Ordering new doors is exciting, but the next question is always the same: when will they arrive? Knowing how kitchen door lead times work helps you book a fitter on the right day, plan the room around the work and avoid days with half a kitchen. This guide explains what affects delivery times for replacement kitchen doors and drawers, what to expect from order to doorstep, and how to plan your project so nothing holds it up.
What a Lead Time Actually Includes
A lead time is the full period between placing your order and having the doors in your hands. It usually has three parts:
- Processing: the time taken to check your order, pick stock or schedule production.
- Production: only for made-to-order items, the time needed to cut, finish and prepare the doors.
- Delivery: the time the courier takes to reach you once the order has shipped.
When a website quotes a delivery time, it is worth checking which of these parts it covers. A door that ships quickly from stock and a door that is finished to order can look the same on screen, but the wait can be very different.
Stock Doors vs Made-to-Order Doors
The biggest single factor is whether your doors are held in stock or produced after you order. Standard sizes in popular finishes are often ready to go, so new kitchen doors in a common size can be with you within days. Specialist finishes, unusual sizes and made to measure kitchen cupboard doors take longer, because each one is produced for your order rather than taken from a shelf.
If the size or finish you need is not listed on our product pages, we can make a door for you. Contact us with your measurements and the finish you have in mind, and our team will confirm the options and the lead time before you order.
If speed matters more than anything, choose a standard size wherever your cabinets allow it. Our guide to kitchen door sizes in the UK shows which sizes suit each type of unit, so you can see whether your kitchen fits standard doors before you order.
What Our Delivery Times Look Like
At Aspin Collins, our shipping policy sets out the timings in full. In summary:
- Orders are typically processed and shipped within 1 to 3 business days. Orders placed at a weekend or on a public holiday are processed from the next business day.
- Standard shipping takes 5 to 7 business days, with expedited (2 to 3 business days) and express (1 to 2 business days) options available for many addresses.
- Made-to-order items are listed at 7 to 10 business days.
- Standard shipping is free on orders over £600, excluding worktops.
Each product page also shows the expected delivery for that item, and stock levels can change when demand is high. If you need kitchen unit doors by a particular date, call us on 0161 465 4007 to confirm availability before you order.
What Can Make an Order Take Longer
Most delays come from a handful of predictable causes:
- Mixed orders. An order that combines stock doors with made-to-order items may wait until every item is ready, or arrive in more than one delivery.
- Peak periods. The weeks before Christmas and the spring renovation season are busy for manufacturers and couriers alike.
- Order changes. Amending sizes or finishes after ordering can restart production on the items affected.
- Large or heavy items. Worktops have their own delivery charges, and someone needs to be at the address to help unload them.
- Remote addresses. Faster delivery options are not available everywhere, so some postcodes are limited to standard shipping.
Get the Order Right First Time
The quickest order is the one that does not need correcting. A wrong size means a reorder and a second wait, which can double the time your kitchen is out of action. Before you pay, measure each door individually and record the sizes in millimetres. Our guide on how to order kitchen doors correctly covers measuring, drilling, finishes and the final checklist.
It also pays to order everything at once. If you plan to change kitchen cupboard doors and drawer fronts together, add the plinths, end panels and cornice to the same order. Finishing components ordered later can come from a different production batch, and a separate delivery adds days to the project.
Planning Your Project Around the Delivery
A simple plan keeps the work moving:
- Order before you book the fitter. Wait until your order has shipped and you have tracking details before fixing an installation date.
- Allow a buffer. Leave a few spare days between the expected delivery and the fitting date in case of courier delays.
- Keep the old doors on. Your existing doors can stay on the cabinets until your new kitchen cupboard doors arrive, so the kitchen stays usable.
- Clear a storage space. Doors should be stored flat, indoors and somewhere dry, away from radiators and damp garages.
- Tell your fitter what is coming. Share the order list so they can bring the right fixings and plan the order of work.
For a full kitchen cupboard doors replacement, most homeowners find that planning around the delivery date matters as much as choosing the finish. A refresh that is properly planned can often be fitted in a day or two once everything is on site.
Checking Your Delivery When It Arrives
When the doors arrive, check them before signing for or storing them. Count the items against your order, compare each size with the label, and look closely at faces and edges for damage in transit. Our shipping policy asks customers to report damaged or missing items within 7 days of receiving tracking information, with photographs, so open and inspect everything promptly rather than leaving boxes sealed until fitting day.
If anything is wrong, contact us with your order number and photos so the replacement can be arranged as quickly as possible. Catching a problem on delivery day keeps the delay short; finding it on fitting day can cost you the fitter’s slot.
Fast Options When Time Is Tight
If you are working to a deadline, such as a house sale, a rental changeover or a family event, a few choices make a real difference:
- Pick replacement kitchen unit doors in standard sizes and stocked finishes.
- Order drawer fronts and doors from the same range so they ship together.
- Choose a faster shipping option at checkout where it is offered for your postcode.
- Call before ordering to confirm stock on every item, not just the doors.
Cheap replacement kitchen doors in popular finishes are often the fastest to arrive when they are held in stock in standard sizes. You can browse every range and finish in our kitchen doors collection, from slab and handleless styles to shaker and traditional designs, all available as replacement kitchen doors and drawer fronts to suit your existing cabinets.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long do replacement kitchen doors take to arrive?
It depends on whether the doors are in stock or made to order. At Aspin Collins, orders are usually processed within 1 to 3 business days, then standard shipping takes 5 to 7 business days.
2. Why do made-to-order kitchen doors take longer?
Made-to-order doors are cut, finished and prepared for your order rather than taken from stock. Our shipping policy lists made-to-order items at 7 to 10 business days. Contact us if you would like a door made to your size.
3. Should I book my kitchen fitter before the doors arrive?
It is safer to wait until your order has shipped and you have tracking details. Leave a few days’ buffer between the expected delivery and the fitting date to allow for courier delays.
4. Can I get kitchen doors delivered faster?
Expedited and express shipping are available for many UK addresses, at 2 to 3 and 1 to 2 business days. Standard sizes in stocked finishes are the quickest choice when time is tight.
5. Will my doors and drawer fronts arrive together?
An order that mixes stock and made-to-order products may arrive in more than one delivery. Ordering everything at once and confirming availability first gives the best chance of a single delivery.
6. What should I do if a door arrives damaged?
Check every item on arrival and contact us within 7 days of receiving tracking information, with your order number and photographs, so a replacement can be arranged quickly.
