How Long a Full Kitchen Renovation Actually Takes, Week by Week

A full kitchen renovation, from the day you sign a contract to the day you cook your first meal in the finished space, typically runs 8 to 14 weeks of active construction. That number surprises most homeowners, who often budget for a month based on television timelines. The gap between what gets shown on a screen and what actually happens on a job site comes down to permitting, material lead times, and the sequential nature of trade work. Below is a realistic breakdown of each phase, based on standard residential construction timelines used by contractors across the country.

Planning, Design, and Ordering (4 to 12 weeks before demo starts)

This phase happens before any physical work begins, and it’s the one most homeowners underestimate. A designer or kitchen showroom needs 2 to 4 weeks to finalize layout drawings, especially if you’re moving plumbing or gas lines. Once the design is locked, cabinets need to be ordered. Stock cabinets from a big box store might arrive in 2 to 3 weeks. Semi-custom cabinets typically take 6 to 8 weeks. Fully custom cabinetry can take 10 to 16 weeks, particularly from smaller regional shops that build to order.

Countertop fabrication adds its own timeline. Quartz and granite need to be templated after cabinets are installed, then cut and polished, which adds 1 to 3 weeks after templating. Ordering these materials early, even before demolition starts, is the single biggest factor in keeping a project on schedule. Contractors who see projects run long almost always point to late material orders as the cause, not labor delays.

Permitting (1 to 6 weeks, running parallel to design)

Most municipalities require permits for electrical, plumbing, and any structural changes, including removing a wall between the kitchen and a dining room. Simple permit approvals in smaller towns can take a few days. In larger cities or historic districts, plan review can take 3 to 6 weeks, and inspectors may require revisions before sign-off. If you’re moving a load-bearing wall, add time for an engineer’s stamped drawing, which itself can take 1 to 2 weeks to produce. Skipping permits to save time is a common mistake that creates real problems later, including fines and complications when you sell the house.

Demolition (2 to 5 days)

Once permits are in hand and materials are on order or already delivered, demolition itself moves fast. A standard kitchen, removing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and sometimes a section of drywall, takes a two- or three-person crew 2 to 3 days. If asbestos or lead paint testing is required in an older home, add several days for testing and safe abatement before demo can proceed. Structural changes, like removing a wall, extend this phase to 4 or 5 days because of the need for temporary shoring and inspection sign-off before framing can close back up.

Rough-In: Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC (1 to 2 weeks)

This is the phase homeowners see the least progress on but that matters most for the finished kitchen. Electricians run new circuits for appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and additional outlets required by code. Plumbers relocate supply and drain lines if the sink or dishwasher location is changing. HVAC work might include moving a vent or adding a range hood duct through the roof or an exterior wall.

Electrical rough-in: 2 to 4 days, depending on the number of new circuits and whether a panel upgrade is needed
Plumbing rough-in: 2 to 3 days for standard relocations, longer if pipes need to be rerouted through a slab foundation
HVAC and ventilation: 1 to 2 days for a straightforward hood duct run

Each of these steps requires a municipal inspection before drywall closes over the work. Inspectors typically schedule within 24 to 72 hours of a request, but scheduling backlogs in busy seasons can add a few days of waiting between rough-in completion and the green light to move forward.

Drywall, Flooring, and Cabinet Installation (2 to 3 weeks)

After inspections pass, drywall patching and painting take 3 to 5 days including drying time between coats of mud. Flooring installation follows, and timing depends heavily on material. Tile takes 3 to 5 days including grout curing time. Engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank can often go down in 2 to 3 days.

Cabinet installation is next and generally takes 3 to 5 days for a standard-sized kitchen, longer if crown molding, fillers, and custom panels are involved. Countertop templating happens once cabinets are set, and installation follows 7 to 14 days later depending on the fabricator’s schedule. Backsplash tile, plumbing fixture hookup, and appliance installation typically wrap up this phase, adding another 3 to 5 days.

Final Details and Punch List (3 to 5 days)

The last stretch involves electrical trim like installing light fixtures and outlet covers, final plumbing connections for the sink and dishwasher, cabinet hardware installation, and a final walkthrough with the contractor to identify anything that needs adjustment. Minor touch-ups, like a paint scuff or a cabinet door that needs realignment, are normal and usually resolved within a few days after the walkthrough.

Adding up every phase, a kitchen with standard materials and no major structural changes lands around 8 to 10 weeks of construction after materials arrive. A kitchen involving a wall removal, custom cabinetry, and stone countertops can stretch to 14 weeks or longer, mostly due to fabrication and permitting timelines rather than the physical labor itself.

If you’re planning a renovation, get your cabinet and countertop orders placed the same week your design is finalized, not after demolition begins. That single decision does more to control your timeline than any other scheduling choice you’ll make during the project.