Kitchen and Cupboard Installer

There is no statutory licence for kitchen or built-in cupboard installers in South Africa. The work is carpentry-based, so the formal route is the Carpenter trade test, but most operators enter through apprenticeships or short courses. What you do need to understand is the Consumer Protection Act, because kitchens are usually made-to-order goods, and that changes your warranty obligations and how you handle deposits and cancellations.‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‍

How to register and get licensed

You do not licence this trade, but the qualification and training picture is:

• The relevant formal qualification is the Carpenter trade test, at NQF Level 3 or 4, administered through EWSETA, the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority. In practice most operators come through apprenticeships or informal training rather than the trade test.
• Short courses are common. A basic accredited carpentry course (Gauteng-based, roughly four weeks practical) runs at around R7,500, and a cupboard-building and installation short course (around five days, materials included) runs at around R5,700 per person. Both figures are estimates, so confirm current prices with the provider.

Your CPA install warranties

The CPA is the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008. It places real obligations on you.

• Section 55. Installed cupboards and kitchens must be of good quality, free of defects, suitable for their purpose and durable for a reasonable period. Six months is the implied minimum benchmark.
• Section 56. Within six months of installation the consumer may require repair, replacement or refund if the goods or installation fail to meet the section 55 standard. The choice of remedy belongs to the consumer, not to you.
• Section 54. The installation itself must be performed with reasonable care and skill, and the consumer's property must be returned in substantially the same condition you found it.
• Section 57. Where parts such as drawer runners or hinges are used in a service, a three-month parts warranty applies.

Deposits on made-to-order goods

Kitchen and cupboard jobs are typically made-to-order, or bespoke, goods, which affects cancellation rights under CPA section 17.

• The consumer has the right to cancel an order, but you may charge a reasonable cancellation penalty reflecting your actual cost or loss.
• For bespoke goods cut to size or manufactured to specification, the penalty can be higher than for off-the-shelf products, because you may already have incurred fabrication costs.
• A deposit of 30 to 50 percent is the industry norm for custom cabinetry in South Africa, but the deposit must be proportionate to the actual costs incurred. Any part of the deposit above your genuine loss is refundable on cancellation.
• The National Consumer Commission Explanatory Note 4 of 2023 clarifies that cancellation fees should reflect actual loss, not be punitive.

Best practice. Issue a written order confirmation that sets out the deposit amount, the fabrication start date, the delivery and installation date, and a cancellation-penalty schedule. This protects both sides and meets the plain-language contract requirement in CPA section 22.

Kit and start-up costs (estimates)

All figures below are estimates and vary by brand and condition.

• A second-hand table saw: around R8,000 to R25,000.
• A router and bits set: around R3,000 to R8,000.
• A jigsaw, orbital sander and drill set: around R3,000 to R8,000.
• Assorted clamps, around 20 pieces: around R2,000 to R5,000.
• A pocket-hole jig (Kreg): around R1,500 to R3,000.
• Measuring, marking and levelling tools: around R1,500 to R3,000.
• A bakkie or trailer: around R80,000 to R200,000, or hire.
• A carpentry or cupboard short course: around R5,700 to R7,500.
• Personal protective equipment (dust mask, eye protection, gloves): around R500 to R1,000.

What you can charge (estimates)

These are indicative ranges only, not published rates.

• A labour-only kitchen install: around R200 to R450 per linear metre.
• A full supply-and-install kitchen, medium quality: around R15,000 to R60,000 and up depending on the units.
• A built-in wardrobe, 2.4 metres wide, supplied and installed: around R6,000 to R18,000.

If your turnover grows past R2.3 million in any 12-month period, VAT registration becomes compulsory. That threshold took effect on 1 April 2026.

Common mistakes

• Thinking the deposit is yours to keep. It must be proportionate to your actual costs. The balance above genuine loss is refundable if the client cancels.
• No written order confirmation. Without one you cannot fairly charge a cancellation penalty and you are exposed under CPA section 22.
• Assuming you choose the remedy. Within six months under section 56 the consumer chooses repair, replacement or refund, not you.
• Forgetting the parts warranty. Runners and hinges carry a three-month parts warranty under section 57.
• Treating bespoke like off-the-shelf. Made-to-order goods have different cancellation rules, so price and document accordingly.

How this site is funded →

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.

In crisis? SADAG 0800 567 567 · Mental health support

How this site is funded →