The best time to book fitted wardrobe installation is once every bit of decorating, flooring and structural work in the room is finished, because manufacture usually takes several weeks while on-site fitting typically takes 1 to 3 days for a straightforward run.
TL;DR:
- A simple alcove can take one day, while long runs need 1 to 3 days; loft angles and lighting add workshop time and electrician coordination.
- Unfinished floors, missing parts, uneven walls, and unplanned parking or lift access can delay fitting; budget a 10% to 15% contingency.
- Spring and early autumn fill workshop schedules; book the survey and approve the design early, because production queues set start dates, not fitter availability.
- Ask the supplier for a production update and written delivery window, so late finishes or unavailable parts surface before installation day.
Table of Contents
- Workshop time versus fitting time
- Typical timeframes for common jobs
- What happens during the workshop stage
- Common causes of delay before and during fitting
- How busy periods and seasonal demand affect scheduling
- Getting an accurate timeframe for your project
- How a professional supplier manages timing
- Plan the sequence to avoid wasted visits and extra costs
- How Finest Furniture Studio can help: book a free design visit
- FAQ
- Sources
Workshop time versus fitting time
Fitted wardrobes are built, not bought off a shelf, so your timetable has two very different stages. The workshop stage is where the bulk of the weeks go:
- Panels are cut to your exact measurements.
- Carcasses are built and checked for square.
- Doors are manufactured, often as a separate production run.
- Finishes (paint, veneer, laminate) are applied and cured.
- Everything passes a quality check before it leaves the workshop.
On-site, the job is shorter but more visible: delivery, assembly, scribing the carcass to your actual walls and ceiling, final adjustments, and sealing or trimming edges. Workshop delays usually come from materials or production queues and are fixed by reordering or rescheduling a batch. On-site delays come from the room itself, access, uneven surfaces, other trades still finishing, and those need a different kind of planning altogether.
Typical timeframes for common jobs
Once your wardrobe arrives on-site, how long fitting takes depends largely on the shape of the job:
- A single alcove with a simple run is often finished in a single day once installers are on-site.
- A three or four door run, or a long wall of wardrobes, usually takes 1 to 3 days and may be staged over two visits if other trades are involved.
- Sloped ceilings, loft conversions and awkward angles need extra workshop time for custom scribing pieces, plus longer on-site fitting, so build in more lead time.
- Walk-in wardrobes or projects with electrics and lighting carry the longest overall programme, since they often need coordination with an electrician before the joinery goes in.
Knowing which category your project falls into before you book other trades saves you from double-booking decorators or floor fitters around a date that later shifts.
What happens during the workshop stage
Once you sign off your design, the clock starts on manufacture rather than fitting:
- Your approved design triggers the materials order.
- Carcasses are cut and assembled to your measurements.
- Doors and special finishes are produced, sometimes on a separate run that needs additional curing or finishing time.
- Finished pieces go through a quality check and are packed for delivery.
- A delivery window is agreed, and items are checked against the delivery note on arrival.
Pro Tip: Ask your supplier for a mid-production update, so a late finish or backordered component surfaces weeks before your fitting date, not the morning installers arrive.
Common causes of delay before and during fitting
Most schedule problems trace back to a handful of recurring issues, and most are avoidable with a bit of forward planning:
- Decorating, flooring or removal of old furniture that isn’t finished before installers arrive is one of the most frequent causes of delay.
- Late or incorrect parts from suppliers hold up fitting, so confirm lead times and delivery checks in writing beforehand.
- Flats and terraced houses often add time through parking restrictions, lift bookings or neighbour notices that weren’t arranged in advance.
- Uneven walls, out-of-true floors or hidden defects discovered on arrival add on-site hours, which is exactly why a 10 to 15% contingency is worth building into your budget.
A preparation checklist before installers arrive removes most of this risk in one go.
How busy periods and seasonal demand affect scheduling
Spring and early autumn tend to be the busiest renovation windows, and workshop schedules back up accordingly. If your project falls into one of those periods, book your survey and design sign-off earlier than you think you need to, or ask your supplier about off-peak slots that carry shorter lead times. It’s worth remembering that your final start date is set by the workshop’s production queue, not simply by what’s free in the fitter’s diary, so the manufacturing backlog matters just as much as the calendar on the wall.
Getting an accurate timeframe for your project
A supplier can only give you a reliable date once they have the right information, so come to your survey prepared:
- Clear photos of the room from several angles.
- Measurements taken at three points (width, height and depth) since walls and floors are rarely perfectly true.
- A list of fixtures that can’t move, such as radiators, sockets or skirting detail.
- Your preferred internal layout: hanging space, shelving, drawers.
Worth asking directly: what’s the exact lead time from sign-off to delivery, what’s the delivery window, who coordinates with your decorator or floorer, and what happens if you need to change the design after ordering.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Survey | Measurements taken, design discussed |
| Design sign-off | Final layout and finishes agreed |
| Manufacture | Workshop builds carcasses, doors, finishes |
| Delivery | Items arrive and are checked on-site |
| Fitting | Installation, scribing, adjustments |
| Handover | Final inspection and settling-in |
Our fitted wardrobe buying guide covers measurement and design choices in more depth if you’re still at the planning stage.
How a professional supplier manages timing
We run every project through the same sequence: survey, bespoke manufacture, coordinated delivery, then fitting on an agreed date. Where agreed, we’ll also take away and dispose of your old wardrobe so you’re not left storing it.
- We aim for installation within seven days once your pieces are ready and your room is prepared.
- Every installation carries a 10-year guarantee on workmanship, so you’re covered long after the fitters leave.
- In flats and houses with shared access across Putney, Wimbledon, Richmond and nearby areas, we plan around parking, lifts and communal rules in advance.
- Floors and neighbouring surfaces are protected throughout fitting, keeping disruption to a minimum.
Pro Tip: Tell us about communal access rules or parking restrictions at survey stage, not on the morning of fitting, so we can plan around them properly.
Plan the sequence to avoid wasted visits and extra costs
The single rule that saves most households time and money is sequencing: finish decorating and structural work first, then fit the wardrobe. Skipping that order almost always means remedial work, repeat visits, or marks on brand-new joinery. A professional measurement and a clear written contract, covering dates, access and responsibilities, protect both sides and keep the whole project on track.
— Aureliu
How Finest Furniture Studio can help: book a free design visit
We design, build and fit bespoke wardrobes with installation typically arranged once your pieces are ready, with a guarantee on workmanship so you’re not left wondering what happens if something needs attention later.
For a free design visit, we’ll want clear photos of your room, rough measurements and a sense of how you want to use the space, hanging, shelving, drawers or a mix. We focus on Richmond, Wimbledon, Putney, Kingston, Chiswick, Ealing, Twickenham and across West and Central London, including fitted wardrobes, sliding wardrobes, walk-in wardrobes, understairs storage and media walls.
- Book a free design visit by phone or WhatsApp on 07468 150807.
- Get a quote through our fitted wardrobes page.
- Ask about awkward spaces, including under-stair and alcove solutions.
Contact us for a free design visit by message or call for more information.
FAQ
Should fitted wardrobes go on carpet?
Fitted wardrobes are usually installed directly onto existing flooring, including carpet, though a firmer surface gives a more stable base for heavier units. If your carpet is being replaced, it’s best to fit the new flooring before the wardrobe goes in to avoid cutting around the base later.
What is the minimum depth of a fitted wardrobe in the UK?
There’s no single legal minimum, but a workable hanging depth is generally around 560 to 600mm to comfortably fit clothes on a rail. Shallower units are possible for shelving or storage-only sections where hanging space isn’t needed.
Is a closet the same as a wardrobe?
“Closet” is the American term for what’s called a wardrobe in the UK, and the two describe the same type of storage furniture. In British usage, “closet” more often refers to a small enclosed space like a cupboard rather than a bedroom wardrobe.
How much does it cost to have fitted wardrobes in the UK?
Prices vary widely depending on size, finish and complexity, with modular installs starting from around £1,000 and bespoke projects reaching considerably higher. Our London cost guide breaks down typical ranges for common room layouts.
Sources
- How much do fitted wardrobes cost in 2026? – Which?
- How to prepare your property for builders: A homeowner’s checklist
