How Per Linear Metre Pricing Works for Fitted Furniture

Cost per linear metre is a way of pricing fitted furniture by the length of wall it covers. A joiner or supplier gives a rate for each metre of wardrobe, shelving or cabinetry along the wall, and the total is that rate multiplied by the length. It is a handy shorthand, and it is why so many people search for a per metre price before they ask for a quote. But the figure only tells part of the story, and used on its own it can be misleading.

At Craig Smith Joinery, we have spent 30 years designing and building bespoke fitted furniture, and we are often asked for a per metre price over the phone. This guide explains what a linear metre actually measures, how per metre pricing works, why the same rate can mean very different things, and how to use it sensibly when planning and comparing quotes.

What Is a Linear Metre?

A linear metre is a measurement of length in a straight line, one metre long. It says nothing about height or depth. In fitted furniture, it refers to the length along the wall that the furniture covers.

So a wardrobe that runs along a wall for four metres is four linear metres, whether it is a shallow cupboard or a deep one, and whether it is waist height or floor to ceiling. That is both its strength and its weakness. It is simple to measure and easy to talk about, but it ignores the other two dimensions that have a large effect on cost.

Why Joiners and Suppliers Quote Per Metre

Per metre pricing is common in the fitted furniture trade for good reasons.

• It gives customers a quick, easy way to compare options
• It is a convenient way to give a rough idea before a site visit
• Many fitted wardrobe, kitchen and storage projects run along straight walls
• It scales neatly, so a longer run costs proportionally more
• It helps with early budgeting and planning

For simple, standard projects, it can be a reasonable guide. The trouble starts when a per metre figure is treated as the final price for a project that is anything other than simple.

What a Per Metre Price Usually Assumes

Any per metre rate rests on a set of assumptions, and these are rarely stated in a quick conversation. Typically, a rate assumes:

• A standard height, often floor to ceiling in a regular room
• A standard depth, such as a typical wardrobe depth
• A straight, simple run with no awkward corners or angles
• A specific door style and finish
• A basic internal layout, such as hanging rails and a few shelves
• Normal access and a regular room with reasonably square walls

If your project matches these assumptions, the per metre rate may be quite close to the real cost. If it does not, the real cost can differ a great deal.

The Limits of Per Metre Pricing

A single per metre figure cannot capture everything that goes into a fitted furniture project. Here is where it falls short.

Height Is Ignored

A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe uses far more material than a waist-height cupboard, but both could be described in linear metres. Taller units also need more careful fitting and more door area.

Depth Is Ignored

A shallow shelving unit and a deep storage cupboard take up the same wall length, but use different amounts of material.

Complexity Is Ignored

A run with corners, steps, sloping ceilings, chimney breasts and radiators takes much longer than a straight run, even if the length is the same. Walls that need scribing to fit tightly add time that a simple rate does not reflect.

Internal Fittings Are Ignored

A wardrobe with drawers, pull-out trays, lighting and shoe storage is very different from one with a single rail, yet both may be priced per metre.

Finish and Materials Are Ignored

Solid timber doors, hand-painted finishes and premium hardware cost much more than basic alternatives, but the per metre label looks the same.

Site Conditions Are Ignored

Uneven walls, narrow stairs, upper floors and awkward access all change the time needed to fit the furniture.

For all of these reasons, a per metre price is best seen as a starting point, not a final answer.

What Pushes the Per Metre Rate Up or Down

Understanding the factors helps you see why two quotes with the same length can differ so much.

Most projects are a mix. A simple, straight run with a few high-quality features sits somewhere in the middle, while a complex, fully fitted room with premium finishes sits at the top.

Per Metre Cost by Type of Fitted Furniture

Different kinds of fitted furniture have very different typical per metre levels, because the amount of material and labour per metre differs a lot.

These are relative levels, not prices. They show why a per metre figure for one type of furniture cannot be applied to another. For a closer look at how kitchens are put together, see our guide to kitchen joinery.

A Worked Example: How a Per Metre Figure Becomes a Quote

To show how this works in practice, here is an illustration using an index instead of pounds. Imagine a base rate of 100 for each linear metre of a simple, floor-to-ceiling wardrobe with flat painted doors, rails and shelves. This is only an illustration, not a price.

The starting point: A four metre run at the base rate gives 4 x 100 = 400.

Adding upgrades:

• Shaker style doors instead of flat doors add 15 per metre, so 60 for four metres
• Two banks of drawers add 25 per metre across the drawer sections, say 50 in total
• Integrated lighting adds 10 per metre, so 40 for four metres
• A sloping ceiling section needing custom cuts adds 20 for the affected area

The adjusted total: 400 + 60 + 50 + 40 + 20 = 570.

The same four metre run now sits well above the simple base figure, even though the length has not changed. This is exactly why a headline per metre rate can be misleading. The real price comes from adding together the design, the materials, the fittings and the site conditions, not from multiplying length alone.

How to Use a Per Metre Figure Sensibly

A per metre figure is useful if you treat it with the right amount of care.

• Use it for early budgeting, to get a rough sense of scale
• Ask what the figure assumes in terms of height, depth, door style and fittings
• Do not treat it as a final price
• Ask for a full written quote after a site visit
• Compare quotes like for like, not by headline rate alone

If someone gives you a very low per metre figure, ask what is left out. If they give a high one, ask what is included.

Comparing Quotes Fairly

When you receive quotes, a per metre rate alone will not tell you which is better value. Compare these points.

• The height and depth the rate covers
• The materials specified for carcasses, doors and shelves
• The hardware, including hinges, runners and handles
• The finish and number of coats
• The internal fittings included
• Whether design, delivery and fitting are included
• What is excluded, such as decoration, removal of old units or electrical work

A quote that looks cheap per metre may leave out items that another includes as standard. Always ask for an itemised breakdown. Reviewing a joiner’s previous projects also helps you judge the standard of work behind the price.

When Per Metre Pricing Does Not Work

Some projects simply do not suit per metre pricing, because they do not run in a simple straight line.

• Curved units or rounded corners
• Sloping ceilings and loft rooms
• Staircases and balustrades, such as a staircase renovation
• Window seats and bay window furniture
• Wall panelling and cladding, which are usually priced by area
• Single items such as doors or specialist pieces
• Kitchens with appliances, worktops and plumbing

For these, a joiner will usually price by the individual design, or by a different measure such as area. Do not expect a per metre figure to be meaningful for them.

Tips for Keeping Costs Under Control

You can influence the final price in several ways, whatever the per metre figure.

• Keep door styles simple and put money into the fittings you use daily
• Limit drawers to what you really need
• Use painted board instead of solid timber where it is not visible
• Consider alcoves, where smaller runs can be cost effective
• Plan the layout carefully, so storage is used efficiently
• Be open about your budget, so the design can be shaped to suit it

A joiner can often suggest ways to keep the look you want while reducing cost, but only if they know your budget. If you are planning work across several rooms, our home renovations service can help you phase it sensibly.

Our Approach

At Craig Smith Joinery, we do not rely on a per metre price. We visit the property, measure the room, talk through how you want to use the space and then give a clear, itemised quote. That way, the price reflects your actual project, and you know exactly what is included. Our wooden furniture maker service covers fitted wardrobes, storage and more, and our guide to bespoke joinery explains why a made-to-measure approach pays off.

Frequently Asked Question:

What does per linear metre mean in fitted furniture?

It means the price is based on the length of wall the furniture covers, measured in metres. It does not account for height, depth or complexity unless the rate is clearly defined.

Is per metre pricing accurate?

It can give a rough guide for simple, standard projects, but it is rarely accurate for complex or unusual ones. A site visit and itemised quote are always more reliable.

Why do per metre prices vary so much between suppliers?

Because each supplier assumes different heights, materials, door styles and fittings. Two rates that look the same may cover very different things.

Can I work out a total by multiplying the per metre rate by my wall length?

Only as a rough estimate. Real costs also depend on height, internal fittings, site conditions and finish, so the final quote may differ.

Does the per metre price include fitting?

It depends. Some quotes include fitting, others do not. Always ask what is covered.

Is a lower per metre price always better value?

Not necessarily. A low rate may use lighter materials, simpler hardware or exclude finishing. Compare the full specification before deciding.

Can fitted furniture with a sloping ceiling be priced per metre?

It is difficult, because every unit has to be cut to the slope. These projects are usually priced individually after measuring.

How can I get an accurate price for my project?

Ask a joiner for a site visit and a written, itemised quote. That is the only way to be sure the price reflects your room and your choices.

Get a Clear Price, Not Just a Rate

A per metre figure is a useful starting point, but the real cost of fitted furniture comes from the design, the materials and the details of your room. At Craig Smith Joinery, we combine careful measuring, honest advice and 30 years of experience to give you a clear, itemised quote with no surprises. If you are planning fitted furniture, call today for a free quote.