Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Cost

Want to know how much flat pack furniture assembly will cost?

If you need a flat pack wardrobe, chest of drawers, table, or bed assembling, you can find the average flat pack assembly prices in this complete cost guide.

You can expect to pay anywhere between £50 and £100 for assembly, depending on the size and complexity of the item of furniture, with the average cost of flat pack furniture assembly being £70 in the UK.

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Check out our guide below for all the flat pack furniture assembly cost details!

How Much Does Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Cost?

As always, the price you can expect to pay depends on the work involved and how long it will take. For example, assembling a small flat pack bookcase is likely cheaper than a flat pack wardrobe with built-in shelves and drawers.

Generally speaking, most tradespeople will charge around £20 per hour for flat pack furniture assembly, and this typically is per person.

This means that a double bed may take one person two hours to build, totalling £40 for the work, whereas two people could do it within the hour, each getting £20 — also bringing the total to £40.

It's important to note that properties in London and the southeast area are often much higher than those in the north of the UK, with an initial 30 minutes costing £50.

With smaller items such as a bedside cabinet, a dining chair, or a basic storage unit, the average charge is likely to be £10 per 30 minutes. Still, many tradespeople will charge for the first hour to make it worth their while, with £25 as the initial cost tending to be the average.

Larger items such as a TV stand, floor-to-ceiling wall unit or dining set will need an additional person and will take much longer.

Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Price List

Additional Costs for Flat Pack Furniture Assembly

Flat pack furniture assembly specialists will know how long it will take to complete a job, with the odd exception when it may go over the allotted time.

There can be other costs involved that aren't included in the price - anything from parking fees to congestion charges costs, if located in London. You are responsible for informing them whether they may need to pay for parking, or if you expect them to dismantle and dispose of existing furnishings.

Here are some other additional costs to bear in mind:

Other costs to factor in could be additional materials not supplied with the flat pack furniture. For example, when the flat pack furniture provider does not include the fixings to mount a bookcase to the wall such as rawl plugs or anchor bolts.

Any additional screws or rawl plugs may be included as part of the cost, but with some anchor bolts, these may cost up to £12 for a pack of five — sufficient for the bookcase example.

Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Labour Costs & Timescales

As most jobs can be completed either by one or two people in a short space of time, so flat pack assembly labour costs are typically charged at £20 per hour, rather than a day rate. Some tradespeople may offer a discount if multiple items are assembled, and that will depend on the company.

Most flat pack furniture takes 1 to 3 hours on average to assemble. However, for larger items such as a large TV unit, wardrobe with sliding doors or even a trampoline, an additional person is required to assist with heavy lifting, supporting a component while the other assembles, or to speed up the build time and potentially reduce the overall cost.

Using a wardrobe with sliding doors as an example, the frame can be built reasonably quickly, but often, the doors are more cumbersome than standard wardrobe doors and impractical for an individual to do independently. As sliding doors need to be affixed correctly with one supporting while the other lines them up, it's important to have two people building the item.

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Factors That Impact Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Costs

• Minimum Fee — Many flat pack assemblers will charge a minimum fee on any project, usually 30 minutes. In some London areas, companies will charge £50 for the same amount of time. Not all booking fees include VAT, so it's always best to check with the tradesperson.
• Mileage and Travel — If you've instructed the flat pack assembler to collect the furniture on your behalf, this will likely add extra mileage fees to your bill.
• Size of the Flat Pack — Some pieces, such as flat pack wardrobes, can be cumbersome to load into a standard vehicle, requiring van hire instead. The average cost of van hire is £50 to £60, which should include two movers.
• Number of Assemblers — For more complex wardrobes such as Ikea's PAX system, two people are recommended due to sliding doors and inner compartments. Outdoor children's furniture, such as a swing or slide, will need a second person to support the structure while building.
• Timeframes — Flat pack furniture assembly will take 1 to 3 hours, with the shortest jobs taking as little as 15 minutes. Items like wardrobes, large chests of drawers, or media units can arrive in separate boxes. Opening the boxes beforehand can save on labour costs.

How to Prepare for Flat Pack Furniture Assembly

• Clear the Work Area — When preparing for your flat pack furniture assembly, ensure there is an area where the contractor can work safely and efficiently. Usually, they will need to work in the same room as where the furniture is being installed, especially for furniture like wardrobes.
• Consider Multi-Floor Access — If your flat pack assembler has to build the furniture on a different floor, think about whether they have sufficient space to carry the equipment up and whether they'll need an additional person to carry the load, as this will cost you more.
• Check Wall Safety — While no special tools are required for most flat pack assembly jobs, you need to consider whether your walls are safe to mount furniture onto. If drilling is required, are the points free from wires and pipes? Specialist tools can cost upward of £80 for a universal wall detector.
• Budget for Wall Fixings — If you need additional fittings to affix the furniture to the wall, expect to pay anything from £2 to £12 for rawl plugs to anchor bolts.

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What's Involved in Assembling Flat Pack Furniture?

Once you've cleared the space ready for assembly and have your appointment booked, these are the steps for flat pack furniture assembly:

Wardrobes

Wardrobes are fundamentally the same in design: you have an outer frame, depending on the quality of hard or soft backing and doors that open out or slide along.

• The wardrobe frame is built first: the base, top, and sides.
• Depending on the size, inner shelves are inserted and secured along with the rail, offering further rigidity.
• Once the frame and inner components are installed, the structure is laid on its front, and the back is firmly secured either through pins or screwed in place.
• Finally, doors are attached via the hinges and hung into place, or if sliding doors, the runners are installed top and bottom for the doors to be pushed into place.

Chest of Drawers

The construction of flat pack chests of drawers is similar to wardrobes, but the doors are fixed to the outer shell, and the drawers are built individually and installed on runners.

• The frame is built first, consisting of the top, bottom and sides, with the runners for the drawers installed inside, usually by screws.
• The back is affixed when the structure is on its front, either with nails or screws.
• The drawers are assembled by securing the sides to the front panel, the bottom of the draw slid into the cutaways, and then the back panel secures the remainder of the drawer.
• All drawers are then slid into place with a locking mechanism on the back to stop the drawers from being overextended and falling out.

Beds (Single, Double, King-Size, and Bunk-Beds)

Each bed has the same structure: two end panels, one side panel, and a base that can be made up of removable slats or a solid base that supports the mattress. Divans come pre-assembled, so they aren’t covered here.

• The headboard is placed, and the side panels are next, followed by the end piece.
• A support rod or similar will cover the length of the bed to prevent any bowing, and this is usually screwed in down the centre.
• Slats are placed horizontally, or one or two sheets will cover the area of the bed and secured into place – sometimes screwed, other times they may balance on an inner ledge.
• The mattress is then laid over the top.

Bunk beds may be flat packed as wood or metal setups, but they generally have the same structure as a regular bed. The difference is that the top section is built first like a table, with the lower supporting rods added afterwards to offer solidity and safety.

Flat pack beds are great options for children as there are so many varieties, but if you want something extra special, you could opt for a personalised style. The average cost of building a bespoke child's bed is around £500.

Nursery Cot

A nursery cot comprises elements similar to the bunk bed, though predominantly solid wood, and an adjustable shelf that changes as the baby grows.

• The sides of the cot are always pre-assembled with the bars in place. These are screwed into place and connected to the headboard and end piece. However, only one side is fixed, and the other is left until the end.
• Next is installed the platform that supports the mattress and the available locations will be ready at the time of the assembly — no drilling is required.
• Finally, before the mattress goes into place, the last remaining side often is connected to a sliding mechanism. Again, this is pre-built into the design, so it's a case of the assembler lining up and then locking into position.

Bedside Cabinet

Similar to the chest of drawers and wardrobe, this will depend on the design - whether it has a functioning door or separate drawer.

• The shell is constructed of the top, bottom and sides.
• The rear panel will then be pinned or screwed into place.
• If a set of drawers, the same principle of attaching the sides to the front drawer panel followed by the back to secure all in place.
• If part of the design, a door can be installed on the front of the shell, but installing the appropriate hinges.

Dining Table

Table designs can differ — some have built-in drawers, pull-out sections and other additional features. For a standard design, though, assembly is pretty straightforward, and all tradespeople will be able to complete it.

• For the most uncomplicated design, the tabletop is placed surface down, and legs are installed underneath.
• Depending on the design, there are a few strengthening options, such as additional rods that can be screwed into the centre of the tabletop that runs the width, plus there may be scope for other supports that screw into the bottom of the legs to add further stability.
• The table is simply turned over and good to go.

Dining Chair

These vary in design as some come pre-assembled with built-in cushioning and only require the legs screwed in. This example is for the standard Ikea flat pack style design.

• Two sides, shaped like a lowercase 'H', are joined together by smaller lengths at the back of the chair. These run from the top, middle, and bottom sections, which are repeated at the front of the chair where the person sits and where the legs connect.
• Turning the chair upside down, screws are inserted through the bottom of the frame, and the seat is screwed into place.

Coffee Table

The same process as the dining table, though most coffee tables have an additional shelf underneath. There are several ways to add the bottom shelf, but the most common design for flat pack options is similar to the bookcase design.

Pins are inserted in pre-drilled holes in the table legs, and the shelf sits on top of these, gaining structural support from the legs.

TV Stand

There are a wide variety of TV stands available, and though more and more homes install their TV on a wall mount, the basic design remains the same and often has the same appearance as a chest of drawers or bedside cabinet.

The process is the same, though some higher-end options might feature tempered glass on the top. Installation is simple, and clear adhesive pads are stuck to the bottom of the glass and, once lined up, remain in place.

Due to the accuracy required and the weight of the glass, this is almost certainly a two-person task.

Bookcase

The bookcase is the most straightforward design and one of the easiest jobs to complete.

• The base, top and sides are screwed into place.
• Turning the bookcase on the front, the backing is often a thin material and pinned or screwed into place. The material is usually lightweight, as the backing isn't a supporting feature for the structure.
• Depending on the design, there may be multiple options on where to place the inner shelves. These often have pre-existing holes and mini pegs that are inserted without any form of drilling, and then the shelves are simply laid over the top.

Outdoor Furniture

The focus with flat pack furniture is predominantly for items within the house, but it also applies outdoors, too. Examples of outdoor equipment can be children's play furniture such as swings, slides, and trampolines — furniture that can be assembled by a professional with the same guidelines as before.

A swing will take on average of 1 to 2 hours to assemble and install. Based on assemblers' average cost, this will likely cost around £40.

How Is Flat Pack Furniture Assembly Cost Determined?

• Maximum Assembly Time — Even with more complicated builds, such as the Ikea PAX wardrobe, the maximum time for assembly is likely to be 4 hours, not taking into account preparation or removal of existing furniture.
• Hourly Rate — You will be paying an average of £20 an hour per person. Price structures are usually very accurate and consistent in terms of the time it takes.
• Booking Fee — £25 is the average booking fee, though this may be omitted if the job entails work that ends up being 3 hours or so.
• Two-Person Jobs — Utilising a second person to get the job done faster and for the same price makes sense. One person can work on the structure while the other builds the drawers, and there is a second eye on the craftsmanship.
• Duration of the Job — The cost isn't calculated on the size or type of furniture, as it's more likely down to the time it takes.

Can I Assemble Flat Pack Furniture Myself?

It's advised to have your flat pack furniture assembled by a professional. While it's in the scope of a DIYer to carry out the task, there may be elements you might have overlooked, other than the obvious thing that comes to mind — whether you have the time to do it.

If you want to assemble your own flat pack furniture, there are 5 things you need to consider:

• Do you have the appropriate tools?
• Are you competent enough to complete the work unaided? In other words, have you built flat pack furniture before?
• How about the larger, heavier items — can you carry them on your own or safely support something such as a wardrobe door and secure it at the same time?
• What happens when you need to affix a unit to the wall? Do you have the tools or knowledge to be able to confidently drill through the wall, knowing that it won't hit any wires or pipes?
• If that's not an issue, do you know what wall fixings you need, and can you support the unit while mounting it?

Though this kind of furniture doesn't need to be professionally signed off, undergo any health and safety checks, or require planning permission, there is a lot of room for error that could make matters worse, especially if you make a mistake at the detriment of your property or worse, your health.

Hiring a professional offers peace of mind, professionalism, and for the price you pay, a lot less hassle for you to take the time out of your busy lifestyle.

Cost of Dismantling Flat Pack Furniture

It is recommended to prepare the area of work before the tradespeople arrive so that they can efficiently use their time and also to keep down the costs. However, there may be times when you need a handyman or similar to dismantle your furniture as you move home or upgrade with new cosmetic features like doors or drawers.

There are some who provide this additional service, and a guideline price will be £25 to £65 per item. Prices can differ due to the item's size and weight. Take, for example, the dismantling of a bookcase compared to a bunk bed, and it’s clear this would take more time as there are more fixings and bulkier parts.

When it comes to waste disposal, most contractors will flatten out any boxes and place the packaging in your existing waste disposal area. Some will take this away for you at no extra cost, but the removal of furniture no longer required would need to be quoted separately, and typically, this is not included in the price.

A cheap option is to donate any salvageable material, but unless you can manually dispose of it, you could be looking at £50 to £60 to hire a van and two movers to assist.

Checklist: Hiring a Flat Pack Furniture Assembler in the UK

When hiring an assembler to build your flat pack furniture, you need to ensure that their skillset meets your standards and that they can finish the job as swiftly as quoted without cutting any corners.

Consider these key points before hiring someone to assemble your flat pack furniture:

• Do they have insurance? Public liability protects you in the event of accidental damage to your property.
• Do they have a portfolio of previous work? Ask whether they specialise in any particular style, as some contractors state that they are capable of building anything within the current Ikea catalogue.
• Do they offer a warranty? Ask whether they offer any form of warranty for the build, such as a 12-month policy, should the item not meet the standard based on assembly.
• Are there any hidden costs? Check whether VAT is included in your flat pack assembly quote.
• Do they check for missing or damaged parts? Flat pack furniture sometimes arrives with missing or damaged parts, and a good flat pack assembler should flag this right away.
• Do they have positive reviews? Check their MyJobQuote profile to read testimonials from previous flat pack assembly customers.

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