How long does a new kitchen take in Ireland?

13 September 2026 · The Home Upgrade Co.

Most people think about the kitchen long before they think about the calendar, and then find the calendar decides everything: when the old kitchen comes out, when the builders need to be finished, and how long the family eats out of a microwave. This guide sets out how long a kitchen takes with us, why lead times across Ireland vary so widely, and how to plan the dates around an extension or a move.

How long does it take from ordering a kitchen to having it fitted?

About 12 weeks from signing off your 3D design to a fitted kitchen. The design visit, 3D design and itemised quote come first and take about four working days.

The 12 weeks starts when you sign off the design, not when you first get in touch. Before that point nothing is ordered, so you can take as long as you like over the design and the quote without the clock running. Once you sign off, the kitchen goes into manufacture to your measurements, is delivered, and is fitted by our own team.

Twelve weeks is the number we plan every kitchen around, not a best case. If your project has a fixed date, such as the builders finishing or a move in, tell us at the design visit and we will work back from it.

Why do kitchen lead times in Ireland vary so much?

Because some kitchens come from stock and some are made to order. Stock units can arrive within weeks, while a kitchen manufactured to your measurements takes longer.

A kitchen built from standard sized units held in a warehouse can be delivered quickly, and the gaps where the room does not match the units are closed with filler panels on site. A kitchen made to your measurements is manufactured after the design is fixed, and that manufacturing time is most of the lead time. Neither is wrong. They are different products, and it is worth knowing which one a quote describes before you compare dates.

Worktops add their own time. Laminate is cut and fitted with the units, while stone worktops such as quartz and granite are normally templated once the base units are in place and then cut to that template. Our guides to quartz vs laminate worktops and quartz vs granite worktops cover that choice.

What happens during those 12 weeks?

Design and quote first, then sign-off in your own time, then manufacture, delivery and fitting by our own team.

Because the same team runs every stage, you always know where the kitchen is, and nothing depends on a subcontractor you have never met. What the price covers at each stage is set out in our guide to what a new kitchen costs in Ireland.

How long does the actual fitting take?

It depends on the number of units, the worktop and whether any services move. We confirm the days on site for your kitchen before the fit is booked.

A compact kitchen keeping its existing layout and a large open plan room with an island, tall units and a stone worktop are very different fits. Rather than quote an average that suits neither, we give you the fitting days for your own kitchen once the design is settled, so you can plan around real dates.

When should I order a kitchen if I am building an extension?

Design the kitchen at drawing stage, and sign it off at least 12 weeks before the room will be ready for fitting.

The mistake that costs most time is waiting for the builders to finish before thinking about the kitchen. By then the plumbing and electrics are already in, possibly in the wrong places, and the room sits empty while the kitchen is made. Designing from the architect's plans means the services go in the right place first time, and the kitchen can be in manufacture while the block work is still going up.

Since 27 July 2026 the exemption for extending a house has risen from 40 to 45 square metres, provided the other exempted development conditions are met, so more rear extensions can go ahead without planning permission. Your architect or builder confirms what applies to your site. We do not build extensions ourselves: your builder does the structural work and we fit the kitchen into the finished room. Our kitchen extension guide covers the layouts that work.

How long will I be without a kitchen?

Only for the fitting period, not the 12 weeks. The old kitchen stays in use while the new one is being made, and we give you the fitting dates first.

The long part of the timeline happens away from your house. While your kitchen is being manufactured, the old one keeps working as normal, so the time without a kitchen is the fit itself and the connection of the sink and appliances.

A temporary kitchen in another room makes that stretch easy: a kettle, a microwave, the fridge and a table. If you are working around a family event or a holiday, tell us at the design visit so the fit can be scheduled with that in mind.

What can delay a new kitchen?

Changes after sign-off, a room that is not ready on the fitting date, and services that need moving. All three are avoidable with early planning.

Changes after sign-off are the main one, because manufacture works from the signed design. That is why all changes are free before sign-off, and why we give you time to live with the 3D design first.

The second is the room. If plastering, flooring or electrics are still running when the fit is due, the kitchen waits, so on an extension keep your builder and us working to the same programme. The third is services: moving a sink or cooker needs a plumber or electrician before the units go in, and that work belongs on the plan from the start. Our kitchens page explains what we fit and what your builder handles.

Questions people ask about kitchen timelines

Does the 12 weeks start from my first visit?

No. It starts when you sign off your 3D design. The design visit, 3D design and itemised quote come first and take about four working days.

Can a made to measure kitchen be fitted faster than 12 weeks?

We plan every kitchen around 12 weeks from sign-off, because manufacture to your measurements takes most of that time. If you have a fixed date, tell us at the design visit and we will work back from it.

Can I change the design after I sign off?

Changes are free up to sign-off. After that the kitchen is being made to the signed design, so a change can affect the timeline, which is why we give you time with the 3D design first.

Do you fit kitchens outside Dublin?

Yes. We design and fit kitchens across Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, and the free design visit works the same everywhere.