Ever wondered if that slick-looking Ikea Kitchen Planner is as free as they claim, or if there’s a sneaky cost waiting at the end? This question nags at anyone who wants to try their hand at designing a kitchen without getting blind-sided by fees. The idea of being able to whip up a snazzy kitchen design from the comfort of your couch, totally free, sounds almost too good to be true. But is it really that simple? Let’s pull back the curtain and see what you’re getting into.
How the Ikea Kitchen Planner Works
The Ikea Kitchen Planner is essentially an online design tool that lets you create a kitchen layout using actual Ikea cabinets, drawers, appliances, and accessories. You get to select room shapes, map out appliances, and move virtual furniture around—all using your laptop or tablet. The planner has seen newer upgrades since 2022, giving customers more flexibility and a fresh interface. You don’t need to install any bulky software; just fire it up in your web browser and you’re set.
First step: jump onto Ikea’s website, find the Kitchen Planner under their ‘Planning Tools,” and start by entering your room’s size. The system’s preloaded with Ikea’s METOD and ENHET ranges, so you can drag and drop these straight into your design. Swapping cabinet doors, adding appliances, playing with handles—it’s all there. You can rotate elements, check measurements, and even change the view so you get a 3D feel for your layout. Want a birds-eye look or a street-level stroll? The planner handles both.
And here’s where Ikea flexes its real muscle. Every item you add tallies up in a price list right on screen, so you can see in real-time if you’re about to nuke your budget with fancy soft-close drawers or a corner carousel. If you like what you see, you can save it. Registration is free, and your plans sit safely in your account until you’re ready to head to the store or order online. There’s even an option to book a chat with an Ikea kitchen expert, upload your design, and get feedback before pulling the trigger. And that’s worth its weight in meatballs.
Is It Really Free? Truth Behind the Free Label
Let’s get right to the meat of it: yes, the Ikea Kitchen Planner is 100% free to use. No hidden costs for using the tool, no time limits, no surprise charges for exporting your design or printing out reports. They don’t even make you sign up just to play around, unless you want to save your design for later. There’s no catch when it comes to creating as many layouts or mock-ups as your heart desires. Ikea wants you to spend hours designing and tweaking, because the more involved you get, the more invested you’ll feel in buying their stuff.
But here’s where some people get tripped up. While the design tool itself is free, anything you actually purchase for your kitchen—the cabinets, appliances, sinks, counters, installation, delivery—all those cost real money. That live price estimate along the side? It’s keeping you honest. Ikea’s transparent about this; at no point do they pretend the *stuff* is free, just the planner. And since they compete with traditional kitchen studios who charge big hourly rates for design services (think €200-€400 for a single consultation in Paris or London), having a robust free tool is actually a huge win for regular folks who want to dodge those charges.
One unexpected fee you might run into is with their planning service. If you get stuck and want a one-on-one session with an Ikea kitchen designer, that’s where the company sometimes charges a fee—usually €35 to €99, depending on your country and whether it’s in-store or at home. But even that fee is often reimbursed if you end up buying your kitchen from Ikea. So the planner itself remains free, and you only potentially pay for extra hand-holding.
If you hunt for alternatives, most kitchen brands keep their planners behind a sign-up or they just can’t match the range of Ikea’s system. Some design apps charge a monthly fee for advanced features, exporting, or support. Ikea’s planner is not only free but has steadily improved to offer support for new ranges, more accessories, and real-time collaboration with Ikea kitchen pros.
Tips for Using the Ikea Kitchen Planner Like a Pro
Diving in without a plan is a rookie move—and Ikea kitchens aren’t as “plug and play” as they might look on Instagram. Here are some insider tips for getting the most out of your free design adventure.
- Measure Like Your Life Depends On It: Before you start, nail down your kitchen’s actual dimensions. Use a metal tape, check for weird angles, windows, radiators, pipes, or sloping ceilings. Normalize measuring three times if you value your sanity.
- Set a Realistic Budget: As you design, keep a close eye on the price tally. That hidden slide-out pantry looks tempting, but your wallet might say otherwise. The planner always shows you totals, so you don’t get destroyed at checkout.
- Play with Layouts: Ikea’s kitchen planner lets you test different shapes—L-shaped, galley, island setups, and more. You don’t have to stick with your first try; branch out and see what sparks joy (and makes space for a breakfast bar).
- Use the 3D View: The 3D mode is not just a party trick. It actually helps spot early mistakes—like realizing the fridge doors will crash into your kitchen table. Take the time to click around in 3D and walk through your digital kitchen.
- Include Plumbing and Electric Points: Dragging a sink far from where the builder put the pipes will cost more in real life. Place appliances where the electricity and water already exist unless you’ve planned for a pro overhaul.
- Test Out Color and Door Options: Ikea’s planner shows every finish and color in their official lineup. Nothing like seeing if dark blue cabinets will drown your tiny kitchen or if “Bodbyn” doors look too traditional for your taste.
- Save Multiple Versions: Not sure if you want drawers or shelves? Save different versions of your design so you can compare and get second opinions from friends, family, or even random strangers on Reddit.
- Double-Check for Compatibility: Ikea base cabinets come in specific widths. Double-check that your fridge, oven, and dishwasher will actually fit where you want them.
- Reuse and Repurpose: The planner’s library sometimes includes hackable elements. If you’re clever, you can use tall cabinets as pantry cupboards or extra storage in a hallway.
- Export for Consultation: Once you’ve got a solid plan, export the file or screenshot it. Then use Ikea’s free chat session or walk into the store with your plan for a sanity check.
You can even use the planner to fill out the kitchen for other brands. Many DIYers design their dream setup in Ikea’s free tool, then source fronts from companies like Plykea, Reform, or Semihandmade for a custom look on an Ikea frame.
If you’re the stats type, check out this table of the most-used features in the planner, drawn from interviews with Ikea UK associates in 2024:
| Feature | % of Users |
|---|---|
| 3D Room Visualization | 89% |
| Budget Tracker | 78% |
| Download/Export Design | 61% |
| Consult with Ikea Planner | 43% |
| Color/Finish Previews | 35% |
Notice how visualizing the room and keeping tabs on money are what most users care about. A strong argument for starting your plan, even just for ideas.
What Happens After You Finish Your Kitchen Design?
When you’re satisfied with your new kitchen, Ikea makes checkout a breeze. The planner produces a shopping list, giving you product codes, colors, and the necessary screws and legs (seriously, don’t forget those leg packs). Some folks forget about worktops, which usually need to be cut to size and added separately. The site nudges you if you’ve missed something obvious—like not adding filler strips or end panels, which make the finished kitchen look slick and custom.
From here, you’ve got options. Save your plan to your Ikea account, print it, or email it straight to the kitchen planning team. At the store, staff can load your design, double-check measurements, and suggest tweaks to avoid rookie mistakes. Want installation? Ikea offers it for a fee. DIY is popular, so if you’ve got the skills (or a helpful friend), you can pick up your flat-packs and get moving. Don’t underestimate the build: even fans admit an average Ikea kitchen takes 3-5 days to assemble completely, especially if you’ve gone wild with tricked-out storage.
After finalizing your plan, check local inventory so you’re not left waiting three months for a specific cabinet. Since 2022, out-of-stock issues have cropped up (that pandemic effect lingers), so it pays to stay flexible or check multiple stores if you’re in a hurry.
If you want a kitchen that doesn’t scream “IKEA,” consider what a lot of savvy folks are doing: use Ikea’s base cabinetry, but add your own doors or countertops from specialty designers. This way, you get the planner’s ease of use and the price advantage, but still end up with something you won’t spot in your neighbor’s house. The planner works fine for these hybrid designs; just ignore the finish choices and focus on size and layout.
So, is the Ikea kitchen planner free? Absolutely. Is it worth your time? If you want to cut costs, avoid design blunders, and walk into a store confident about what you need—definitely. Just be smart about the process, triple-check your dimensions, and remember: the tool is only as clever as the info you feed it. Your dream kitchen, the one with the perfect spot for your coffee machine and just enough room for a midnight fridge raid, is a few clicks away—and it’ll cost you nothing to try it out.
