One of the first questions I hear from Chicago homeowners planning a kitchen renovation is: "How long will the cabinet installation actually take?" The honest answer depends on your kitchen size, cabinet type, and whether surprises hide behind the old ones. In my 15 years as a Master Craftsman, I've installed cabinets in everything from compact Lincoln Park condos to sprawling Naperville kitchens — and the timelines vary more than you'd expect. Here's a realistic, phase-by-phase breakdown so you can plan your life around the dust.
The Short Answer: Typical Installation Timelines
For a standard Chicago kitchen (10–15 linear feet of cabinetry), expect the physical installation to take 2 to 5 days. A galley kitchen in a condo can be done in 1–2 days. A large L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen with an island runs 4–5 days. Full custom builds with specialty features — pull-out organizers, integrated lighting, appliance garages — can push toward 6–7 days of install time.
But installation is only one piece. The total project timeline from ordering cabinets to cooking your first meal in the new kitchen is typically 4 to 8 weeks depending on whether you choose stock, semi-custom, or fully custom cabinets.
Phase 1: Design and Ordering (1–4 Weeks)
Before a single screw gets driven, the design and ordering phase has to happen. Stock cabinets from big-box stores can arrive in 1–2 weeks. Semi-custom options typically take 2–3 weeks. Fully custom cabinets — the kind we build at AK Cabinet Craft — have a 21-day production cycle from approved design to ready-for-install.
During this phase, I always recommend finalizing your countertop, appliance, and plumbing selections. Waiting until cabinets arrive to order a countertop adds another 2–3 weeks to your total project. In my experience, the homeowners who have the smoothest installs are the ones who lock in all material choices before production begins.
Phase 2: Demolition and Prep (1–2 Days)
Removing old cabinets in a typical Chicago kitchen takes a day. For older homes — especially pre-war buildings in neighborhoods like Wicker Park or Logan Square — add time for plaster repair, stud reinforcement, or discovering outdated wiring. I've pulled out cabinets in 1920s bungalows and found knob-and-tube wiring that needed an electrician before we could proceed.
Wall prep is critical. I check every wall for plumb and level. Chicago homes, especially those with settling foundations, frequently have walls that are off by half an inch or more. Shimming and adjusting during install is normal, but heavily bowed walls may need furring strips — that adds a few hours.
Phase 3: Upper Cabinet Installation (Day 1 of Install)
I always start with upper cabinets. Working from the corner outward, each cabinet gets secured to wall studs with 2½-inch screws — never just drywall anchors for uppers. In a standard kitchen, I can hang 8–12 upper cabinets in a single day. The key time factors here are level adjustments between cabinets and scribing fillers to fit against uneven walls.
If your design includes crown molding, stacked uppers, or glass-door inserts, that adds 2–4 hours to the upper cabinet phase. Blum clip-top hinges, which we use on every project, speed things up because they allow precise three-way adjustment after the door is mounted.
Have questions? Call me at (224) 808-5100 or schedule a consultation.
Phase 4: Base Cabinets and Island (Day 2 of Install)
Base cabinets go faster than uppers because gravity is on your side — but leveling is more demanding. Chicago kitchen floors, particularly in older homes, are rarely flat. I use composite shims and check level every two cabinets. A run of 10 base cabinets typically takes 4–6 hours.
Islands are a separate task. A basic island with two or three cabinet boxes takes about 3 hours. A large island with a sink, dishwasher, and electrical outlets requires coordination with your plumber and electrician, which can add a full day if their schedules don't align with ours. See the types of custom kitchen cabinets we build for Chicago homes.
Phase 5: Hardware, Drawers, and Final Adjustments (Day 3)
This is where Blum hardware makes a measurable difference in timeline. Blum Tandembox drawer systems use a clip mechanism that literally snaps into place — no fiddling with side-mount slides and hoping the spacing is right. I can install a full set of soft-close drawers in a 15-cabinet kitchen in under 3 hours.
Door alignment is the most time-consuming part of this phase. Every door gets checked for consistent reveal (the gap between doors), and Blum's three-way adjustable hinges let me dial in 1mm corrections without removing the door. Final touches include drawer bumpers, interior accessories like pull-out trash bins, and lazy Susans.
Phase 6: Countertops, Backsplash, and Finishing Trades (3–10 Days After Install)
Cabinets are done, but your kitchen isn't. Countertop fabricators need a template — and they can't template until cabinets are installed. Stone countertops typically take 5–7 business days from template to install. Quartz and granite need a 48-hour cure for seams.
Backsplash tile, plumbing hookups, and appliance installation happen after countertops. Budget 2–3 additional days for these finishing trades. The total from "cabinets done" to "kitchen fully functional" averages 7–10 days.
What Causes Delays in Chicago Specifically
- Building permits: Chicago requires permits for any work involving plumbing or electrical changes. Permit processing takes 2–5 business days through the city's E-Plan system.
- Elevator reservations: High-rise condos require freight elevator booking, sometimes weeks in advance. Miss your slot and you lose a day.
- HOA approvals: Many condo associations need renovation plans submitted 30+ days before work starts.
- Seasonal backlog: Spring and early summer are peak renovation season. Contractors, countertop fabricators, and plumbers all have longer lead times from March through July.
- Old building surprises: Asbestos in vintage tile, lead paint on walls behind old cabinets, and non-standard stud spacing are common in pre-1960 Chicago homes.
How to Shorten Your Timeline
Order countertop templates the same week cabinets are installed — don't wait. Have your electrician and plumber scheduled for the day after cabinet install wraps. Choose a cabinet maker who controls production in-house rather than outsourcing, so delays don't cascade. At AK Cabinet Craft, our team manages design through installation under one roof, which eliminates the scheduling gaps that happen when four different companies need to coordinate.
Also, make every design decision before production starts. Mid-project changes — "Can we switch the island to a different color?" — can add weeks. Check out our project gallery to see completed kitchens and lock in your vision early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my kitchen during cabinet installation?
Realistically, no. From demolition through the end of countertop install, your kitchen is a construction zone. I tell clients to set up a temporary kitchen station — microwave, electric kettle, paper plates — in another room. Plan for 2–3 weeks without a functioning kitchen.
Is it faster to install stock cabinets vs. custom?
Stock cabinets arrive faster (1–2 weeks vs. 3+ weeks), but installation takes roughly the same time — sometimes longer, because stock sizes rarely fit Chicago kitchens perfectly, requiring more filler strips and workarounds. Custom cabinets are built to your exact dimensions, which actually speeds up the install day itself.
Do I need to be home during installation?
Someone should be accessible for questions, but you don't need to stand in the kitchen all day. I typically have 3–5 decision points per install where I need a homeowner's input — things like exact placement of a pull-out shelf or confirming handle positioning.
What's the fastest a full kitchen can be done from start to finish?
If you choose in-stock cabinets, have no permit requirements, and your countertop fabricator has availability, I've seen full kitchens go from demolition to dinner in 3 weeks. A more realistic timeline for custom cabinets with stone countertops is 6–8 weeks.
Will cabinet installation damage my floors?
I lay down ram board or heavy contractor's paper before any work starts. In 15 years, I've never damaged a client's flooring during install. The bigger question is whether to install cabinets before or after new flooring — I recommend cabinets first, flooring second, to avoid scratches and allow cleaner transitions.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're planning a kitchen renovation in Chicago, the best thing you can do right now is start the design conversation. The earlier we nail down your layout, materials, and style, the tighter your installation timeline will be. At AK Cabinet Craft, our team has completed 1,300+ projects across Chicagoland, and our 21-day production cycle means less waiting. Contact us today or call (224) 808-5100 for a free consultation.
