Three pricing tiers — modular, mid-range, bespoke
| Tier | Per linear metre (incl. TVA 17 %) | Typical 4 m closet turnkey |
|---|---|---|
| Modular fit-out (Pax-type, melamine) | €600–€1 100/m | €2 800–€5 200 |
| Local custom carpentry, melamine or veneered MDF | €1 200–€1 800/m | €5 400–€8 600 |
| Bespoke joinery, oak or walnut | €1 600–€2 800/m | €7 800–€14 200 |
| Walk-in dressing with island, lighting, soft-close | €2 200–€3 800/m | €12 000–€22 000 |
Worked example — 4 linear metres, mid-range custom carpentry:
| Line | Net | TVA 17 % | TTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom melamine carcasses, 4 × 1 m | €4 200 | €714 | €4 914 |
| Soft-close drawer mechanisms (12 drawers) | €620 | €105 | €725 |
| LED strip lighting, 8 m, dimmable | €380 | €65 | €445 |
| Carry-out of old built-in, disposal at SuperDrecksKëscht | €180 | €31 | €211 |
| Installation labour, 2 days × 2 fitters | €1 320 | €224 | €1 544 |
| Total turnkey | €6 700 | €1 139 | €7 839 |
Headline drivers:
- Material — melamine at the floor, veneered MDF mid, oak or walnut at the ceiling
- Drawer count and quality — German Hettich/Blum mechanisms add €40 to €80 per drawer over basic
- Internal lighting — LED dimmable strips add €280 to €580 per linear metre, plus the certified electrician
- Custom geometry — sloped ceilings, beams or chimneys add 15–30 % for the cutting and fitting
- Door choice — open shelving cheapest, push-to-open the next step, sliding mirror or smoked glass at the top
Modular vs custom — choosing the right path
Three patterns dominate the Luxembourg dressing market. Each fits a specific budget and a specific room geometry.
Modular fit-out (€600–€1 100 per linear metre):
- IKEA Pax, Elfa, Schmidt-modular, or local equivalents
- Standard heights (201, 236 cm) and widths (50, 75, 100 cm)
- Standard depths (35, 58 cm)
- Best for: rectangular rooms with straight walls and standard ceiling heights
- Limits: poor fit on sloped ceilings, beams, chimney returns, sub-200 cm heights
- Lead time: 2 to 4 weeks
Local custom carpentry (€1 200–€1 800 per linear metre):
- Luxembourg or Greater Region menuisier produces melamine or veneered MDF carcasses to exact dimensions
- Doors and fronts can be flat-pack standards or custom finish
- Drawer mechanisms typically German (Hettich, Blum)
- Best for: irregular geometries, sloped ceilings, full-height runs from 230 cm to 290 cm
- Lead time: 4 to 8 weeks (design + production + install)
Bespoke ébénisterie (€1 600–€2 800 per linear metre):
- Luxembourg ébéniste produces solid wood or veneered cabinetry
- Hand-crafted joints, dovetails on drawers, oil or wax finish
- Designer-led project, often with an interior architect
- Best for: high-end residences, signature pieces, walk-in dressings as design features
- Lead time: 8 to 16 weeks
The hybrid path that often wins:
- Local menuisier produces the carcasses at custom dimensions
- IKEA Komplement-style internal accessories (drawers, baskets, hangers) at modular cost
- Bespoke or designer-supplied doors and fronts as the visible finish
- This approach delivers a visual and dimensional fit at 60–80 % of the bespoke cost
Geometry checklist before quoting:
- Measure floor-to-ceiling height in three points (corners drift in older buildings)
- Note any beams, sloped ceilings, radiators or sockets that intrude
- Identify the existing floor and skirting (avoid tearing them up if possible)
- Check the door swing of the room itself — closet doors may conflict with the door
Site reality in Luxembourg:
- Pre-1980 apartments typically 250–270 cm ceiling — modular caps often need an upper filler panel (extra €120–€280)
- Post-2000 apartments typically 240–260 cm ceiling — modular fits cleanly
- Maisons unifamiliales may have 280–310 cm in living spaces, requiring custom heights for visual integration
- Lofts and converted spaces often have heights above 320 cm — only custom carpentry or bespoke handles them well
Declared craftsperson and the COPROPRIÉTÉ approval
Closet remodels in Luxembourg involve carpentry and often electrical work. Both demand declared trade authorisations and, in apartment buildings, an additional copropriété pre-approval.
The carpentry side — Autorisation d'établissement:
- The closet builder must hold the Autorisation d'établissement in the trade "menuisier-ébéniste" or "installateur"
- The autorisation is checkable on guichet.public.lu under the company name
- The Chambre des Métiers maintains a public directory at chambre-des-metiers.lu
- A clean operator displays the autorisation reference on the website footer or on the quote header
The electrical side — declared electrician:
- LED lighting integrated into the closet (strips, motion-activated downlights) requires connection to the home's electrical system by a declared electrician
- The electrician must hold the Autorisation d'établissement in "électricien" or "installateur d'équipements électrotechniques"
- A new RCD-protected circuit may be needed depending on the lighting load
- The combined site (carpenter + electrician) is best coordinated by one general contractor
The COPROPRIÉTÉ approval (apartment buildings):
- Most building regulations require prior written approval of the syndic for any major fit-out work
- The threshold is usually defined in the règlement de copropriété — typical triggers: noise hours, weekend work, lift use for materials, dust containment
- Some buildings require approval for any drilling into structural walls (load-bearing walls and slabs)
- A reach-in closet within an existing room rarely needs approval; a walk-in built by tearing into a partition wall does
Standard COPROPRIÉTÉ paperwork:
- A description of the work with dimensioned drawings
- Identity of the menuisier and electrician (with autorisation references)
- Scheduled work hours respecting building rules (typical: weekdays 08:00–18:00, no Sundays, no public holidays)
- Insurance evidence from the contractors (RC professionnelle)
- Compensation for any common-area damage (lift, hallway, common stairwell)
Notification to neighbours:
- Even where formal copropriété approval is not required, advance notice to neighbours (10–14 days) is standard practice
- A notice in the building's lobby with start date, duration and contact phone reduces complaints
- Compliance with the building's quiet hours (typically 12:00–14:00 weekdays, all day Sunday) is mandatory
Working in a maison unifamiliale:
- No syndic approval needed
- Commune permission needed only for façade alteration or for work changing the building's footprint
- The standard renovation declaration via guichet.public.lu may apply for major interior changes
TVA — 17 % standard or 3 % super-reduced for primary residence
Closet remodels in a primary residence in Luxembourg can qualify for the 3 % super-reduced TVA rate through the logement.lu mechanism, providing the property and the works meet the legal criteria.
Eligibility for the 3 % rate:
- The dwelling must be the primary residence of the owner-occupier
- The dwelling must be completed for at least two years at the time of the works
- The works must be carried out by a declared craftsperson holding the Autorisation d'établissement
- The contract value must be at or above €3 000 net for the works portion to qualify
- A formal Demande d'application du taux super-réduit must be filed with the AED before the work starts (or within strict deadlines after)
- The cumulative super-reduced TVA benefit per dwelling is capped at €50 000 over the dwelling's life
What does and does not qualify:
- Qualify: built-in wardrobes integrated into the structure of a primary residence (carcasses, fronts, doors fixed to walls/floors/ceilings), permanent wardrobe lighting connected to the building's circuit
- Do not qualify: free-standing furniture, modular pieces purchased separately and installed without integration, removable accessories
- Mixed: a partially built-in walk-in dressing — the built-in carcasses qualify, the loose accessories do not
Worked example — 4 m built-in dressing in primary residence:
| Line | Net | TVA 3 % | TVA 17 % | TTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in carcasses (qualifies) | €4 200 | €126 | — | €4 326 |
| Soft-close drawer mechanisms (qualifies, integrated) | €620 | €19 | — | €639 |
| LED strip lighting (qualifies, fixed) | €380 | €11 | — | €391 |
| Loose accessories (does not qualify) | €280 | — | €48 | €328 |
| Carry-out and disposal | €180 | — | €31 | €211 |
| Installation labour (qualifies) | €1 320 | €40 | — | €1 360 |
| Total | €6 980 | €196 | €79 | €7 255 |
Saving versus 17 % flat:
- At 17 % flat: €6 980 × 1.17 = €8 167 TTC
- At blended logement.lu: €7 255 TTC
- Saving: €912 on this example, or €1 250 on a fully qualifying €7 350 net job
Procedure:
- The AED file is normally prepared by the tax adviser, the architect or the project manager
- The contractor's quote and invoice must show the AED reference and the 3 % rate explicitly
- A retroactive correction is possible within strict windows but is harder to administer
For a non-primary residence (rental investment, second home):
- Standard TVA 17 % applies on the full quote
- For rental investment, the TVA on the works can be deducted as a business cost depending on the owner's tax structure
Compliant invoice elements:
- Menuisier name, RCS, TVA, autorisation reference
- Itemised lines with TVA rate per line
- AED reference for the 3 % portion
- Total and TTC clearly shown
A "tout compris" quote with no TVA breakdown is non-compliant; ask for the line-by-line version.
Comparing three quotes — what to brief and what to ask
Closet quotes in Luxembourg vary by 30–60 % between bidders for an apparently identical brief. A clean specification turns the spread into an evaluable decision.
The five checks that matter:
- Material specified by name and grade. "Melamine" is not enough; ask for the brand (Egger, Kronospan), the thickness (16, 19, 25 mm) and whether the doors are flat-pack or veneered MDF
- Drawer mechanism specified. Hettich Atira or Innotech, Blum Tandembox, or generic — the difference in lifetime is 5x
- Lighting circuit specification. Dimmable or on/off? Strip type, Kelvin temperature, IP rating? Who is the certified electrician?
- Disposal of existing built-in line itemised. SuperDrecksKëscht disposal fee, lift use, carry-out
- Warranty term written. 5 years on carcasses is industry standard; 2 years on mechanisms; 1 year on lighting
Briefing pack to send each bidder:
- Photos of the existing room (all four walls, ceiling, floor)
- Dimensions: floor-to-ceiling at 3 points, wall-to-wall, depth of niche
- Existing electrical and plumbing positions
- Sketch of the desired layout (rough is fine — they will design)
- Door swing of the room itself
- Style preference (closed melamine, open shelving, glass fronts, mirror)
- Number of hanging metres needed, drawer count, shoe storage, accessory plan
- Whether you want logement.lu (3 % TVA) — they need the AED file in good order
Reading the spreads:
- A €2 000 spread on a 4 m closet usually traces to material grade (melamine standard vs veneered MDF) and drawer mechanism (generic vs Hettich)
- A €4 000 spread points to bespoke joinery vs custom carpentry — the bespoke is genuinely 2x the carpenter's price
- A €600 spread points to lighting — the bidder including a certified electrician + new circuit vs the bidder assuming an existing socket
Common omissions in low quotes:
- No carry-out of the existing built-in
- No certified electrician for new lighting circuit (or assumes you'll find one)
- No disposal fee at SuperDrecksKëscht (€80–€180 for a built-in's worth of melamine)
- No allowance for sloped or beam adjustments
- No site visit before the quote (a phone-quote is a guess)
Site visit is mandatory before signing:
- A clean operator visits the site before quoting
- They measure floor-to-ceiling at three points and check beams, sockets and skirting
- They sketch the layout in front of you and answer geometry questions
- A bidder who skips this and quotes blind is the bidder you don't pick
A €7 800 quote with full specification, certified electrician, AED file and a 5-year warranty is genuinely a better deal than a €5 200 quote that omits the electrician, the disposal and the warranty terms.
Timeline, lead time and seasonal windows
A closet remodel in Luxembourg is short on the work site (1–4 days for fitting) but long on the design and production lead. Plan accordingly.
Standard timeline by tier:
| Tier | Design | Production | Site work | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular fit-out | 1 week | 2–3 weeks | 1 day | 3–4 weeks |
| Local custom carpentry | 2 weeks | 4–6 weeks | 1–2 days | 6–9 weeks |
| Bespoke ébénisterie | 4–6 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 2–4 days | 14–22 weeks |
Seasonal demand pattern:
- January to March — quietest window for design and production; best discounts (5–15 %) and the fastest lead times
- April to June — moderate demand; good window for major spring renovations
- July to August — production slows due to summer holidays at French and German factories that supply Luxembourg menuisiers; expect 1–2 weeks added to lead time
- September to mid-November — peak demand window; book at least 2 months ahead for guaranteed dates
- Mid-November to mid-December — peak rush; some menuisiers refuse new bookings for delivery before Christmas
- Late December — quiet, dependent on workshop holiday calendar
Coordination with other trades:
- A closet remodel in a renovation often follows: structural work → walls and skirting → floor → closet (the floor goes under the closet, never the closet under the floor)
- Painting walls and ceiling before the closet install avoids over-spray on the new built-in
- Lighting circuits roughed in before the carpentry — the electrician needs the position of the LED strip before the carcass is installed
Lead-time risk management:
- A 30 % deposit on signing locks the production slot
- A 40 % progress payment on delivery to site, with snag-list inspection
- A 30 % balance after the snag list is closed (typically 7–14 days post-install)
- Avoid 100 % upfront payment under any circumstance
Common cause of delay:
- A change order mid-production (size, material, fittings) can add 2–4 weeks
- An unanticipated geometry issue at site (sloped ceiling, beam) requires a redesign — 1–2 weeks
- A late electrician arrival can postpone the lighting connection for days
- Holiday closures at the supplier factory (typical August and Christmas)
Project management upsell:
- For a project above €15 000, a maître d'œuvre or interior architect coordinating menuisier, electrician and any plasterer charges 8–12 % of the project value
- For a project under €15 000, the menuisier as lead contractor with a small electrician sub-contract is the most common pattern
A closet remodel in Luxembourg sits at €4 000 to €22 000 turnkey, with three pricing tiers: modular at €600 to €1 100 per linear metre, local custom carpentry at €1 200 to €1 800 per metre and bespoke ébénisterie at €1 600 to €2 800 per metre. The 3 % super-reduced TVA via logement.lu can save €700 to €1 500 on a primary-residence project, provided the AED file is filed in advance. A copropriété pre-approval is needed in apartment buildings for any work touching common elements. Brief three declared menuisiers on the same dimensioned plan, ask each for the material grade, drawer mechanism, lighting circuit and disposal line, and require a site visit before signing. Fynd.lu lists declared menuisiers and ébénistes with Autorisation d'établissement, Chambre des Métiers membership and 5-year carcass warranty — request three quotes on a like-for-like brief and ask each bidder to confirm the AED logement.lu position before you sign.
