How Long Does It Take To Install Kitchen Cabinets: A Realistic Time Frame 
how long does it take to install kitchen cabinets

How long does it take to install kitchen cabinets? When planning a kitchen renovation or upgrade, you must make do without using your kitchen area. This can be inconvenient for someone who loves to prepare home-cooked meals or whipping up coffee early in the morning. 

It is good to have a realistic idea of how long the kitchen project will be ongoing, so you can either plan for an alternative cooking area or find someplace where you can order food. 

This guide will take a closer look at just how long it takes to replace old kitchen cabinets and install new ones. 

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How Long Does it Take to Install Kitchen Cabinets?

Professional kitchen installation companies or contractors usually take 2 to 3 days to install new kitchen cabinets. When new countertops also need to be installed on top of the cabinets, it can take 3 to 5 days to complete the installation. Full kitchen remodels usually don’t take more than 7 to 10 days to complete. 

However, various factors, such as the following, may affect how long it takes to complete your kitchen renovation projects.

The Kitchen Size and Number of Cabinets

Naturally, the larger the kitchen is, the longer it will take to install the kitchen cabinets. Therefore, the size of your kitchen can extend the time it takes to renovate kitchens, anything from a couple of hours to a few days. 

For example, it can take about 1 to 2 days to install new cabinets in a small kitchen, while it might take much longer to complete the installation for a large kitchen with a greater number of cabinets.

The Beginning State of Cabinets

A construction worker installing kitchen cabinets

Flat-pack kitchen cabinets that have already been cut to size and include all the necessary drilled pieces are always very quick to assemble. These cabinets can be made and installed within a couple of hours. 

On the other hand, getting a custom-built kitchen cabinet that needs to be freshly cut from sheet wood can take much longer to complete your project. First, kitchen experts need a couple of hours just to complete the measurements and design layout of this kitchen. After this, the sheet wood needs to be cut to size, after which the assembly can begin. 

It can also take significantly longer to complete custom cabinets if certain parts, like a specific door design or hinges, need to be ordered.

Base cabinets also take a bit longer to build and install than upper cabinets because they are typically larger. 

The Starting State of the Kitchen

The condition of your current kitchen can also impact the time it takes to complete your kitchen renovation project. For example, installing cabinets in a brand-new home is much quicker because the contractor has a blank canvas to work on. On the other hand, renovating old kitchens usually takes longer because the old kitchen cabinets will first need to be stripped out and removed before the new cabinets can be installed. 

Special Cabinet Features

There are lots of unique features that you can get for your kitchen these days. Features like lazy Susan corner cabinets, pull-out cutting boards, custom-made doors, drawer design cabinets, touch-open cabinet doors or push-open systems, downlights, and other advanced features can extend the duration it takes to complete the cabinet installation. 

Mid-Installation Adjustments

Some customers will change their minds while the new kitchen is being installed. This usually isn’t a problem for the contractor but it can draw out the project. It will take time to complete everything from the cabinet designs to the new cuts before the new adjustments can be incorporated. Changing your mind about your kitchen’s design, materials, or style can cost a lot if certain materials have already been prepped for the kitchen.

A Realistic Installation Schedule for Kitchen Cabinets

Upgrading your kitchen isn’t something that is usually done overnight. Instead, it is a process that involves many different steps. Here is a quick look at a realistic schedule for installing custom kitchen cabinets.

Visit Showrooms

Before you can get to work on your kitchen renovation project, you will need a good idea of what you want. Visiting showrooms is a great way to figure out what type of cabinets you prefer and locate a kitchen contractor with the needed professional installation skills. It can take one to several days to visit showrooms and find a good kitchen contractor.

Book a Survey

Once you locate a contractor you prefer to work with, it is time to book a site survey and consultation. During these free consultations, the cabinet installer will discuss the kitchen designs you have in mind and start taking measurements of the kitchen layout.

The Design Phase

After the professional installer takes the measurements and discusses the type of kitchen you want, it will take some time for them to draw up a design and calculate labor costs. This design allows them to get accurate cabinet measurements and source suitable materials.

The designer will most likely collaborate with the client and offer a complete invoice. This invoice and design layout ensure that they are satisfied with the design and the cost of installing the new kitchen.

Kitchen designers often have to make several modifications in terms of materials used and the design layout to create a kitchen that satisfies the property owner’s needs. The design of a custom-built kitchen usually takes a day or two to complete.

Schedule an Installation Date

Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen contractors have a lot of clients to juggle. They cannot put a current project on hold to complete your kitchen installation project. An installation date usually needs to be scheduled. Another reason for the installation date to be established is that it takes time to create custom cabinetry before installation. 

It usually takes 1 to 12 weeks to build custom cabinetry. Most of the work required for installing new kitchen cabinets happens off-site. The contractors typically use their workshop to cut all wood sheets to size, and the cabinet face frame of designs is often built off-site to reduce your kitchen downtime. 

Time for Installation

Once the cabinet structure has been created, all materials are transported to the installation site, and the magic can finally happen.

Any old kitchen cabinets must be stripped out and cleared from the kitchen. Removing old kitchen cabinets can take several hours to a full day, depending on the size of your kitchen.

Once the kitchen has been cleared, the installation process can begin.

If the kitchen cabinet structures have already been constructed off-site, it usually takes less time to do the installation. This is because the frames only need to be put in place and fixed to the walls and floors, after which other components like shelves, doors, and drawers can be assembled. For small kitchens, this can be done in a day or two. However, larger kitchens can take several days to get everything entirely made and finished. 

If the kitchen cabinets are being cut to size and constructed on-site, you will get a much earlier installation date, but it will take longer to get the cabinets built and installed. For small kitchens, it usually takes two to three days to make the cabinets from scratch. For larger kitchens, it can take much longer.

Installing Countertops

Kitchen countertops are usually left as a final step of the installation process. It usually takes about the same time to install wood and natural stone countertops because natural stone tops are created off-site. 

Some countertops, like cast concrete or resin countertops, can take much longer to fully complete because these tops can take a long while to fully dry and finish. 

Cleanup and Finish

All kitchen renovation projects are messy. After the installation, the kitchen will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Kitchen cleanups usually don’t take more than a couple of hours. Then, a final inspection is done to ensure cabinet doors and components are functioning correctly. 

Conclusion

So how long does it take to install kitchen cabinets? Various factors can impact the time it takes to complete kitchen cabinet projects.

It only takes a couple of hours to assemble and install a single flat-pack kitchen cabinet. However, installing lots of pre-cut and prepared cabinets (stock cabinets) can take a few days to complete the installation.

The entire process of custom-built kitchens usually takes 1 to 12 weeks to complete depending on the size of your dream kitchen, the type of kitchen cabinet materials and features you need, and the kitchen cabinet specialist you use. 

In the end, it all depends on the type of kitchen you want and the size of your kitchen. 

We hope that this guide offers some helpful advice regarding the realistic time it will take to get your kitchen renovated. And if you are looking for other great kitchen tips or accessories, then you should look at some of the other guides we have on Cook Room Kitchen. Our kitchen site offers the latest and best kitchen and cooking tips. 

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