The whole timeline in one table
| Stage | Typical duration | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Free site survey & measurement | 1 visit, 60–90 minutes | Whether walls are already stripped; lift booking |
| Design & 3D drawings | 1–2 weeks | Number of spaces; how many revision rounds you need |
| Quotation & sign-off | 2–5 working days | Board, hardware and fitting selections |
| Factory production | 3–5 weeks (up to 6 in peak season) | Panel count, special finishes, factory slot |
| Delivery & installation | 3–7 days on site | Flat size, lift access, stone worktop templating |
| Snagging & handover | 1–3 days | Length of the punch list |
Typical range, subject to site survey. Timings assume a confirmed drawing set and an available production slot.
What each stage actually involves
The survey is a single visit and should take 60–90 minutes for a normal flat. The technician measures wall-to-wall clearances, ceiling height, beam and column positions, socket and switch positions, and checks how the panels will enter the building. Measuring a flat with the old cabinets still standing gives you a budgeting number, not a production drawing — in an old flat, book the real measurement after demolition.
The drawing stage is where most of the calendar is won or lost. A first layout usually arrives in 3–7 working days; the full set of elevations, internal divisions and hardware schedules takes 1–2 weeks. Every round of changes costs days, so decide the storage layout with the people who will live with it before the meeting, not after.
Once you approve the drawing and the itemised quotation, the file goes into the production queue — 3–5 weeks for a typical whole-home package, closer to 6 weeks in the two months before Lunar New Year. Panels are cut, edged and drilled on CNC lines, then packed by room so the installation team can work cabinet by cabinet instead of sorting a mixed delivery on site.
Lead time by project scope
| Scope | Typical lead time (survey to handover) | Where the days go |
|---|---|---|
| Single fitted wardrobe | 3–5 weeks | Short drawing cycle, 3–4 weeks production, 1–2 days on site |
| Kitchen, 10–12 running feet | 4–6 weeks | Worktop templating, appliance coordination, 2–3 days on site |
| Whole-home, two-bedroom | 5–8 weeks | Multiple drawing rounds, larger panel count, 3–5 days on site |
| Whole-home, three-bedroom or duplex | 6–9 weeks | Stair or lift logistics, phased delivery, longer snagging |
Typical range, subject to site survey. Add 1–2 weeks if site works are still running when furniture production starts.
Installation week, day by day
Installation is the shortest stage and the one buyers underestimate. A two-bedroom package typically runs like this:
| Day | On site |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Delivery, floor and lift protection, carcasses carried in and set in position |
| Day 1–2 | Carcasses levelled and fixed, service gaps cut for sockets and plumbing |
| Day 2–3 | Doors, drawers, internal fittings; hinges and runners adjusted |
| Day 3–4 | Glass, LED strips, handles, silicone lines; worktop templated where specified |
| Day 4–5 | Snagging walk-through, cleaning, handover of drawings and warranty card |
A fabricated stone worktop is templated after the carcasses are fixed and cut off site — add 5–7 working days before it can be fitted.
The five things that actually delay a Hong Kong job
- Drawings signed late. A week of indecision in the design stage is a week added to the end date, because nothing is cut until the drawing is approved.
- Material changes after sign-off. Switching the board, the door finish or the hardware after the file is released usually means a new production slot, not a small adjustment.
- Measuring too early. Dimensions taken before demolition or before handover defects are fixed will be re-measured, and the drawing starts again.
- Building access rules. Many Hong Kong buildings ask for a renovation deposit, insurance certificate, lift protection and a booking for the service lift several days ahead, and restrict noisy work to set hours. A crew that cannot get the lift loses a day.
- Peak season. Slots tighten before Lunar New Year and during the summer moving season, and Zhejiang factories close for roughly 1–2 weeks around Lunar New Year. Confirm in early January and you may be scheduling into March.
How to hold the date without paying a rush fee
- Measure on the stripped site. One correct measurement removes an entire re-draw cycle.
- Decide board and hardware at the drawing stage. Thickness (18mm carcass, 9mm back panel), formaldehyde grade (E1 as the mandatory baseline, E0 where specified) and hinge and runner brands should all be settled before sign-off, not after.
- Nominate one decision-maker. Two people with two opinions is the most reliable way to add a fortnight.
- Approve in one round. Collect every comment — including the interior designer's and the family's — into a single revision.
- Book the lift before the delivery date. Give the management office the delivery window as soon as production is confirmed.
Budget and timeline run together
Lead time and price are set by the same three variables: scope, material grade and detailing. Current Hong Kong market references look like this.
| Item | Market reference (HK$) | Effect on lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Full-height wardrobe (per unit) | 15,000 – 40,000 | Sliding or glass doors add about a week |
| Kitchen cabinets (base + wall) | 30,000 – 80,000 | Stone worktop and appliances add 1–2 weeks |
| Tatami bed (per bedroom) | 20,000 – 50,000 | Lift-top mechanism and drawers add 3–5 days |
| TV storage wall / living cabinets | 12,000 – 35,000 | LED and glass detailing add a few days |
| Whole home (two-bedroom unit) | 150,000 – 350,000 | Largest panel count, longest production window |
Typical range, subject to site survey. Figures follow the 2026 Hong Kong whole-home pricing guide; the actual quote follows the measured plan.
Warranty: the part of the timeline that lasts years
The lead time is measured in weeks; the warranty is what you live with afterwards. Market practice in Hong Kong is 3–5 years on the cabinet body and structure, 3–10 years on hinges and runners depending on the hardware brand, and 1–2 years on built-in appliances under the appliance maker's warranty. Ask for all three periods, the covered and excluded scope, and the response time in writing — a verbal "there is a warranty" is not a term you can enforce.
A note for interior designers and B2B buyers
On trade projects the constraint is usually the site programme, not the furniture. Two things protect the date: releasing production drawings for each zone as it is confirmed rather than waiting for the whole flat, and booking the factory slot before the client's finish selection is finalised. FameHouse works from shop drawings and phased delivery schedules with designers and contractors, and as a long-term supplier to global building-material brands, production and QC follow the documentation standards those brands audit — which is what makes a fixed delivery date defensible to a client. Free site measurement and design can be booked on WhatsApp +852 6159 8571.
FAQ
How long does custom furniture take in Hong Kong?
4–8 weeks from survey to handover for most jobs: 1–2 weeks for design, 2–5 working days to confirm the quote, 3–5 weeks in production and 3–7 days on site. A two-bedroom whole-home package usually takes 5–8 weeks.
Can custom furniture be ready in 3 weeks?
Only for a small, simple item with stock hardware, a standard finish and an open factory slot — and only if the drawing is signed on measuring day. Stone worktops, special lacquer or imported hardware rule out three weeks.
How long does a fitted wardrobe take from measuring to installation?
3–5 weeks in total: 3–7 working days for the drawing, 3–4 weeks in production and 1–2 days on site. Sliding doors with imported tracks, glass fronts or lacquer add about a week.
Should I measure before or after demolition?
After demolition in an old flat, and after handover defects are fixed in a new one. An early visit is fine for budgeting, but the production drawing has to come from a measurement on the stripped site.
When is the busiest season?
The two months before Lunar New Year and the summer moving season. Zhejiang factories also close for about 1–2 weeks around Lunar New Year, so confirm 2–3 weeks earlier than usual.
How many days does installation take for a whole flat?
3–7 days on site for a two-bedroom package, plus one day for snagging and cleaning. Add 5–7 working days if a fabricated stone worktop is specified.
Can furniture go in before painting and flooring?
No — flooring down and walls painted first, then furniture, then a touch-up visit. Cabinets cannot sit level on a bare or dusty floor, and paint cannot reach behind a fixed wardrobe.
How long is the warranty?
Market practice is 3–5 years on the body and structure, 3–10 years on hinges and runners by hardware brand, and 1–2 years on built-in appliances. Get the periods, scope and response time in writing.