How long does made-to-measure furniture take?

How long does made-to-measure furniture take? In workshops that include measuring and fitting it is usually a few weeks, and at Furniture Lab it is up to 10 working days, which with no public holidays on the way is about two weeks on the calendar. The piece is made in the workshop only after you place the order, and then it reaches you by courier or by transport with assembly.

Such a deadline is easy to read. It is harder to understand what the lead time for made-to-measure furniture consists of and when it can slip. You also need to know how long the wait is in a workshop and how long in an online shop, so that you compare like with like.

Below we convert working days into calendar days, set our deadline next to the figures from workshop guides and describe the typical stages of making furniture from board. At the end you will find a list of things you can do to avoid delays, and a checklist to print.

What we calculated ourselves

• For an order placed on a working day with no public holidays, our deadline is 14 calendar days. One holiday in the week adds 1 calendar day, and when the end of the deadline jumps over a weekend, 3 days. During the Christmas and New Year break of 2026/2027 the deadline grows to 20 days (orders from 18, 22 and 23 December).
• In December 2026, an order placed by Wednesday 9.12 at the latest has its 10th working day before Christmas Eve. For an order from 10–15.12 it falls between 28 and 31 December, and from 16.12 it moves into January 2027. We also worked out the last order day for five holidays in 2026–2027.
• The figures in workshop guides measure different things: some describe production alone, some the whole process from measuring to assembly. We keep them apart in a table instead of merging them into one range.

How long does made-to-measure furniture take with us, and how long in workshops?

Workshops estimate production alone at about 14 working days (B2B Meble) or 4 to 12 weeks (Meble Kubik). B2B Meble estimates the whole process from measuring to assembly at 3 to 6 weeks. Shops with a configurator count their deadlines differently: meble.pl 12 working days for an open shelving unit (delivery in 5 days on the same page), Tylko an estimated dispatch time, Furniture Lab up to 10 working days.

We state our deadline on the product pages. Before comparing it with others, check what exactly each figure covers.

What the figures in workshop guides measure

We collected the deadlines from three guides (checked 15–16.09.2026) and sorted them by what they refer to:

The waiting time also depends on the type of furniture. Meble Kubik gives the lead time separately for three kinds of built-in furniture:

So according to this workshop, a built-in wardrobe usually takes less time than a kitchen.

Our conclusion from the comparison: these ranges cannot be merged into one "typical industry deadline", because they come from different workshops and describe different stages. Even a single guide can give two ranges for production: Derwood writes of 2 to 6 weeks in the description of stages and of 4 to 7 weeks in the company schedule. The deadline of a shop with a configurator is best compared with the figures for production alone, because the customer has measuring and price calculation behind them before ordering.

In a workshop the deadline covers the measurer's visit, a design with corrections and the ordering of material for the specific job. Derwood estimates the stage from first contact to signing the reservation contract at "from 10 days to 3 weeks". When you order made-to-measure furniture online, you enter the dimensions in the configurator, the construction adapts to them, and you see the price straight away.

The downside of this model is that you measure yourself. If you are off by 2 cm, the piece will be made on time but may not fit the alcove.

If you already have the dimensions, enter them in the Linea shelf configurator. You will see the price straight away, without ordering.

Deadlines in online shops with made-to-measure furniture

Online shops with configurators state their deadlines in different ways. State of the pages on 15–16.09.2026:

The number of days alone says little. When you compare order lead times between shops, ask the seller three questions:

1. When does the deadline start: from the order, from payment or from confirmation?
2. Does the deadline end with dispatch or with delivery?
3. Are these working days or calendar days?

If you want the answer to the first two questions for a specific piece of furniture before ordering from us, write through the contact form.

10 working days: how many calendar days is that?

10 working days are two full weeks from Monday to Friday, that is 14 calendar days for an order placed on a working day, if no public holiday falls on the way. Every statutory day off that falls between Monday and Friday adds one working day. With one holiday that is 1 more calendar day, and when the end of the deadline jumps over a weekend, 3 days: an order from Friday 6.11.2026 ends after 17 days instead of 14. The Christmas and New Year break stretches the deadline to almost three weeks.

Since 2025, Christmas Eve is also a day off. This was introduced by the act of 6 December 2024 amending the act on days off work, Journal of Laws 2024, item 1965 (KPMG summary). In December 2026 Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday and Christmas Day on a Friday, so three working days remain from the week of 21–25 December.

We calculated several dates. It is a model: it assumes that counting starts on the working day after the order, and that weekends and holidays are skipped.

Graphic by Furniture Lab: the usual deadline and the deadline during the holiday break. Model: counting from the working day after the order.

December 2026: when to order to be in time for the holidays

We worked out every day of December 2026. The result depends on which week the order falls in:

In practice this means three scenarios:

• If the 10th working day is to fall before Christmas Eve, order by Wednesday 9 December at the latest.
• If you order between 10 and 15 December, the deadline will end in the last week of the year, between the holidays and New Year.
• If you order from 16 December, plan for the furniture in January 2027.

Last order day before the 2026–2027 holidays

We worked out the same model for the next days off. The table shows the last working day on which you must place the order for the 10th working day to fall before the holiday.

If the deadline runs from the next working day, an order placed at the weekend after the Friday deadline in the table ends on the same day as the Friday one.

When to order furniture for a specific date?

You can work out the latest order date with a simple formula:

latest order date = the date you need the furniture − delivery time (if the deadline ends with dispatch) − 10 working days (excluding weekends and holidays)

In practice you count backwards, in three steps:

1. Mark in the calendar the day the furniture is to stand in place.
2. If the deadline ends with dispatch, not delivery, subtract the delivery time.
3. From that date go back by the lead time, skipping weekends and holidays.

Example: if the 10th working day is to fall on Friday 18 December 2026 at the latest, the last working day to order is Friday 4 December. An order from the weekend of 5–6 December, counted from the next working day, also ends on 18 December. For an order placed two weeks later, on 18 December, the 10th working day falls only on 7 January 2027.

How is made-to-measure furniture made? Stages of making furniture from board

A piece of furniture made from board usually goes through eight stages: checking the order, cutting optimisation, cutting, edge banding, drilling, finishing (for veneer), inspection with packing and handover for transport. The description below is based on materials from manufacturers and companies in the industry (machines, tools, oils, board cutting), not on measurements in our workshop.

The table and the diagram are an illustrative example of how these stages might fall within 10 working days, not the schedule of our workshop. The ranges of days overlap.

Checking the order and the list of cut parts

The list of cut parts is a breakdown of all elements of the piece: sides, shelves, tops and fronts, each with its dimension, decor and a note on which edges get edge banding. It is produced from the dimensions of the construction. For wood-effect decors the list also says which way the grain runs: WoodConnect asks for dimensions to be given so that the length runs "along the direction of the grain".

Board cutting optimisation

Cutting optimisation means laying the parts out on standard sheets so that as little waste as possible is left. A program does this: WoodConnect describes its system as one that "optimises the cutting layout to minimise waste". With wood-effect decors such as Natural Halifax Oak or Lincoln Walnut the parts cannot be turned freely, because the grain on fronts and sides must run the same way.

Cutting the board into parts

Board sheets are cut on a format saw or a panel saw. With laminated board, the scoring blade matters: a small blade that scores the underside of the board just before the main saw. Without it, as Mardrew explains, "the lower layer of laminate is often torn out". WoodConnect, which cuts board to order on a panel saw, declares a tolerance of "about ±0.1 mm per element".

Gluing the edge banding onto the edges

An edge banding machine prepares the edge, applies glue, presses on the edge banding and trims the excess in one pass. Homag lists among the operations of an edge banding machine pre-milling, trimming the excess material after the edge banding is applied, polishing and scraping. Liquid hot-melt glue is applied to the board edge, according to Cehpol "most often of the EVA or PUR type".

Edge banding protects the board edge and decides how the piece looks up close. How thicknesses and types of edge banding differ, we describe in the comparison of 0.8 mm, 2 mm and laser edge banding. If, years later, an edge comes off or chips, see the guide to repairing a chip and peeling edge banding.

Drilling and CNC machining

After edge banding, the parts go to a drilling machine or a CNC centre. This is where holes for fittings, shelf pins and connectors are made. Many fittings use a 32 mm spacing: Festool describes holes drilled "at 32 mm intervals" for cup hinges, supports, roller runners and carcass connectors.

At this stage the elements that set a given model apart are also made. In the low TV unit these are the cable pass-throughs in the back panel. The Kolumna wardrobe has a configurable interior with a rail and shelves, so its set of parts depends on the chosen layout. If you are planning a wardrobe, start from the page on made-to-measure wardrobes.

Veneer: extra time for the oil

Veneer is a thin layer of natural wood glued onto the board. Our range has three veneered finishes: Oiled Oak, Bleached Ash and American Walnut (oiled). Oil needs time. For example, the manufacturer Osmo gives for its hard wax oil about 8–10 hours of drying for one layer at 23°C and 50% humidity, and after it dries it says to apply a second thin layer. That is 16–20 hours of drying alone, and full hardening of the coating takes, according to the manufacturer, 2 to 3 weeks. This is data for one product, not information about what we use.

On the Linea shelf page there is one message about the deadline, regardless of the chosen material: "lead time up to 10 working days".

Inspection, packing and dispatch

Before packing, typical production checks the dimensions of the parts against the list and the quality of the edges. Then the piece gets protection for transport. When ordering, you choose a courier, with free shipping across Poland, or transport with assembly.

What does the lead time of made-to-measure furniture depend on?

The lead time of made-to-measure furniture depends on five things: availability of board in the chosen decor, type of material, production load, days off in the calendar and changes after the order is placed. You influence the last two, because you choose the order date and decide on changes.

Availability of board and decor. If the board in a given decor is not in stock, it has to be ordered. Derwood states that standard materials are ordered in 7–14 days, while premium finishes can wait "even up to 3 to 6 weeks".

Laminate or veneer. Laminated board has a factory-finished surface, so after cutting, edge banding and drilling it does not need oiling. Oiled veneer needs an extra finishing and drying stage, described above.

Load and season. Derwood points to order peaks in March–June and September–December and lists them among the causes of longer deadlines.

Days off. One holiday between Monday and Friday adds one working day, that is 1 calendar day, or 3 when the end of the deadline jumps over a weekend. The Christmas and New Year break adds up to 6 calendar days, that is 4 working days (tables above).

Changes after ordering. In workshops, corrections to the design extend the lead time by 1 to 3 weeks (Derwood). Parts after cutting already have their dimension and decor, so changing any of them means cutting again.

What can you do to avoid lengthening the lead time?

You have no influence on how production runs, but you do on what happens before and after it. Five things depend only on you:

1. Measure twice. Walls are rarely perfectly straight, so measure in several places and enter the smallest dimension. How to hide the gap between furniture and an uneven wall, we show in the guide on cover strips at an alcove.
2. Choose the decor before ordering. A colour on the screen can look different from the board in the light of your room. How to judge a decor where the furniture will stand, we describe in the text on comparing a sample at home.
3. Answer questions quickly. If the seller needs to clarify something in the order, the order waits for your answer.
4. Give full delivery details. For transport with assembly, the floor, information about a lift and the width of the doors will be useful.
5. Leave a buffer before the holidays and before a move. Count working days backwards from the date you need the furniture, and leave a margin for delivery.

Checklist to print before ordering

We collected the key points of this article on a single A4 page: measuring, decor, three questions about the deadline, a field to work out the latest order date and delivery details. Download the checklist as a PDF, print it and tick it off before you place the order.

Dimensions ready? Enter them in the configurator and check the price before you place the order. You will find the other models in the shop.

Frequently asked questions about the lead time of made-to-measure furniture

How long does made-to-measure furniture take in a workshop, and how long in an online shop?

B2B Meble estimates production at about 14 working days and the whole process with assembly at 3 to 6 weeks; Meble Kubik estimates production alone at 4 to 12 weeks. Online shops count differently: meble.pl 12 working days (delivery in 5 days on the same page), Tylko an estimated dispatch time, Furniture Lab up to 10 working days.

What deadline does Furniture Lab state?

On the product pages: "Made to order, lead time up to 10 working days". For an order placed on a working day with no holidays on the way, that is 14 calendar days. You can choose courier shipping, free across Poland, or transport with assembly.

How long is 10 working days?

It is two weeks from Monday to Friday. One holiday on a working day adds one working day, that is 1 calendar day, or 3 days when the end of the deadline jumps over a weekend. An order from Friday 6.11.2026 ends after 17 days, and one from 18.12.2026 after 20.

Does veneer furniture take longer than laminated board?

Oiled veneer has an extra stage: the oil has to dry. For example, Osmo gives about 8–10 hours of drying per layer for its hard wax oil. On the product page, however, the stated deadline is the same for both materials.

When should I order made-to-measure furniture before the holidays?

For the 10th working day to fall before Christmas Eve 2026, order by Wednesday 9 December at the latest. For an order from 16 December, the deadline moves into January 2027. If the deadline ends with dispatch, add the delivery time on top.

Summary

There is no single answer to how long made-to-measure furniture takes. At Furniture Lab it is up to 10 working days, and in workshops that include measuring and fitting it is usually a few weeks. Remember three things from this text:

• for an order placed on a working day with no holidays it is 14 calendar days, and at the turn of December and January as many as 20 days; before Christmas Eve 2026 you will be in time with an order placed by 9 December,
• compare the figures from workshop guides stage to stage: production alone is a different thing from the whole process with measuring and assembly,
• you gain the most before ordering: with precise measuring and a firm choice of decor.

Design made-to-measure furniture and see the price straight after entering the dimensions. Courier shipping is free across Poland, and every piece comes with a 24-month guarantee. You will find more practical texts about ordering furniture in the Tips section.

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How we prepared this text. We checked the deadlines of workshops and shops on their websites on 15 and 16 September 2026 and give them with links, keeping production alone apart from the whole process. The description of the production stages is based on materials from manufacturers and companies in the industry, not on measurements in our workshop, which is why the table of stages and the diagram are marked as an example. We calculated the dates in all the calendar tables ourselves for statutory days off work in Poland, counting from the working day after the order. The graphics and the checklist were prepared by the Furniture Lab editorial team on the basis of this data.

Sources (accessed: 15–16.09.2026)

1. B2B Meble, guide to the lead time of made-to-measure furniture
2. Meble Kubik, guide to lead times
3. Derwood, "Made-to-measure furniture in Warsaw: how long does it take and why?"
4. meble.pl, "Open shelving unit" page
5. Tylko, FAQ "How long does production take?" and "How long does delivery take?"
6. verysimpl, shop terms and conditions
7. Act of 6 December 2024 amending the act on days off work, Journal of Laws 2024, item 1965; KPMG summary
8. WoodConnect, "Furniture board cut to size: how to order cut parts"
9. Mardrew, "Format saw with or without a scoring blade?"
10. HOMAG, "Automatic edge banding machine"
11. Cehpol, "How does a furniture edge banding machine work? Construction and stages of work"
12. Festool, "Drilling rows of holes"
13. Osmo, technical data sheet "Hard Wax Oil Original"