Assembling cabinets yourself can save you lots of money
RTA cabinets ship to your door in components that you put together yourself.
RTA cabinets can be half the price of standard pre-assembled ones.
There are lots of design options, but shopping is usually online-only.
If you’d love to replace your worn, dated cabinets but are dreading the price tag, then you’ll want to know about ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets. What are RTA cabinets, exactly? They’re just like conventional cabinets, except that they ship to your house unassembled. By putting them together yourself (which we promise isn’t as hard as it sounds), you can save thousands of dollars. Here’s everything you need to know about this budget-friendly option.
RTA or ready-to-assemble cabinets ship directly to your house in flat cardboard boxes. They arrive as separate components such as doors, handles, and frame pieces. You then assemble the RTA cabinets using included tools like dowels, adhesives, metal clips, and screws, and the accompanying instructions. It’s a lot like IKEA.
Speaking of IKEA, that’s one of the places you can buy RTA cabinets, which are mostly sold online. Some big box stores like Home Depot have RTA cabinets on display, so you can see what they look like before ordering them. Because RTA cabinets come in a wide variety of styles and materials and can save homeowners a lot of money, they’re an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cabinets that arrive fully assembled.
The cost of traditional pre-assembled cabinets averages between $2,004 and $10,549, while RTA cabinets can be half that price. For an average-sized kitchen, stock RTA cabinets cost about $1,000, while custom ones start at around $7,000. You’ll pay more for things like high-demand hardwoods and intricate inset designs.
Ready-to-assemble cabinets come with several advantages for people planning a remodel on a budget or looking to replace old, worn cabinetry.
Budget-friendly: As mentioned above, RTA cabinets cost about half as much as traditional pre-assembled ones. Considering that homeowners can easily spend $10,000 or more on cabinets as part of a kitchen renovation, RTA cabinets can help people save a significant amount of money.
Lots of design options: You can spend as long as you want browsing online until you find just the right type of cabinet. Stock RTA cabinets will save you the most money, but you can also order custom ones to fit your kitchen and needs exactly. RTA cabinets come in a wide variety of colors, materials, and styles, from classic maple shaker cabinets to modern, high-gloss European-style ones. You also have the option of choosing higher-end hardware like soft-close hinges.
Easy assembly: We can’t promise you it will be a quick process, but putting together RTA cabinets doesn’t require special skills or equipment. The supplies you need to assemble them are included, and you can work at your own pace. Of course, you can also hire a cabinet pro near you to assemble them, or to hang them once they’re all put together.
Buying RTA cabinets is a very different process compared to going to a showroom and discussing cabinets with a professional. Here are some drawbacks to be aware of:
May not be able to see them in person first: Standing in a cabinet showroom is a great way to visualize how different cabinets will look in your home. But you don’t have that option with RTA cabinets, which are mostly sold online. You may be able to check out a few RTA cabinets in person at places like IKEA or Home Depot, but for the most part, your only option is to order door samples. Expect to spend a lot of time reading product descriptions and customer reviews to make sure you’re getting high-quality cabinets made with the materials you want.
Measuring and ordering can get complicated: Without a sales rep to guide you, the process of measuring and ordering RTA cabinets can sometimes be overwhelming. This is less of an issue if you have standard-sized cabinets and won’t be changing your kitchen’s layout. But if you want to create a new cabinet configuration or need something in a custom size, you may need to consult with a kitchen designer or use an online planning tool. Be sure to factor in any integrated appliances as well as wiring or plumbing that may be hiding in your kitchen walls.
Taking inventory is tedious: When your RTA cabinets arrive, you’ll need to find a place to put all the boxes. And then you’ll have to open all of them and inspect every component to make sure nothing got dented, broken, or scratched in transit.
If you prefer to DIY as much house renovation as possible, then RTA cabinets are one of your best options for a kitchen or bathroom remodel. They ship with almost everything you need to assemble the cabinets yourself. Putting them together typically requires common household tools like screwdrivers, measuring tape, and a drill, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to purchase any additional supplies. You can also find plenty of cabinet assembly videos online to walk you through the process if you aren’t especially confident in the manual’s instructions.
It will take you longer than an experienced kitchen contractor to assemble your cabinets, and there’s no warranty in case of mistakes on the job. Work slowly and carefully, and give yourself plenty of time. This isn’t a project you can knock out in one afternoon—plan for around 45 minutes to fully assemble each cabinet.
Keep in mind that you’ll also need to carefully disassemble your current cabinets and have a plan in place to haul them away. Professionals can help with this step if you prefer.
