How Long Does Kitchen Installation Take?
A small kitchen (8–12 units) takes 3–4 days. A medium kitchen (13–20 units) takes 4–6 days. A large kitchen (21+ units) takes 6–10 days. IKEA flat-pack adds 1–2 days. These timescales assume the room is prepared, services are complete, and delivery is undamaged.
Installation Days by Kitchen Size
Kitchen installation time is primarily driven by the number of units and the complexity of the layout. A small kitchen with 8–12 units typically takes 3–4 days for a single experienced fitter. A medium kitchen with 13–20 units takes 4–6 days. A large kitchen with 21 or more units, including island or peninsula sections, typically takes 6–10 days. IKEA METOD kitchens take 1–2 days longer than equivalent rigid-carcass kitchens due to the flat-pack assembly involved.
What Makes a Kitchen Take Longer
Several factors extend installation time beyond these estimates. These include: structural issues such as significantly uneven floors or out-of-square rooms; complex worktop configurations including islands or mitred corners; stone worktops requiring a separate templating visit; appliance integration with cabinetry modification; damaged units requiring retailer replacement; and first-fix services that are not ready on the planned start date.
Planning Your Installation Programme
A pre-installation survey is the most reliable way to get an accurate timescale for your specific project. At Install My Kitchen, the survey visit produces a detailed programme before any installation day is confirmed. This avoids the common problem of underestimating a project and having to extend the booking at short notice. Call Pindi Sahota on 07399 651836 to arrange a survey.
A Day-by-Day Breakdown for a Medium Kitchen
For a typical 13–20 unit kitchen taking 4–6 days: day one covers strip-out and base unit installation; day two completes the base run and hangs wall units; day three is worktop templating, cutting and fitting; day four covers doors, handles, plinths and appliance positioning; and a fifth or sixth day is added where islands, extra cabinetry, or stone worktop templating extend the programme. Smaller kitchens compress these stages; larger kitchens repeat cabinetry and worktop stages across additional runs.
How Delays Are Avoided
The two most preventable causes of installation delay are services not being ready and units arriving damaged. Confirming with your plumber and electrician that first-fix work is complete before the fitter's start date, and checking every delivered item against the order on delivery day, removes the majority of scheduling risk. A written programme agreed at survey stage — rather than a verbal estimate — gives everyone involved, including other trades, a shared reference point.
Related Questions
Not quite. Some tasks — such as hanging wall units — benefit from two people, but many tasks are sequential and cannot be parallelised. Two fitters may reduce time by 30–40% rather than 50%.
This varies by fitter. At Install My Kitchen we discuss scheduling at the survey stage to find a start date that suits your household. Weekend working can sometimes be arranged.
You do not need to be present throughout, but you should be available on the first morning and last afternoon. Being reachable by phone during installation days is important in case decisions need to be made.
Damaged units must be reported to the retailer immediately. Replacement lead times vary by brand — typically 3–10 working days. Installation must pause until replacements arrive, so prompt reporting is essential.
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