Magnet vs Howdens — Which Kitchen Should You Choose?

Two Strong Options, Two Different Routes

Magnet and Howdens are both well-regarded kitchen suppliers in the UK, and both supply rigid, pre-assembled carcasses that any experienced fitter can install efficiently. The most significant practical difference between them is not product quality — it is how you access them. Magnet is consumer-facing; Howdens is trade-only. Understanding this distinction is the key to knowing which is the right choice for your situation.

Access and Supply Route

Magnet operates over 200 showrooms across the UK. As a homeowner, you can visit your nearest Magnet showroom, work with a designer to plan your kitchen, and place an order directly. There is no need for a trade account, no intermediary, and no requirement to use Magnet's installation service. You buy the kitchen; you arrange installation separately if you prefer.

Howdens operates through a network of over 700 trade depots but sells exclusively to account holders — builders, joiners, and kitchen fitters who have an established trade relationship with their local depot. As a homeowner, you cannot walk into a Howdens depot and buy a kitchen. You need a fitter or builder with a Howdens account to source and order on your behalf. For homeowners already working with a fitter, this is not a problem in practice — your fitter handles everything. But it does mean you cannot access Howdens pricing or product independently.

Unit Quality

Both Magnet and Howdens supply rigid, pre-assembled carcasses of good quality. Having fitted both brands extensively over thirty years, I find quality broadly comparable at equivalent price points. Both use particleboard carcasses with factory-glued and assembled joints. Both supply durable drawer runners, soft-close hinges, and consistent dimensions that make fitting straightforward.

Where I would give Howdens a slight edge is in the consistency and robustness of its trade-facing ranges — the Tewkesbury and Greenwich in particular have a well-established reputation among fitters for reliable construction and consistent tolerances. Magnet's quality is also good, but the brand positions itself slightly more as a design-led consumer product, which can mean more variation in how well specific ranges handle the practicalities of installation.

Range and Styles

Howdens has a broader overall range than Magnet, spanning multiple price tiers from entry-level through to premium painted ranges. This gives fitters significant flexibility when matching client budgets and style requirements. Magnet's range is more focused — mid to premium — with a particular strength in contemporary and painted shaker styles.

For homeowners with a specific style requirement, it is worth checking both brands' ranges in detail. Magnet's showroom presentation makes it easier to visualise how a kitchen will look in the room; Howdens' ranges are typically more familiarly presented through a fitter who can bring samples or show previous work.

Installation Experience

From an installation standpoint, Magnet and Howdens are functionally identical. Both supply rigid units with standard UK kitchen dimensions and standard fixing systems. Both install at similar speeds — a standard kitchen of fifteen to twenty units typically takes three to six days with either brand. There is no meaningful installation advantage to either.

One practical advantage of Howdens is the density and reliability of its depot network. If a component is damaged on delivery or found to be missing on installation morning, a replacement can often be collected from the local depot the same day. Magnet's delivery and replacement process is more centralised, which can occasionally mean a longer wait if something needs to be resolved.

Pricing

Magnet prices are consumer retail prices, though the brand runs frequent promotions. Howdens prices are trade prices — typically more competitive than consumer retail for equivalent specifications, but only accessible through a fitter or builder with an account. A fitter who sources a Howdens kitchen on your behalf will apply their own margin; a transparent fitter will show you the trade price and the mark-up separately.

For homeowners who can access Howdens through a fitter, the trade pricing often represents better value per unit than Magnet's consumer pricing at equivalent specification. This is not always the case — Magnet's promotions can be significant — but as a general rule, trade supply is more cost-effective than consumer retail for the same product quality.

Which Should You Choose?

If you want to manage the kitchen buying process yourself and visit a showroom to see the products in person, Magnet is the straightforward choice. If you are working with a fitter who has a Howdens account and is happy to source and co-ordinate a Howdens kitchen on your behalf, you may get better value with Howdens — particularly if your fitter is well-established with their local depot and secures good trade pricing.

The decision between the two should not significantly affect the quality of the finished installation. Both are excellent products when well fitted. Invest the same care in choosing your fitter as you invest in choosing your kitchen brand.