Kitchen Remodel Timeline: How Long Will Your Project Take?

What's A Real Kitchen Remodel Timeline?

Here's the straight answer: plan for 3 to 6 months for a full kitchen remodel that covers everything from initial design meetings to the final walkthrough.

Minor updates like new countertops, cabinet refacing, and updated fixtures can take 4 to 8 weeks while major renovations where you're moving walls, relocating plumbing, or installing custom cabinets will push you closer to 6 months or beyond.

The timeline depends on your scope, how fast you make decisions, and whether the city inspector shows up when scheduled (they usually don't).

What Actually Affects Your Timeline

Several factors can speed up or slow down your kitchen remodel and understanding these upfront helps you plan realistically.

Scope of work matters most. Swapping out appliances and painting cabinets isn't nearly as time intensive as gutting everything to the studs. The more systems you touch (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), the longer it'll take.

Permits add weeks, not days. Most cities take 2 to 4 weeks just to review and approve permits, while some jurisdictions move faster, others slower. You can't start demolition until permits are in hand and inspections at various stages can create waiting periods.

Material lead times vary wildly. Stock cabinets might arrive in 2 weeks. Custom cabinets? Try 8 to 12 weeks. Countertop fabrication adds another 3 to 5 weeks after cabinets are installed. Then on top of all of that, supply chain issues can still pop up with specialty items.

Budget affects timeline too, though not always how you'd think. A tight budget might mean waiting for sales or piecing together materials over time. A generous budget can expedite custom orders but doesn't necessarily speed up labor or permit approvals.

The Planning and Design Phase: 4 to 8 Weeks

This is where most projects start, and it's worth getting right. You're making decisions about layout, materials, appliances, and budget.

Expect to spend 4 to 8 weeks in planning if you're doing a significant remodel. This includes measuring the space, creating design concepts, selecting materials, getting quotes, and finalizing contracts. Minor remodels might condense this to 2 to 3 weeks.

Decision-making is the hidden time sink here. Those who need to just "think about it" for weeks and weeks between each decision will stretch this phase considerably.

Permits and Approvals: 2 to 6 Weeks

Alright, let's talk about the part everyone underestimates: permits. Any work involving structural changes, electrical upgrades, or plumbing modifications requires a permit. Period.

Plan on 2 to 4 weeks for permit review in most areas, though some cities take 6 weeks or more. You'll submit plans, wait for review, address any comments or corrections, then get approval. This happens before any demolition starts.

Here's what trips people up: the permit timeline starts after you have complete, approved plans. If your plans aren't detailed enough or code-compliant, you're going back to the drawing board. Work with someone who knows local codes inside and out, or you'll waste weeks in revision cycles.

Some jurisdictions require multiple inspections during construction (rough-in electrical, plumbing, framing). Each inspection needs to be scheduled and passed before moving forward. Miss something? The inspector calls for corrections, adding days or weeks.

Demolition: 1 to 2 Weeks

Once permits are approved, demolition begins. This is the fastest phase and the most satisfying because who doesn't like breaking stuff?

For most kitchens a demo can takes 3 to 5 days. You're removing cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures, and sometimes walls. While larger kitchens or those requiring structural work might stretch to 1 to 2 weeks.

The wildcard is what you find behind the walls. Old plumbing that needs replacing, outdated wiring that doesn't meet code, water damage, mold, or structural issues nobody knew existed. These discoveries add time and cost. It's not common, but it happens enough to mention. Budget a contingency of 10% to 15% for surprises.

Rough Construction Work: 2 to 4 Weeks

This is when plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs do their thing. You're roughing in new plumbing lines, running electrical circuits, relocating gas lines, and installing ductwork if needed.

Plan on 2 to 4 weeks for this phase, depending on the complexity. Moving a sink across the room? Add More time. Putting in a gas line for a new range? Add More time. The work itself might only take a few days but coordinating multiple trades and scheduling inspections stretches the timeline.

Inspections happen here too. After rough in work is complete, you'll need inspections before closing up the walls. Some areas require separate inspections like electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Schedule these early because inspectors book up, and you can't proceed until they sign off.

Installing the Bones: Insulation, Drywall, and Flooring: 2 to 3 Weeks

After the rough in inspections pass, you're closing up walls and creating finished surfaces. Insulation goes in first, then drywall installation, taping, mudding, and sanding.

This phase takes 1 to 2 weeks for drywall work alone. Add another 3 to 5 days for flooring installation if you're doing hardwood or tile. Vinyl and laminate go faster.

Order matters here. Hardwood flooring needs to be installed before cabinets. Vinyl or tile can go either before or after, depending on preference and product. Getting this sequence wrong costs time and money in rework.

Cabinet and Countertop Installation: 4 to 8 Weeks

Here's where the timeline stretches out, and it's mostly waiting on fabrication rather than installation time.

Cabinets themselves install in 3 to 5 days once they arrive. Stock cabinets ship in 2 to 3 weeks. Semi-custom takes 6 to 8 weeks. Full custom cabinets? You're looking at 10 to 12 weeks or more.

Countertops add another 3 to 5 weeks minimum. The fabricator can't template your countertops until cabinets are installed and leveled. After templating, fabrication takes 2 to 3 weeks, then installation happens. Stone countertops (granite, quartz, marble) typically take longer than laminate or butcher block.

Of course, none of this comes free. Stock cabinets run $3,000 to $8,000 for an average kitchen. Semi-custom pushes $8,000 to $20,000. Custom cabinets start at $20,000 and can exceed $50,000. Countertops range from $1,500 for basic laminate to $5,000+ for stone depending on square footage and edge details.

Finishing Work: Appliances, Fixtures, and Paint: 2 to 3 Weeks

You're in the home stretch. Appliances get installed, plumbing fixtures connected, light fixtures hung, backsplash tiled, and everything painted or stained.

This phase takes 2 to 3 weeks. Appliance installation itself is quick (1 to 2 days), but coordinating delivery dates and ensuring proper hookups takes time. Backsplash installation adds 2 to 4 days depending on complexity. Painting and trim work rounds out another 3 to 5 days.

Testing is crucial here. Every appliance needs to be connected and tested. Plumbing fixtures checked for leaks. Light switches and outlets verified. Finding problems now beats discovering them after the contractor leaves.

Budget $5,000 to $15,000+ for appliances depending on quality and features. Add $1,000 to $3,000 for fixtures (faucets, sinks, lighting). Painting and trim work typically runs $1,500 to $3,000.

Final Inspection and Cleanup: 3 to 7 Days

The last step is final inspection and punch list completion. The building inspector returns to verify everything meets code. Any deficiencies get noted, corrected, and re-inspected.

Allow 3 to 7 days for this phase, including cleanup. Some items on the punch list might be quick fixes (tightening a hinge, touching up paint). Others might require ordering parts or scheduling another trade.

Pro tip: do your own walkthrough before calling for final inspection. Check cabinet doors, drawer operation, appliance function, and look for obvious issues. Finding and fixing problems before the inspector arrives saves a callback and potential delays.

Real Talk About Costs

Since we're discussing timelines, let's touch on what all this costs. Budget affects decisions, which affects timeline.

Minor kitchen remodels (cosmetic updates, no layout changes) run $15,000 to $30,000 and take 4 to 8 weeks. Mid-range remodels (new cabinets, countertops, appliances, some layout adjustments) cost $30,000 to $70,000 and take 3 to 4 months. Major renovations (gut job, custom everything, moving walls) start at $70,000 and can easily exceed $150,000, taking 5 to 6 months or longer.

These are ballpark figures. Your actual costs depend on materials, labor rates in your area, and project complexity. Get three written quotes before starting work.

Planning Tips That Actually Save Time

Want to keep your project on schedule? Here's what helps.

Make decisions early and stick to them. Changing your mind mid-project costs time and money. Choose your cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and appliances during planning, not after demolition starts.

Order long-lead items immediately. Custom cabinets and specialty appliances should be ordered as soon as contracts are signed, even before permits are approved. This gets the clock running on fabrication while permits process.

Set up a temporary kitchen before demo starts. You'll need a spot with a microwave, coffee maker, mini-fridge, and somewhere to wash dishes. Living without a functional kitchen for months gets old fast.

Build in buffer time. Add 2 to 3 weeks to whatever timeline you're quoted. Projects rarely finish early, but they often run late due to weather, material delays, or unexpected issues.

Stay accessible and responsive. Contractors will have questions. Quick responses keep the project moving. Disappearing for a week-long vacation during critical decision points halts progress.

What to Expect During the Project

Living through a kitchen remodel tests patience. Your home will be dusty and noisy during demo and construction. Access to other rooms might be limited. Cooking will happen in makeshift spaces.

Most contractors work 8 to 10 hour days, Monday through Friday. Some work Saturdays to stay on schedule. Expect crews arriving around 7 or 8 AM. If noise before 8 AM bothers you, discuss start times upfront.

Deliveries happen when they happen, often with minimal notice. Someone needs to be home or arrange access. Missing a delivery can delay the project by days or weeks for another scheduled slot.

When Delays Happen (And They Do)

Even with perfect planning, delays occur. Material backorders, weather delays (for exterior work), inspector no-shows, contractor scheduling conflicts, and unexpected discoveries all push timelines.

The average kitchen remodel experiences at least one delay. Most are minor (a few days). Some are significant (weeks). This is why buffer time matters.

What can you control? Decision speed, payment promptness, and accessibility. What you can't control? Manufacturing delays, permit office efficiency, and inspector schedules. Focus energy on what you can influence.

Your Next Steps

Before starting your kitchen remodel, get clear on three things: scope, budget, and timeline expectations. Know what you're changing, what you're keeping, and what you're willing to compromise on.

Get at least three detailed quotes from licensed contractors. Compare not just price but timeline estimates, payment schedules, and what's included. Check references and verify licensing and insurance.

Discuss timeline expectations honestly during the bidding process. Ask about their current workload and when they can actually start. A contractor who's booked solid for three months can't start your project next week no matter what they promise.

Finally, remember that a good kitchen remodeler will give you realistic timelines, not optimistic ones. The contractor who promises to finish your major renovation in 6 weeks is either inexperienced or not being honest. Quality work takes time.

Plan for 3 to 6 months, prepare for possible delays, and you'll end up with a kitchen worth the wait.