How Long Does It Take to Fit a Kitchen?

How long does each type of kitchen job take?

The time on site depends mostly on the type of job and the size of the kitchen. This table shows our typical times and what makes each job take longer.

For prices to go with these timings, see our Glasgow kitchen fitting price guide.

What does a three-day kitchen fit look like?

A small kitchen of up to 8 rigid units, with the old kitchen already removed, is often fitted in three days. This is how those days usually run:

A larger kitchen follows the same order, with more time at each stage. Our fit-only kitchen fitting page shows how a standard five-day fit runs.

What makes a kitchen fit take longer?

Seven things add the most time to a kitchen fit. Most of them can be planned for at the survey, so they're in your timeline from the start rather than a surprise on the day.

Flat-pack assembly

Flat-pack kitchens, such as IKEA's, arrive as boxes of panels, and every cabinet has to be built before it can be fitted. Assembly adds 1 to 2 days to a typical kitchen. Rigid units, such as DIY Kitchens and Howdens, arrive ready-built and skip this stage.

Removing the old kitchen

Stripping out an old kitchen, disconnecting the services safely and taking the waste away usually takes half a day to a day. Tiles fixed to the old units or worktops can add time, as can a kitchen built into the walls.

Moving plumbing, gas or electrics

Keeping the sink, hob and sockets where they are is quickest. Moving them means new pipework, a gas connection by a Gas Safe registered engineer or new circuits by a certified electrician, which can add a day or more depending on the distance.

Uneven walls and floors

Older homes, especially Glasgow tenements, often have walls that aren't square and floors that slope. Levelling every unit and scribing worktops to the wall takes longer than fitting into a new-build room, but it's what makes the finished kitchen look right.

Quartz worktops

Quartz is made to measure off site, so it can't be templated until the base units are fitted and level. The worktops are then made and fitted on a second visit, usually one to two weeks later. A temporary worktop can keep the kitchen usable in between.

Plastering and drying time

In a renovation, fresh plaster needs time to dry before it can be tiled or painted. This is the main reason a full renovation takes 2 to 3 weeks rather than one.

Missing or damaged parts

A missing plinth, end panel or hinge pack can hold up the last day of a fit. Checking the delivery against the order the day it arrives is the best way to avoid it.

How long does a tenement kitchen fit take?

A small tenement galley kitchen usually takes 2 to 3 days to fit, and a larger tenement kitchen 3 to 5 days, the same as a house of the same size plus any extra time the building needs. Three tenement features add time:

• Walls and floors: scribing worktops to uneven walls and levelling each unit on a sloping floor can add part of a day
• The stair: carrying every unit and worktop up a common stair takes longer on a top floor, and long worktops may need an extra joint planned in
• Parking and access: controlled parking or a narrow street can slow deliveries and the strip-out, so we plan van access before the start date

A full tenement renovation still takes 2 to 3 weeks. Our tenement kitchen fitting page explains the method in detail.

How long from first call to a finished kitchen?

The time from your first call to a finished kitchen is longer than the time on site, because the kitchen has to be surveyed, quoted, ordered and delivered first. These are the stages:

If you're removing a load-bearing wall, our guide on when a building warrant is needed explains the extra steps.

How long do kitchen deliveries take?

Kitchen delivery times depend on the supplier and the range, so check the lead time when you order and tell us the date. We then book the fit for just after delivery. These are the patterns to expect:

Whatever the supplier, a delivery a few days before fitting is ideal. It leaves time to check every box without the kitchen sitting in your hall for weeks.

How can you make a kitchen fit quicker?

You can't rush good fitting, but you can stop time being lost. These steps keep a kitchen fit on schedule:

• Choose rigid units if you want the shortest fit, as there's nothing to assemble
• Make your choices before ordering, including appliances, sink, tap and handles, so nothing is changed mid-fit
• Check the delivery straight away and report missing or damaged items before fitting day
• Have every appliance on site before the start date, with its installation instructions
• Clear the kitchen completely the day before we start
• Book old-kitchen removal as part of the same job, so strip-out and fitting run straight on from each other

How long will you be without a working kitchen?

With a fit-only or supply-and-fit kitchen, you're usually without a working kitchen for about as long as the fit takes, typically 2 to 6 days. The sink is often reconnected before the last day, which makes a big difference. With a full renovation, plan for 2 to 3 weeks and set up a temporary kitchen in another room with a kettle, microwave and fridge. Our kitchen renovation page has a full guide to living without a kitchen.

When can you use your new kitchen?

You can usually use a new kitchen as soon as the fitter hands it over, with a few short waits for finishes that need to set:

• Sink and tap: ready to use straight away, but avoid soaking the fresh silicone seal for about 24 hours
• Laminate worktops: usable the same day; keep water off the joints while the sealant cures
• Solid wood worktops: follow the oil manufacturer's drying time before heavy use, and wipe up water rather than leaving it
• Quartz worktops: usable once fitted, though the fitter may ask you to go gently on the joints for the first day
• Gas and electrics: ready once the Gas Safe engineer or electrician has tested and signed off their work

Is it quicker to fit a kitchen yourself?

Rarely. A professional fitter works with the right tools every day and knows the order to do things in, so a kitchen that takes us 3 days can take a first-time DIY fitter several weekends. Worktop joints, scribing and levelling take the longest to learn. If time matters, a professional fit is usually the quickest way to a finished kitchen.