The ten stages, in order
This is one real kitchen, photographed at every stage from the same spot. The times are typical ranges for each stage; your contractor’s schedule is the one that counts.
Stage 1 of 10
Design, ordering and permits
Weeks to months
Layout, cabinets, counters, tile and appliances get chosen and ordered here, and the permit goes in. The cabinet order sets the whole calendar: stock cabinets arrive in 1 to 2 weeks, semi-custom in 4 to 8, custom in 3 to 6 months or more. A permit usually takes a week or two.
Stage 2 of 10
Demolition
A few days to 3 weeks
Old cabinets, counters and flooring come out, down to the studs if the walls are opening up. This is when surprises show: rot, old wiring, mold or asbestos each add days to a week.
Stage 3 of 10
Rough-in
2 to 4 days per trade, then inspection
With the walls open, the electrician and plumber run new wiring, outlets and supply and drain lines for the new layout. An inspector signs it off before the walls close, so the inspection date matters as much as the work.
Stage 4 of 10
Drywall and paint
About a week
Board goes up, then tape and coats of mud with drying time between each, then sanding, primer and paint. Most of the week is waiting for mud to dry, which is why it can look like nothing is happening.
Stage 5 of 10
Flooring
1 to 3 days
The new floor usually goes in before the cabinets so it runs underneath them. Subfloor repairs found at demo add a day or two.
Stage 6 of 10
Cabinets
2 to 3 days
Base cabinets get levelled and fastened, then the uppers. It is quick work if the order arrived complete; a missing or damaged box is one of the most common reasons a kitchen slips.
Stage 7 of 10
Countertops
About a week after cabinets
Stone and quartz are measured on the installed cabinets, cut in a shop, then installed in a day. Laminate and butcher block can go on sooner.
Stage 8 of 10
Backsplash
A couple of days
Tile goes up between the counter and the uppers, then grout the next day.
Stage 9 of 10
Fixtures and appliances
1 to 2 days
Sink, faucet, lights and appliances go in and get hooked up. Appliances that are back-ordered can hold this stage up, so ask early when they arrive.
Stage 10 of 10
Final touches and walkthrough
A day or two
Hardware, trim and cleaning, then a walkthrough together. Anything not right goes on a short punch list that gets fixed after.
What decides how long yours takes
- Cabinet lead time. The biggest one. When cabinets are ordered before demolition, the build waits on nothing.
- Moving things. Moving a wall, the sink or the range means new framing, plumbing and inspections, and turns weeks into months.
- Permits and inspections. Your city sets the pace for both. Ask your contractor when the inspections are booked.
- What’s behind the walls. Rot, mold, old wiring or asbestos found at demolition add days to a week each.
- Changes mid-job. A new counter or a moved outlet after work starts reorders the trades behind it.
Living without a kitchen
You lose the kitchen from demolition until the sink goes back in, which is most of the build. A temporary kitchen in another room makes those weeks easier:
- The fridge, a microwave, a kettle and a toaster oven on a folding table
- A plastic tub for dishes, washed in the laundry or bathroom sink
- Paper plates for the dustiest weeks, and a plan for a few meals out
Knowing where yours is at
The hardest part of a remodel is usually not the dust. It is not knowing what happened today or what comes next. More contractors now send a live timeline instead: one link that shows the stage you are in, today’s photos and the next step.
The Andersons’ kitchen on their phone, mid-job: Drywall and paint today, stage 4 of 10.
See the Andersons’ full timeline →
If your contractor doesn’t send one, show them this page.
Questions homeowners ask
How long does a small kitchen remodel take?
Size matters less than scope. A small kitchen with new cabinets, counters and floors still takes about 6 to 12 weeks, because every trade still comes in order and countertops still wait on cabinets. Keeping the layout as it is saves the most time.
Can I live at home during a kitchen remodel?
Most people do. Expect dust and noise during working hours, and set up a temporary kitchen in another room. Demolition and drywall sanding are the messiest stretches.
Why do cabinets take so long?
Most cabinets are built to order. Stock lines ship in 1 to 2 weeks, semi-custom in 4 to 8, and custom in 3 to 6 months or more. That is why good contractors order them well before demolition.
How long after the template do countertops get installed?
Stone and quartz are usually installed about a week after the template is taken on the finished cabinets. Installation itself takes a day.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?
Usually yes if wiring, plumbing or walls change, and usually no for a cosmetic refresh. Your city decides, and a permit typically takes a week or two.
What is the most common reason a kitchen remodel runs late?
Materials that arrive late or incomplete, especially cabinets and appliances, then surprises behind the walls and changes made after work starts.
Sources: stage durations from Fixr, “How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?” (January 2025). Planning average from the 2020 U.S. Houzz & Home study: homeowners spent an average of 8.3 months planning and 4.5 months building a kitchen remodel finished in 2019, DIY projects included.