Best Kitchen Design Software (2026): 10 Tools Compared

The kitchen is the room where a few centimetres make all the difference. An island that's slightly too big turns a busy kitchen into an obstacle course, and a dishwasher door that hits the oven handle will annoy you every single day.

So I've gathered ten kitchen design tools in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, covering homeowner planners, cabinet design programs and woodworking software. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. If you're still deciding on a look, this round-up of current kitchen design trends is a good place to gather ideas before you start drawing.

Kitchen planners and cabinet software compared

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan or free use, Trial only means a time-limited free trial, and No means the site shows neither. One tool marked No offers a longer trial that isn't free.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Cabinet Planner	Cabinet design software	Two week trial for kitchen cabinet design	Trial only
CabinetPlans.io	Online cabinet design	Browser cabinet designs with cut lists	Yes
Flatma	Online furniture and cabinet design	Free browser 3D design with cutting maps	Yes
Homestyler	Online 3D home design	Free 3D room and kitchen planning	Yes
KitchenWhiz	Online kitchen planner	In-browser kitchen design	No
Mozaik	Cabinet CNC design software	Cabinet design and CNC output for shops	No
Planner 5D	Home and interior planner	2D and 3D kitchen layouts for beginners	Yes
RoomSketcher	Floor plan and 3D design	Kitchen floor plans and 3D visuals	Yes
SketchList 3D	Woodworking design software	Cabinet and furniture design for woodworkers	Trial only
Sweet Home 3D	Open source interior design	Free desktop program for kitchen layouts	Yes

Ten tools for planning a kitchen

Cabinet Planner

Best for: Cabinet makers and kitchen designers who want dedicated kitchen cabinet software, with a two week free trial offered on its site.

CabinetPlans.io

Best for: Small shops and home woodworkers who want browser-based cabinet design with cut lists, plus a free plan to build a first cabinet.

Flatma

Best for: Makers who want to design cabinets and furniture in the browser and get cutting maps and drilling drawings, free and without registration.

Homestyler

Best for: Homeowners and interior designers who want a free 3D home design tool with a large model library and cloud rendering.

KitchenWhiz

Best for: Homeowners and design professionals who want to design a kitchen in the browser with no installation, then download 2D and 3D plans.

Mozaik

Best for: Cabinet shops that want design software tied to CNC production; its FAQ says there's no free trial, only a three month trial you buy.

Planner 5D

Best for: Homeowners and beginners who want 2D and 3D layouts of a kitchen or a whole house, starting from the free plan on its site.

RoomSketcher

Best for: Homeowners and small design businesses who want to draw a kitchen floor plan and see it in 3D, with a free account for a first plan.

SketchList 3D

Best for: Woodworkers and cabinet builders who want design software made for their trade, with a 14 day free trial and no credit card needed.

Sweet Home 3D

Best for: Homeowners who want a free, open source desktop program to draw a plan, arrange units and furniture and visit the result in 3D.

Kitchen sockets and the Part P question

Moving sockets, adding an extractor or running a new circuit for a hob is easy to draw and harder to sign off. In England, the Planning Portal's page on Approved Document P, which covers electrical safety in dwellings, says the current 2013 edition reduced the range of electrical installation work that's notifiable.

It also says installers who aren't registered competent persons may now use a registered third-party certifier instead of going to the building control body. That's a Building Regulations point for England, so if you live elsewhere, check the rules for your own nation.

What it means for you: once your design tool shows where the new sockets, lights and appliances will go, ask your electrician how the work will be certified before you order the units. Sorting it at the drawing stage is far easier than chasing a certificate after the worktops are in.

Homeowner planner or cabinet maker's software

These tools split into two camps. Homeowner planners help you try layouts, colours and appliances in 3D, and most of them have a free plan. Cabinet and woodworking programs go further, producing cut lists, cutting maps, drilling drawings or CNC files, and several of them are trial only.

If you're buying a kitchen from a retailer, a homeowner planner is plenty, because you're testing the shape of the room. If you're building the cabinets yourself, or running a small workshop, you'll want a tool that turns the design into parts.

Planning your kitchen layout in six steps

1. Measure the room, including window sills, door swings, radiators and the position of the water and waste pipes.
2. Draw the empty room first, with every fixed point marked.
3. Place the sink, hob and fridge before any other units, and check you can move easily between them.
4. Open every appliance door in the plan to make sure nothing clashes.
5. Add sockets and lighting where you'll really use them, such as above the worktop.
6. Share the plan with your fitter and electrician and ask what they'd change.

Kitchen design mistakes the software won't flag

• Forgetting the door swing. Plans often show a closed door, so open it in the drawing.
• Too little landing space. Leave worktop beside the hob and the fridge for putting things down.
• Corner units that clash. Check two drawers meeting in a corner can both open fully.
• Designing for the render. A layout that looks lovely in 3D still has to work at 6pm on a Tuesday.

If the kitchen is part of a bigger refresh before you sell, my guide to improvements worth doing before you sell can help you decide where to put your effort.

Do you make kitchen design software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on kitchen design software

If you're a homeowner, start with a free 3D planner, draw the room exactly as it stands, and test the layout with every door and drawer open. That alone catches most of the mistakes that hurt later.

If you build cabinets, use a trial of a trade tool on a real job, not a sample one, and check that the cut lists or drilling drawings match how your workshop runs. And whoever you are, talk to your electrician before you finalise where the sockets go.

Related: the kitchen page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I design my own kitchen for free?

Yes. Several planners on this list describe a free plan or free use, and one is open source. Free versions often limit the number of projects.

What's the difference between a kitchen planner and cabinet software?

A kitchen planner helps you try layouts and see them in 3D. Cabinet software turns a design into parts, with cut lists, drilling drawings or CNC output.

Do I need to tell building control about new kitchen sockets in England?

It depends on the work. The Planning Portal says the 2013 edition of Approved Document P reduced the range of notifiable electrical work. Ask your electrician how the work will be certified.

How accurate do my measurements need to be?

As accurate as you can make them. Measure each wall at more than one height, and note pipes, windows and radiators, because units come in fixed sizes.

Can I share my kitchen design with a fitter?

Most tools let you export or share a plan. Ask your fitter which format they'd like before you start.

Is 3D rendering useful for a kitchen?

It helps you picture finishes and spot tight spaces. For checking the layout itself, an accurate 2D plan matters more.