Do I need a temporary kitchen during a renovation?

If your kitchen will be unusable for more than a few days, a temporary kitchen pod is strongly recommended. It allows you to stay at home and cook normally throughout the renovation without eating out or relying on a microwave.

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the UK?

A basic kitchen renovation costs £5,000–£10,000. A mid-range renovation typically costs £10,000–£20,000. A full high-end renovation can cost £25,000 or more depending on materials, appliances, and labour rates in your area.

How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?

Q: How long does a kitchen renovation take?

A standard kitchen renovation in the UK takes 1–3 weeks for a straightforward replacement. A full structural renovation including plumbing, electrical, and plastering work can take 4–8 weeks. Complex renovations or large kitchens may take longer.

The most common answer you'll hear is "6–8 weeks." The most honest answer is "longer than you think." Kitchen renovations in the UK typically take 8–16 weeks from the day your old kitchen is ripped out to the day your new one is fully functional — and that's if everything goes to plan.

Here's a realistic breakdown of what to expect, why delays happen, and how to plan around them.

The Realistic Timeline

Phase 1: Planning and Ordering (4–12 weeks before work starts)

This phase happens before any physical work begins, but it's where most of the calendar time goes:

Design and planning: 1–4 weeks (longer if you're working with a kitchen designer)
Ordering units and appliances: 2–8 weeks lead time depending on the manufacturer. Custom or semi-custom kitchens take longer than off-the-shelf ranges
Booking tradespeople: Electricians, plumbers, tilers, and fitters are often booked 2–6 weeks out, especially in spring and summer
Building control / planning (if needed): Only relevant if you're moving walls, adding extensions, or changing structural elements. Can add 4–8 weeks

Phase 2: Strip-Out (2–5 days)

Once work starts, the old kitchen comes out fast:

Day 1: Disconnect appliances, remove units and worktops
Day 2: Remove flooring, tiles, and any wall cladding
Day 3–5: First-fix plumbing and electrics (moving pipes, adding sockets, rerouting waste)

This is the moment your kitchen stops being usable. Your temporary kitchen should be delivered and set up before or on Day 1. See our guide to choosing the right temporary kitchen for help picking one.

Phase 3: Structural and Services (1–3 weeks)

If your renovation involves any structural changes:

Removing or altering walls: 2–5 days plus plastering
New window or door: 1–2 days
Rerouting gas, water, or waste pipes: 1–3 days
New electrics (consumer unit upgrade, additional circuits): 1–2 days
Plastering: 1–2 days plus 1–2 weeks drying time

Plastering drying time is a common delay — new plaster needs to dry fully before you can tile or fit units against it, and that takes 1–2 weeks depending on ventilation and time of year.

Phase 4: Kitchen Installation (1–2 weeks)

The actual kitchen fitting:

Base units: 1–2 days
Wall units: 1 day
Worktop templating: 1 day (then 1–2 weeks wait for stone/composite worktops to be cut)
Worktop fitting: 1 day
Second-fix plumbing (sink, dishwasher, washing machine): 1 day
Second-fix electrics (connecting oven, hob, extractor): 1 day

Worktop lead time is the biggest hidden delay. Laminate worktops can be cut and fitted the same week. Stone or composite worktops need to be templated after the units are in, then cut in a factory — this typically adds 1–2 weeks.

Phase 5: Finishing (3–7 days)

Tiling splashback: 1–2 days
Grouting and sealing: 1 day
Painting: 1–2 days
Flooring: 1–2 days
Final snagging: 1 day

Total Duration: Kitchen Unusable

Renovation Type	Kitchen Out of Action
Simple like-for-like replacement	2–4 weeks
Mid-range renovation (new layout, same footprint)	6–10 weeks
Major renovation (structural changes, extension)	10–16+ weeks

Why Renovations Take Longer Than Quoted

Almost every kitchen renovation runs over. The most common reasons:

Supply delays — appliances or units arriving late, damaged, or wrong colour
Hidden problems — once walls and floors are opened up, you find damp, rotten joists, outdated wiring, or asbestos
Trade scheduling — your plumber finishes but the electrician can't come for another week
Weather — if work involves external walls, extensions, or outdoor access
Decision changes — you change your mind about the tiles (it happens to everyone)
Worktop lead times — as above, stone worktops add 1–2 weeks

A good rule of thumb: add 30% to whatever your builder quotes. If they say 8 weeks, plan for 10–11.

Planning Your Temporary Kitchen Around This

Given the realistic timelines above, here's how to plan your temporary kitchen hire:

Book your temporary kitchen 2–3 weeks before strip-out day — this ensures availability and delivery on time
Have it delivered the day before strip-out starts — so you have a working kitchen from day one of the renovation
Book the hire period for the quoted renovation time plus 30% — most providers are flexible on extending if the project overruns
If your renovation is 4+ weeks, hiring is worth it — the cost is modest compared to eating out. See our cost comparison guide

Our kitchen renovation timeline planner has a week-by-week planning template you can use alongside your builder's schedule.

Don't Wait Until You're Kitchen-less

The worst time to start thinking about a temporary kitchen is when your old one is already in a skip. Plan ahead, book early, and your renovation will be far less stressful.

Get a quote for a temporary kitchen →