If you are planning a new kitchen, one of the first questions you will probably ask is: how long does kitchen fitting take?
For a straightforward replacement kitchen with no major structural work, you should usually allow 8 to 14 weeks from the first measurements to final snagging. The actual work in your home may take around 2 to 4 weeks, while design, ordering and manufacturing often account for much of the overall timescale.
A small like-for-like replacement may be completed more quickly. A larger project involving new plumbing, rewiring, flooring, plastering or structural changes will take longer.
This guide explains what you can realistically expect at each stage.
At a glance: how long does a kitchen fit take?
A typical kitchen fitting project may look like this:
- Measuring, planning and design: 1–3 weeks
- Ordering and manufacturing units: 4–8 weeks
- Strip-out and preparation: 1–2 days
- Plumbing and electrical first fix: 1–3 days
- Plastering and making good: 2–5 days, including drying time
- Cabinet and unit installation: 2–5 days
- Worktop templating and fitting: 1–14 days, depending on the material
- Appliances, flooring and finishing: 2–5 days
- Snagging and final adjustments: 1–3 days, sometimes with a return visit
These stages often overlap, but some work cannot begin until another stage has been completed.
Weeks 1–2: measuring, planning and design
Week 1: measure the room and discuss your requirements
The first stage is an accurate survey of the kitchen. This involves more than measuring the length and width of the room.
Your carpenter or kitchen installer will need to check:
- Wall and floor dimensions
- Window and door positions
- Ceiling height
- Existing plumbing and waste points
- Electrical sockets and appliance connections
- Radiators, pipes and other obstructions
- Whether the walls and floor are level
- Access for deliveries and installation
You should also discuss how you use the room. The position of the sink, cooker, fridge, storage and preparation areas will affect how practical the finished kitchen feels.
Accurate measurements are particularly important when fitting cabinets into older homes, where walls and floors may not be perfectly straight. Even a small measurement error can affect the position of an entire run of units.
Week 2: finalise the layout and specification
During the design stage, you will choose the layout, cabinet style, handles, worktops, appliances, sink, taps, lighting and finishing details.
This is also the time to decide whether you are keeping the existing layout or moving services. Keeping the sink, cooker and appliances in similar positions usually reduces both cost and installation time.
Moving plumbing, gas or electrical points can add several days to the work and may require other qualified trades.
It is worth confirming every detail before placing orders. Changes after the units or worktops have been ordered can cause delays and, in some cases, additional costs.
Weeks 3–7: ordering and preparation
Weeks 3–6: allow time for units and appliances to arrive
Once the design is agreed, the units and other materials can be ordered. Standard kitchen cabinets may arrive within a few weeks, but made-to-measure, painted or bespoke units can take longer.
You may also need to wait for:
- Worktops
- Appliance deliveries
- Handles and hardware
- Sinks and taps
- Flooring
- Tiles or splashbacks
- Lighting and electrical components
- Bespoke storage or joinery
Do not arrange the fitting date until the main materials are available or their delivery dates are confirmed. A missing cabinet, appliance or panel can prevent other work from being completed.
Stone, quartz and granite worktops are usually templated after the cabinets have been installed. This means they cannot normally be manufactured at the very start of the project.
Week 7: strip out the old kitchen
The old kitchen is usually removed in one or two days, depending on its size and condition.
This may include:
- Removing old cabinets and worktops
- Disconnecting appliances
- Removing the sink and taps
- Taking up old flooring
- Removing tiles or splashbacks
- Clearing waste from the room
Once the room is empty, hidden issues may become visible. These might include damaged plaster, uneven floors, damp, rotten timber or outdated wiring.
It is sensible to allow a small amount of flexibility at this stage. Problems that are hidden behind cabinets cannot always be identified during the initial survey.
Week 8: first-fix plumbing, electrics and making good
Allow several days for services and wall repairs
If the layout is changing, plumbing and electrical work usually takes place after the old kitchen has been removed and before the new cabinets are fitted.
This may include:
- Moving water feeds and waste pipes
- Installing new appliance connections
- Adding or relocating sockets
- Preparing lighting connections
- Adjusting extractor ventilation
- Installing isolation valves
- Making provision for integrated appliances
Gas work must be carried out by a suitably qualified Gas Safe engineer. Electrical work should also be completed by a competent electrician, with the appropriate certification where required.
After the services are installed, walls may need patching or plastering. Allow time for plaster and other materials to dry fully before cabinets are fitted. Rushing this stage can affect the quality of the final finish.
Read our guide to common kitchen fitting mistakes for more advice on planning and preparation.
Week 9: cabinet and unit installation
Expect two to five days for the main units
Once the room is prepared, the base units, wall units and tall housings can be installed.
The installer will need to:
- Set out the cabinet positions
- Level and secure the base units
- Scribe units and panels to uneven walls
- Install wall cabinets safely
- Fit appliance housings
- Add end panels, fillers and plinths
- Check door and drawer clearances
This stage requires accuracy because the cabinets form the base for the worktops and appliances. If the units are not level and properly secured, problems can appear later with worktop joints, doors, drawers and integrated appliances.
A simple straight-run kitchen may be completed within a couple of days. Larger kitchens, islands, complex corners and bespoke features may take closer to a week.
Week 10: worktop templating and fitting
Worktop material can change the schedule
Laminate and some solid wood worktops can often be cut and fitted soon after the cabinets are installed. This may take one or two days, depending on the layout and number of joints.
Stone, quartz and granite worktops follow a different process:
- The cabinets are installed and levelled.
- A specialist visits to template the worktops.
- The worktops are manufactured off site.
- The finished worktops are delivered and installed.
This can add around one to two weeks to the programme. During this period, the kitchen may be partly usable, but the sink, hob and some appliances may not be fully connected.
Ask your installer when the worktop company is due to template the kitchen and how long fabrication is expected to take. This makes it easier to plan meals and temporary cooking arrangements.
Weeks 10–11: appliances, flooring and finishing
Allow several days for second-fix work
After the worktops are installed, the remaining appliances and fittings can usually be completed.
This may include:
- Fitting the oven and hob
- Installing the extractor
- Connecting the dishwasher and washing machine
- Fitting the sink and taps
- Installing the fridge or freezer
- Connecting lighting
- Fitting handles and doors
- Installing plinths and decorative panels
Integrated appliances need to be checked carefully so that doors open correctly and align with neighbouring cabinets. The appliance manufacturer’s ventilation and installation requirements must also be followed.
Flooring and splashbacks may be completed before or after the cabinets, depending on the material and the agreed method. New flooring, tiling, grouting and silicone sealing can add several more days.
Week 12: final finishing and snagging
Plan for adjustments after the main installation
The final stage is about making sure everything works properly and looks finished.
Your installer should check:
- Doors and drawers open smoothly
- Handles are aligned
- Plinths and panels are secure
- Worktop joints are neat and sealed
- Appliances are tested
- Sinks and taps are free from leaks
- Silicone seals are complete
- Flooring and trims are properly finished
- Waste materials have been removed
Snagging means identifying and correcting small issues after the main work is complete. For example, a drawer may need adjusting, a trim may need touching up or a door may need realigning.
Some snags only become apparent once you start using the kitchen. A reliable installer should communicate clearly about any outstanding work and arrange a return visit where necessary.
What commonly causes kitchen fitting delays?
Late deliveries are one of the main causes
A missing cabinet, damaged panel or delayed appliance can prevent several other tasks from being completed.
Changes after work has started can extend the programme
Changing the layout, worktops or appliances after installation begins may require new materials and additional preparation.
Hidden problems may need remedial work
Uneven floors, damaged walls, outdated wiring and poor plumbing can all add time once the old kitchen has been removed.
Drying times cannot always be rushed
Plaster, adhesive, grout and sealant may need time to dry properly before the next stage begins.
Complex kitchens take longer
Islands, bespoke cabinets, multiple appliance housings, unusual angles and structural changes will usually increase the installation time.
How can you keep the project on track?
Make decisions before ordering
Confirm your layout, appliances, handles, worktops, flooring and finishes before materials are ordered.
Check delivery dates carefully
Make sure the installer knows when each item is arriving and that there is somewhere clean and dry to store materials.
Use one clear point of contact
Good communication between you, the carpenter, kitchen supplier, electrician and plumber helps prevent misunderstandings.
Plan for temporary cooking arrangements
Even a well-organised kitchen fitting project may leave you without a sink or cooker for several days. Set up a temporary area with a kettle, microwave and basic food supplies.
Build in a little flexibility
A realistic schedule should allow for small delays. Planning a completion date with no spare time can create unnecessary stress.
When should you book a kitchen fitter?
You should start speaking to an installer while the kitchen is still at the design stage. This allows the fitting requirements, appliance sizes, plumbing and electrical work to be considered before anything is ordered.
Local Carpenter provides kitchen fitting and cabinet installation for homeowners across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. We can help with larger kitchen projects as well as smaller fitting, adjustment and finishing jobs.
If you are planning a kitchen renovation, get in touch with Local Carpenter for straightforward advice and a clear, no-obligation quote. You can also call 07865 654 444 or email info@localcarpenter.co.uk to discuss your project.