacked unless you pay the extra for them to build the units - this was how it was when we had our kitchen 3 years ago. Magnet must have special offers on every so often as our kitchen was cheaper than wickes, b&q and IKEA.

We just had a quote from magnets for a medium size kitchen and they quoted us £66.272 minus promotion of £28.860 which comes out at £37.456 which does not include work tops and fitting !!!

We’ve just had a DIY Kitchen installed in a development, it worked out so much cheaper than Howdens etc and seems very solid and, as ready-built, quick to and cheap to install. 5k including sink/tap, quartz surfaces.