RTA vs. Assembled Cabinets: Which Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Once you’ve picked a door style and finish, there’s one practical decision left: do you build the cabinet boxes yourself, or have them arrive already put together? At Cabford, both options use the exact same cabinets — so the right choice comes down to your budget, your timeline, and how you feel about spending a few afternoons with a screwdriver.
The short answer
RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets cost less and ship sooner, but you assemble them yourself — about 20 minutes per cabinet. Assembled cabinets add $75 per cabinet and take longer to build and ship, but they arrive ready to install. The boxes, hardware, finishes and warranty are identical either way.
- Choose RTA if budget or speed matters most and you’re comfortable with basic assembly.
- Choose assembled if your time — or your installer’s hourly rate — is worth more than $75 per cabinet.
- Not sure? A free 3D design prices your kitchen both ways.
What’s the difference between RTA and assembled cabinets?
RTA cabinets ship flat-packed: every panel is pre-drilled and labeled, and the hardware is bagged by assembly step. You build each cabinet box on site, then install it. Assembled cabinets go through the same build at our facility and arrive with the doors and drawers already on, ready to set in place.
What doesn’t change is the cabinet itself. Every Cabford cabinet — RTA or assembled — is a frameless (European-style) box built with:
- 3/4″ (18 mm) plywood side panels and a 6 mm back panel
- Drawer boxes with 5/8″ (16 mm) melamine-laminated plywood bottoms and backs
- 3/4″ (18 mm) melamine-laminated plywood shelves
- Concealed, 6-way adjustable hinges and full-access, soft-close drawer glides
- A 5-year limited warranty
In other words, there’s no “budget version” hiding behind either label. You’re choosing who does the assembly, not a different grade of cabinet.
RTA vs. assembled cabinets at a glance
| RTA (ready-to-assemble) | Assembled | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Our lowest price | +$75 per cabinet |
| Ships in | 3–7 business days | 8–12 business days (built to order) |
| Your time | About 20 minutes per cabinet | None — ready to install |
| Tools for assembly | Screwdriver and a level | None |
| Delivery | Curbside freight, compact flat boxes | Curbside freight, full-size boxes on a pallet |
| Getting it inside | Easy through stairs, hallways and narrow doors | Bulky — plan a clear path and two people |
| Returns | 30 days if unused and unopened (20% restocking fee) | Final sale |
| Construction and warranty | Identical: plywood boxes, soft-close hardware, 5-year limited warranty | |
How much more do assembled cabinets cost?
Factory assembly adds $75 per cabinet. The cabinet price itself is the same, so the difference scales with the number of boxes in your kitchen, not with the door style you pick.
A quick way to weigh it: a kitchen with 20 cabinets adds $1,500 for assembly (20 × $75). Assembling those same 20 cabinets yourself takes roughly 7 hours at about 20 minutes each — a long weekend afternoon, or two shorter ones. If that time is free, RTA saves you the $1,500. If you’d be paying an installer by the hour to build the boxes on site, assembled cabinets are often the better deal.
Shipping works the same way for both: orders over $2,500 ship free.
How long does each option take to arrive?
Every order first moves through processing, which typically takes 1–2 business days. After that:
- RTA cabinets ship flat and arrive in 3–7 business days.
- Assembled cabinets are built to order and take 8–12 business days.
If your contractor or installer is already booked, count backward from that date. RTA gives you the shortest lead time but adds assembly days on your side; assembled takes longer to arrive but can go straight onto the wall.
Not sure which option fits your space?
Get a free 3D design and see your kitchen priced both ways — RTA and assembled.
When RTA cabinets are the better choice
RTA is the right fit when you want the lowest total cost or need cabinets soon, and you’re comfortable following labeled step-by-step instructions.
- You’re working to a budget. Skipping factory assembly keeps the per-cabinet price at its lowest.
- You’re on a tight timeline. RTA ships in 3–7 business days versus 8–12 for assembled.
- Access is tight. Flat boxes are much easier to carry up stairs, around tight corners and through narrow doorways or condo hallways.
- You want flexibility. Unused, unopened RTA cabinets can be returned within 30 days (a 20% restocking fee applies).
- You enjoy DIY. If you’re doing the install yourself anyway, assembly is a small step on top.
When assembled cabinets are the better choice
Assembled cabinets make sense when convenience matters more than shaving cost off the order.
- You don’t have the time or tools. There’s nothing to build — the doors and drawers are already on.
- A contractor is installing. Installers bill for their time; boxes that arrive ready to hang let them start on day one.
- It’s a large kitchen. Forty cabinets is roughly 13 hours of assembly at 20 minutes each — a lot to fit in around the rest of a remodel.
- You have a clear path in. Assembled boxes are full size, so check your doorways and plan a second pair of hands on delivery day.
One thing to know before you order: assembled cabinets are built to order, which makes them final sale. It’s worth confirming your layout and measurements first — our guide on how to measure your kitchen walks through it.
What assembling an RTA cabinet actually involves
If you’ve built flat-pack furniture, you’ll find this easier — cabinet panels are labeled and the hardware is bagged in the order you use it. Most people need about 20 minutes per cabinet with a screwdriver and a level.
- Inspect every box before you start. Check panels for damage and confirm nothing is missing. Report visible damage within 7 days of delivery and concealed damage or missing parts within 14 days — and stop assembling any cabinet that has a problem.
- Lay out the panels by their labels so you can see each cabinet before you build it.
- Follow the bagged hardware step by step. Each bag matches a stage in the instructions.
- Check the box is square and level before you install it — it makes hanging doors much easier.
- Fine-tune the doors after installation. The 6-way adjustable hinges let you even out gaps once the cabinets are on the wall.
Frequently asked questions
Are RTA cabinets lower quality than assembled cabinets?
No. At Cabford, RTA and assembled cabinets are the same cabinets: the same plywood boxes, hardware, finishes and 5-year limited warranty. The only difference is whether you or our facility does the assembly.
How much more do assembled cabinets cost?
Assembly adds $75 per cabinet. For a 20-cabinet kitchen, that’s $1,500 more than ordering the same cabinets RTA.
How long does it take to assemble an RTA cabinet?
About 20 minutes per cabinet for most people, using a screwdriver and a level. Every panel is labeled and the hardware is bagged by step.
Do I have to decide between RTA and assembled before I shop?
No. Every collection is available both ways, and you choose ready-to-assemble or fully assembled in your cart, so you can browse first and decide later.
Can I return RTA or assembled cabinets?
Unused RTA cabinets in their original, unopened packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery, subject to a 20% restocking fee. Assembled cabinets are built to order and are final sale. See our returns policy for details.
Do I need a professional to install either type?
No professional installation is required for either option, though many customers hire a local installer or contractor for a full remodel. Cabford doesn’t provide installation.
The bottom line
RTA and assembled cabinets give you the same kitchen. Pick RTA to keep costs and lead time down if you don’t mind about 20 minutes of assembly per cabinet; pick assembled to save that time — and your installer’s — for $75 per cabinet. If you’d like to see both options priced for your actual layout, request a free 3D design. You can also browse RTA cabinets or assembled cabinets, or read how ordering works from design to delivery.
