Most kitchen suppliers will quote you an installation time that assumes everything arrives on schedule and nothing behind the walls needs attention. In practice, a few extra days either way is normal, so it's worth planning for a realistic range rather than a single date.
A typical timeline
Strip-out and first fix plumbing and electrics usually take 2 to 3 days. Cabinetry installation follows once the room is ready, typically another 3 to 4 days depending on the layout. Worktop templating happens after the cabinets are in and level, and the worktop itself is usually fitted 1 to 2 weeks after templating, since it's made to measure. Tiling, second fix electrics and final plumbing connections take a further 3 to 5 days once the worktop is in.
Altogether, a straightforward kitchen renovation runs 2 to 3 weeks from strip-out to a fully working kitchen, longer if you're also removing a wall or moving the position of a sink or hob, which means relocating plumbing and electrics rather than just reconnecting them.
What actually causes delays
The worktop lead time is the most common bottleneck, particularly for stone worktops, so it's worth ordering as early as the layout is confirmed rather than waiting until the units arrive. Appliance delivery delays are the second most common cause, especially with made-to-measure or imported appliances.
If your kitchen renovation includes knocking through a wall, add time for a structural engineer's calculation and, if the wall is load-bearing, a building control inspection before the opening can be finished off.
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About the author
Written by JLS Building & Property Development Ltd, a family-run building contractor covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. FMB member and SafeContractor approved. More about us. This guide is general information, not professional or legal advice for your specific project.