How long does it take to install kitchen cabinets? The average time to install kitchen cabinets typically falls between one to three days for a standard kitchen. However, this is just an estimate. The real time can change a lot based on many things, like how big your kitchen is, the type of cabinets you choose, and who is doing the work. Getting new cabinets is a big step in a kitchen remodel, and knowing how long it might take helps you plan your project better.
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The Basic Steps of Cabinet Installation
Putting in kitchen cabinets follows a set order. Think of it as building blocks. You must do things in the right way for the cabinets to look good and work well. The kitchen cabinet installation process timeline usually starts with getting ready, then putting in the upper cabinets, and finally installing the base cabinets.
Preparing the Space
Before any new cabinet goes up, the room needs work.
* Old cabinets must come out. This can take a few hours or half a day.
* Walls might need fixing. Sometimes removing old cabinets damages the walls. This adds time.
* The space must be clean and empty. All appliances and things you don’t need for the install should be moved.
* Finding the studs in the wall is a must. Cabinets hang on these strong points. Marking them clearly saves time later.
* Checking the floor and walls to make sure they are level is key. If they are not flat or straight, you might need shims. Shims are small pieces used to make things level. This step adds time if things are not perfect.
This prep work often takes most of the first day, especially if old cabinets are hard to remove or walls need big fixes.
What Affects How Long It Takes?
Many things change the time estimate for cabinet installation. No two kitchen jobs are exactly alike. Knowing these factors affecting cabinet installation time helps set real expectations.
Size of the Kitchen
This is a big one. How long to install cabinets in small kitchen is much shorter than in a large kitchen.
* Small Kitchen: A small kitchen might only have a few cabinets. The work area is smaller. This often means quicker work. You might finish installing all cabinets in one day or two at most.
* Large Kitchen: A large kitchen means more cabinets. More cabinets mean more measuring, lifting, screwing, and leveling. This takes much longer. Installing cabinets in a large kitchen can easily take two to three days or even more, depending on the layout and cabinet count.
Type of Cabinets
The kind of cabinets you pick makes a big difference.
* Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets: These cabinets come flat in boxes. You have to put them together before you can hang them. The Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet install time includes building each cabinet. Building them takes time. Then you install the boxes. This adds a significant step compared to cabinets that come already built. Building RTA cabinets for a whole kitchen can take many hours, sometimes a full day or more, before installation even starts.
* Stock or Semi-Custom Cabinets: These often come already built. You just need to place them, level them, and screw them to the wall. This is faster than RTA.
* Custom kitchen cabinets: These are made just for your space. They are usually high quality but can be heavy or oddly shaped. The Custom kitchen cabinet installation timeframe might be longer because they need very exact fitting. Sometimes site adjustments are needed, which adds time. They often require more careful handling too.
Installer’s Skill Level
Who is doing the work? A seasoned pro or someone new to it?
* Professional Installers: They have done this many times. They have the right tools and know the best ways to solve problems. Their Professional cabinet installation duration is generally faster and smoother than a DIYer. They work quickly and with less waste of time or materials.
* DIYers: If you are doing it yourself, your DIY kitchen cabinet installation time will likely be much longer. You are learning as you go. You might not have all the best tools. Things will take more thought and effort. Mistakes can happen, needing fixes that add time.
Layout of the Kitchen
Kitchen shapes matter.
* A straight kitchen wall is simpler. You just line up the cabinets.
* A kitchen with corners needs special corner cabinets. These can be tricky to install and line up correctly.
* Kitchens with islands or tricky spaces like around windows or vents add complexity and time.
Condition of Walls and Floor
As mentioned before, if walls are not straight, or floors are not level, you must fix these issues as you install. This means using shims and taking extra care with measurements. This slows things down.
Any Unexpected Issues
Sometimes things go wrong. You might find old plumbing or wiring in the way. Cabinets might arrive damaged. Measurements might be slightly off. These unexpected problems can stop work or make it take much longer to find a fix.
Professional vs. DIY Installation Time
Should you hire a pro or do it yourself? Time is a key part of this choice.
Professional Cabinet Installation Duration
Pros are efficient. They have a system. They typically work in teams, making tasks go faster.
* They know how to handle heavy cabinets safely.
* They have special tools like laser levels and cabinet jacks that speed up alignment.
* They can quickly spot and fix problems like out-of-square corners or uneven walls.
* They usually aim to finish the cabinet install quickly so other work (like countertops) can start.
For a standard kitchen, professionals can often install all cabinets in 1 to 2 days. For a larger or more complex kitchen, it might take 3 days. Very large or complex custom jobs could take longer, but usually not more than a week just for the cabinets themselves. This is the Professional cabinet installation duration you can often expect.
DIY Kitchen Cabinet Installation Time
Doing it yourself saves money on labor, but it costs you time.
* If you have never installed cabinets, the first one will take a long time. You are learning the steps.
* Measuring and leveling must be very precise. This takes care and can feel slow if you’re new.
* Moving heavy cabinets is harder alone or with limited help.
* Troubleshooting problems will take longer as you figure out solutions.
For a DIYer, installing cabinets in a small kitchen might take 2 to 3 full days of work. For a medium to large kitchen, it could easily take 4 to 7 days or even longer, spread out over weekends or evenings. This is the DIY kitchen cabinet installation time you should plan for. You also need to factor in time to pick up materials, rent tools, and fix mistakes.
The Kitchen Cabinet Installation Process Timeline in Detail
Let’s break down the steps and give a rough idea of how long each might take. This is part of the kitchen cabinet installation process timeline.
Step 1: Preparation (Removing old cabinets, wall prep, layout marking)
- Time: 4 hours to 1.5 days.
- This depends heavily on how much work is needed to the walls and floor after old cabinets are out. If walls are fine and floor is level, it’s just removing old stuff and marking lines on the wall. If there’s damage or leveling issues, this takes longer.
Step 2: Assembling Cabinets (If RTA)
- Time: 0.5 to 2 days (for a medium to large kitchen).
- If you chose Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets, this step is required. Each cabinet takes time to put together. Some RTA cabinets are faster than others. Having an assembly line helps. If your cabinets come pre-assembled, you skip this time.
Step 3: Installing Upper Cabinets
- Time: 4 hours to 1.5 days.
- You usually start with the upper cabinets. They are lighter and it’s easier to work on the floor before base cabinets are in. You find the highest point on the floor (kitchens are rarely perfectly level) and draw a level line on the wall. You install a support ledger below the line. Then lift the cabinets onto the ledger, check they are level and plumb (straight up and down), and screw them to the wall studs and to each other. Working around windows or hoods takes more time.
Step 4: Installing Base Cabinets
- Time: 4 hours to 2 days.
- After the uppers are in, you install the base cabinets. You find the highest point on the floor and mark a line for the top of the base cabinets (usually 34.5 inches from the highest point). You set the first cabinet, level it side to side and front to back using shims, and screw it to the wall studs. Then you add the next cabinet, clamp it to the first one, make sure their fronts are even, and screw it to the wall and the first cabinet. You repeat this for all base cabinets, including any corner units or islands. This can be slow work because the cabinets are heavier and leveling needs to be precise for the countertop.
Step 5: Adding Trim, Doors, and Drawers
- Time: 4 hours to 1 day.
- Once the boxes are in, you add the doors, drawer fronts, and any trim pieces like toe kicks, crown molding, or decorative panels. This step makes the cabinets look finished. It requires careful alignment so doors and drawers are straight and have even gaps.
Step 6: Final Adjustments
- Time: 1 to 4 hours.
- This is the final check. You adjust hinges so doors close properly. You make sure drawers slide smoothly. You check all screws are tight. You clean up the work area.
Time Estimate Table
Here is a simple table showing a rough time estimate for cabinet installation based on kitchen size and who does the work. This is an average time to install kitchen cabinets.
| Kitchen Size | Cabinet Type | Installer | Estimated Time (Just Cabinet Install) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Pre-assembled | Professional | 1 day |
| Small | Pre-assembled | DIY | 2-3 days |
| Small | RTA | Professional | 1.5 – 2 days (includes assembly) |
| Small | RTA | DIY | 3-4 days (includes assembly) |
| Medium | Pre-assembled | Professional | 1.5 – 2 days |
| Medium | Pre-assembled | DIY | 3-5 days |
| Medium | RTA | Professional | 2 – 3 days (includes assembly) |
| Medium | RTA | DIY | 4-6 days (includes assembly) |
| Large | Pre-assembled | Professional | 2 – 3 days |
| Large | Pre-assembled | DIY | 4-7 days |
| Large | RTA | Professional | 3 – 4 days (includes assembly) |
| Large | RTA | DIY | 6-10 days (includes assembly) |
| Large | Custom, Complex | Professional | 3 – 5+ days (may need site fitting) |
Note: This table shows time for just the cabinet installation part, not getting new flooring, countertops, or other kitchen work.
Deciphering the Factors: A Closer Look
Let’s look deeper at some key things that make the time go up or down.
Kitchen Size: Small vs. Large
We talked about this already, but it’s worth repeating how much size matters for how long to install cabinets in small kitchen versus how long to install cabinets in large kitchen.
* A small kitchen might be a galley style or L-shape with just a few feet of cabinets on one or two walls. Less measuring, less cutting trim, less lifting.
* A large kitchen could be U-shaped with an island, needing cabinets on three walls plus the island. Much more complex layout, more pieces to handle, more corners to deal with, plus installing the island which often needs its own anchoring to the floor.
Cabinet Type: RTA vs. Custom vs. Stock
- Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet install time is heavily shaped by the assembly phase. Some RTA cabinets use cams and pins and go together quickly. Others use screws and glue and take longer. How well the parts fit together matters too. Building many boxes can be tiring and slow.
- Custom kitchen cabinet installation timeframe is often about precision and the weight of the cabinets. Custom cabinets are built to fit exactly, which is great, but if the measurements were slightly off, or if the wall isn’t perfect, pros need to adjust them carefully on site. This can involve trimming pieces or adjusting how they fit together. They are also often made of solid wood, making them much heavier to lift and position.
- Stock or semi-custom cabinets that are pre-assembled are the fastest to install the boxes because you skip the assembly step. You just need to place, level, and secure them.
Site Conditions
What state is the room in?
* Is the floor level? If it slopes, every base cabinet needs careful shimming. This is very slow work to get them just right for the countertop.
* Are the walls straight? If they curve or bow, cabinets won’t sit flat against them. This means shimming and sometimes cutting the back of the cabinet slightly to fit. This adds time.
* Are the corners square (perfect 90 degrees)? If not, corner cabinets and cabinets meeting in a corner need special fitting.
Tools and Materials
Having the right tools speeds things up a lot.
* A good stud finder.
* A long level (4-6 feet). A laser level is even better and faster.
* The right screws for attaching to walls and to other cabinets.
* Clamps to hold cabinets together while screwing them.
* Shims. Lots of shims.
* A good drill and impact driver.
* Safety gear.
If you are DIYing and have to stop to buy a tool or the right screws, it adds time. Pros have all this ready.
Thinking About Delays
Even the best plans can hit bumps. What things can cause unexpected delays?
* Cabinets arriving late or with missing pieces.
* Cabinets arriving damaged. You must wait for replacements.
* Finding hidden problems in the wall (old pipes, electrical wires in the wrong spot).
* The floor or walls being much more out of level/plumb than expected.
* Running out of a key supply like shims or screws.
* Weather delays if the work involves going in and out or cabinets were stored somewhere else.
* Personal issues or sickness if you are doing it yourself.
These things can easily add hours or even days to the kitchen cabinet installation process timeline.
Getting Ready for Installation Day
No matter who installs your cabinets, you can help make it go faster.
* Make sure the room is fully empty. No dishes, no small appliances, nothing in the way.
* Protect your floors. Put down drop cloths or old blankets.
* Make sure there is a clear path for getting the cabinets into the kitchen.
* If you ordered RTA cabinets, consider assembling them before the install day if you have space. This makes the install day purely about putting boxes on the wall.
* Have your contractor’s number handy for questions.
How Time Links to Cost
While this post is about time, it’s good to remember time costs money, especially with pros.
* Professional cabinet installation duration is shorter, but you pay for their time and skill. They might charge a set price for the job or an hourly rate. A faster install means lower labor cost.
* DIY kitchen cabinet installation time is longer, but your labor cost is zero. You only pay for the cabinets, tools, and supplies. However, if you make big mistakes, fixing them can cost money and even more time.
The time it takes is a main driver of the labor cost part of your project budget.
Interpreting Installation Quotes
When you get quotes from professional installers, they might give you an estimate of how long it will take. This estimate is based on their experience with jobs like yours, considering the number and type of cabinets, and their guess about your kitchen layout and condition. This is their Professional cabinet installation duration estimate. It’s an educated guess, and slight changes might happen during the job.
Fathoming the Scope
To accurately guess how long your cabinet install will take, think about:
1. Your kitchen size: Small, medium, or large?
2. Your cabinet type: RTA, stock, semi-custom, or custom?
3. Who is installing: Are you DIYing or hiring pros?
4. Your kitchen’s condition: Are walls and floors straight and level? Is it a simple layout?
5. Any known issues: Are there weird corners, pipes in the way, etc.?
Answering these questions will help you use the average times given here to come up with a more personal time estimate for cabinet installation.
The Impact of Accessories and Features
Some cabinet setups have more parts than just boxes and doors. Things like pull-out shelves, spice racks, lazy Susans, or built-in trash cans add time. They need to be installed inside or attached to the cabinets carefully. Lighting under cabinets also adds an extra step, often handled by an electrician, but coordinating it takes time.
Installation Process Summary
In simple terms, the steps are:
1. Clear the room.
2. Remove old cabinets (if any).
3. Fix walls/floor as needed.
4. Mark lines on walls for cabinets.
5. Build cabinets (if RTA).
6. Install upper cabinets.
7. Install base cabinets.
8. Add doors, drawers, and trim.
9. Make final adjustments.
Each of these steps contributes to the total kitchen cabinet installation process timeline. Skipping steps or doing them out of order can cause big problems later.
Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) Specifics
Let’s look deeper at the Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet install time. Assembling the cabinets themselves is a big chunk of time.
* A single base cabinet might take 20-40 minutes to assemble, depending on the design and your skill.
* An upper cabinet might take 15-30 minutes.
* A kitchen with 15-20 cabinets could easily require 8-15 hours of just assembly time before installation starts.
* Professional installers might have a workshop or a clear garage space where they assemble all the cabinets first. Then they bring them into the kitchen for the quicker install phase.
* DIYers often assemble them in the kitchen or nearby, which can make the space feel more cramped and slow down the process.
So, when you see an estimate for RTA cabinets, remember it includes putting the boxes together first. This makes the total job look longer than installing pre-assembled ones, even if the hanging part takes a similar amount of time.
Custom Cabinet Specifics
For Custom kitchen cabinet installation timeframe, the time is often spent on precision fitting and site adjustments.
* Custom cabinets are built to fit unique spaces, which is great, but it means there is less room for error.
* If a wall isn’t perfectly straight, a custom cabinet made for a straight wall will need modifications or extra shimming.
* Often, custom jobs involve more complex trim work (like detailed crown molding) that needs to be cut and fitted on site, piece by piece. This takes skill and time.
* Custom cabinets can also be much larger or heavier than stock cabinets, requiring more people and careful lifting, which can add time for safety and logistics.
While the number of boxes might be the same as a stock kitchen, the detailed work involved in a custom fit increases the time.
Conclusion
Knowing how long does it takes to install kitchen cabinets is vital for planning your project. While the average time to install kitchen cabinets for a typical kitchen by a pro is 1-3 days, this varies greatly. The factors affecting cabinet installation time are kitchen size (how long to install cabinets in small kitchen vs. how long to install cabinets in large kitchen), cabinet type (Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet install time vs. Custom kitchen cabinet installation timeframe vs. pre-assembled), whether you hire a pro or do it yourself (Professional cabinet installation duration vs. DIY kitchen cabinet installation time), the kitchen layout, and the condition of the room. The kitchen cabinet installation process timeline involves prep, assembly (if needed), installing uppers, installing bases, and finishing touches. Getting a good time estimate for cabinet installation requires looking at all these points for your specific project. Being prepared and realistic about the timeline helps ensure a smoother kitchen remodel.
Frequently Asked Questions
h4: Is it faster to install cabinets myself or hire a pro?
h5: Hiring a professional installer is almost always faster than doing it yourself, especially if you don’t have experience. Professionals have the tools, skill, and speed from doing many installations.
h4: Does removing old cabinets take a long time?
h5: Removing old cabinets usually takes a few hours to half a day for a standard kitchen. It can take longer if they are very old, built into the walls strongly, or if you want to save them for reuse.
h4: How much time should I add for RTA cabinet assembly?
h5: For a typical kitchen with RTA cabinets, plan to spend at least one full day, or possibly two, just assembling the cabinets before you start installing them on the walls. The exact time depends on the number of cabinets and the complexity of assembly.
h4: How long after cabinets are installed can countertops go on?
h5: Countertops can usually be measured right after the base cabinets are fully installed and leveled. The countertop installation itself usually happens a few days to a week later, depending on the countertop material and the fabricator’s schedule, not immediately after the cabinets are in.
h4: Does kitchen layout make a big difference in installation time?
h5: Yes, a simple straight kitchen layout is faster to install than a complex one with multiple corners, an island, or cabinets around appliances or windows. Corner cabinets, especially lazy Susans, can take extra time to fit and install correctly.