Kitchen remodel timeline planner
A kitchen remodel usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks of construction once work starts, plus 2 to 3 months of design, permits and ordering beforehand, so plan on 3 to 6 months end to end. Custom cabinets alone take about 6 to 8 weeks to build; a refresh can finish in under two months.
Updated · By the Interior Redesign AI editorial team · Sources cited on the page
New cabinets, counters, flooring and appliances in the same layout.
Built to order from standard sizes (our estimate).
Phase lengths are our planning ranges for a typical US kitchen, checked against published totals (about 6-12 weeks of construction). We assume construction starts once permits are approved and cabinets are close to delivery. Your contractor's schedule wins.
Start to finish
13-23 weeks
About 3.0-5.3 months, planning included.
Construction
6-11 weeks
Living without a kitchen
Before demo
7-12 weeks
Design, permits, ordering
| Phase | Length | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Design and planningMeasure, choose finishes, collect at least three bids. | 3-6 weeks | 0-6 |
| PermitsDepends on your building department. | 2-4 weeks | 3-10 |
| Ordering: semi-custom cabinet lead timeRuns alongside permits. | 4-6 weeks | 3-12 |
| Demolition | 1 week | 7-13 |
| Rough-in plumbing and electricalBigger when anything moves. | 1-2 weeks | 8-15 |
| Rough-in inspection | 0.5-1 weeks | 9-16 |
| Cabinet install (or reface/paint) | 1-2 weeks | 9.5-18 |
| Countertop template to installTypically 1-2 weeks between template and install. | 1-2 weeks | 10.5-20 |
| Backsplash, flooring and paint | 1-2 weeks | 11.5-22 |
| Final inspection and punch list | 0.5-1 weeks | 12.5-23 |
Planning estimate, not a contract schedule. Delivery delays, inspection slots and change orders are the usual reasons projects run long.
Decide the look before the clock starts
Design is the phase you control. Try styles on a photo of your own kitchen while you collect bids, so finishes are settled before cabinets are ordered.
The calculator is free with no account. AI redesigns need a free account: eligible new accounts get free credits once the email is verified (no card needed), and free results carry a small watermark.
Key numbers
- Construction, typical remodel
- About 6-12 weeks (Block Renovation)
- Planning and permits before that
- About 2-3 months
- Custom cabinet lead time
- About 6-8 weeks (Angi)
- Countertop template to install
- Typically 1-2 weeks
- Biggest schedule risk
- Cabinet delivery, inspection slots and change orders
Worked example
A mid-range remodel with semi-custom cabinets, starting January 4, 2027
Same layout, new semi-custom cabinets, counters, flooring and appliances. A permit is needed for the electrical work.
- Design and planning: 3-6 weeks.
- Permits (2-4 weeks) run alongside the cabinet order (4-6 weeks), so demo can start after 7-12 weeks.
- Construction phases, from demo to punch list: 6-11 weeks.
- Total: 13-23 weeks, so demo lands around February 22, 2027 to March 29, 2027.
Expect a finished kitchen between April 5, 2027 and June 14, 2027, with 6-11 weeks of construction.
How we calculate
Pick the scope, the cabinet type and whether you need permits. The planner lays out each phase with a short and a long estimate, then chains them: design first, then permits and cabinet ordering side by side, then the construction phases one after another. Add a start date to see when demo and completion are likely to land.
The published anchors are Block Renovation's 6-12 weeks of construction plus 2-3 months of planning, and Angi's 6-8 weeks to build custom cabinets. The length of each individual phase is our planning range for a typical US kitchen, not a published figure, and we assume demo waits until permits are approved and cabinets are close to arriving, which is the cautious way to plan.
Dates are calendar weeks with no allowance for holidays or a contractor's other jobs. Treat the long end of the range as the one to plan your life around.
Estimates, sources
Planning estimates and published guidelines, not quotes, designs or code rulings. Local prices, your home and your jurisdiction's adopted code decide the real answer: get local bids and check with your inspector.
- How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? (Block Renovation, 2026): about 6-12 weeks of construction, plus 2-3 months of planning and permits
- How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (Angi, 2026): custom cabinets can take about six to eight weeks to build; costs by scope
How long each kind of kitchen remodel takes
Scope drives the schedule more than size does. A refresh skips rough-in work and usually the permit, a mid-range remodel adds new cabinets and plumbing or electrical rough-in, and a full gut that moves walls or plumbing adds longer design, permits and inspections.
| Scope | Before demo | Construction | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh | 2-4 weeks | 4-7.5 weeks | 6-11.5 weeks |
| Mid-range remodel | 7-12 weeks | 6-11 weeks | 13-23 weeks |
| Full gut, layout change | 12-18 weeks | 8-17 weeks | 20-35 weeks |
The phases, in order
Most delays come from the gaps between trades, not from the work itself. Order cabinets and appliances early, confirm delivery dates before demolition, and book the countertop templating visit for the day the cabinets are level and fixed.
- Design and planning: measure, pick finishes, get at least three bids.
- Permits and ordering: in parallel; cabinets are usually the long pole.
- Demolition, then rough-in plumbing and electrical, then the rough-in inspection.
- Cabinets, then countertop template and install, typically 1-2 weeks apart.
- Backsplash, flooring and paint, then the final inspection and punch list.
How to shorten the time without a kitchen
Keep the layout: moving the sink or range adds rough-in, an inspection and often a longer permit. Choose stock or quick-ship cabinets if the schedule matters more than custom sizes. Set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, a kettle and a utility sink before demo day, because even a smooth mid-range job means six weeks or more without one.
How to use this tool
Pick your scope
Refresh, mid-range remodel in the same layout, or a full gut with layout changes.
Choose cabinets and permits
Stock, semi-custom or custom set the lead time; permits add a review and an inspection.
Add a start date
See when demo is likely to start and when the kitchen should be finished.
Use the design weeks well
Try styles on a photo of your kitchen while you collect bids.
Questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Construction usually runs about 6 to 12 weeks for a typical remodel, per Block Renovation, after 2 to 3 months of design, permits and ordering. A refresh can be done in about 4 to 8 weeks of work; a full gut with layout changes can pass five months end to end.
How long will I be without a kitchen?
For the construction phase: roughly 4 to 8 weeks for a refresh, 6 to 11 weeks for a mid-range remodel and 8 to 17 weeks for a full gut in this planner's ranges. Set up a temporary kitchen before demo.
How long do custom cabinets take?
About 6 to 8 weeks to build, according to Angi. Semi-custom lines are often 4 to 6 weeks and stock 1 to 2 weeks, which are our planning estimates; confirm with your supplier.
How long after template are countertops installed?
Typically 1 to 2 weeks for stone or quartz, because the fabricator cuts the slab to the template. Laminate and butcher block can be faster.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?
Usually when you change plumbing, electrical, gas or walls, and often for new circuits or a vented hood. Cosmetic work like painting or new counters often needs none. Ask your local building department; the planner adds the permit and inspection time when you tick the box.
What delays a kitchen remodel most?
Late cabinet or appliance deliveries, waiting for inspections, surprises behind the walls such as old wiring or rot, and changes made after work starts.
Numbers done. Now see it.
Same kitchen, same walls and windows, new finishes. Upload your own kitchen photo to try a style before you buy cabinets or book a contractor.
Explore the kitchen remodel visualizer or watch the kitchen redesign walkthrough on the home page.