We prove a general theorem showing that iterated skew polynomial extensions of the type that fit the conditions needed by Cauchon's deleting derivations theory and by the Goodearl–Letzter stratification theory are unique factorisation rings in the sense of Chatters and Jordan. This general result applies to many quantum algebras; in particular, generic quantum matrices and quantized enveloping algebras of the nilpotent part of a semisimple Lie algebra are unique factorisation domains in the sense of Chatters. The result also extends to generic quantum grassmannians (by using noncommutative dehomogenisation) and to the quantum groups ${\mathcal O}_q(\text{GL}_n)$ and ${\mathcal O}_q(\text{SL}_n)$.