Flat Pack Assembly Prices: What to Expect

"How much to build my IKEA wardrobe?" - the question I get asked most. Here's what assembly actually costs and what affects the price.

Quick Price Guide

Item	DIY Time	Pro Time	Typical Cost
KALLAX shelf unit	30 mins	15 mins	£30-£40
MALM chest of drawers	1-2 hrs	30-45 mins	£40-£60
MALM bed frame	1-2 hrs	45-60 mins	£60-£80
HEMNES daybed	2-3 hrs	1-1.5 hrs	£80-£100
PAX wardrobe (1 frame)	3-4 hrs	1-1.5 hrs	£80-£100
PAX wardrobe (2 frames)	5-7 hrs	2-3 hrs	£120-£160
PAX wardrobe (3+ frames)	8+ hrs	3-5 hrs	£180-£250
Small desk	30-60 mins	20-30 mins	£30-£50
Office chair	30 mins	15-20 mins	£25-£35
Dining table	1-2 hrs	30-60 mins	£50-£70

Exeter area prices, 2025

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What Affects the Price

1. Complexity

Simple items:

• Shelf units
• Basic desks
• Coffee tables
• Small bookcases

Medium complexity:

• Beds
• Chest of drawers
• Larger bookcases
• Dining sets

Complex:

• PAX wardrobes
• Kitchen cabinets
• BRIMNES daybed
• Custom configurations

Complex items take longer and cost more.

2. Brand Quality

IKEA: Well-designed, good instructions, consistent. Time estimates are reliable.

Budget brands (Argos Home, Amazon): Often harder to build. Poor instructions, fiddly hardware. Can take longer than IKEA despite simpler designs.

Premium brands: Usually better materials and clearer instructions.

3. Room Access

Building in a small bedroom is harder than in an open living room. Limited space means more moving things around.

Things that add time:

• Narrow doorways
• Small rooms
• Stairs (if bringing flat pack up)
• Furniture already in the room

4. Wall Mounting

Wardrobes and tall furniture should be anchored to the wall for safety.

Wall mounting adds:

• £10-£30 depending on wall type
• More for brick/stone vs plasterboard

Most quotes include basic wall anchoring.

5. Multiple Items

Building several items is more efficient. Second item is quicker than the first (tools out, in the zone).

Expect discount: 10-20% off per additional item when doing multiple.

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How Assembly is Priced

Per Item

Fixed price per piece of furniture. You know the cost upfront.

Pros: Predictable cost Cons: Simple items may be proportionally expensive

Hourly Rate

Charged by the hour plus any callout.

Typical rates: £40-£60/hour in Exeter

Pros: Pay for actual time Cons: Less certainty on final cost

My Approach

I quote per item for IKEA (I know how long everything takes) and hourly for unknown brands. This is fairest - you get a fixed price where I can give one, and honest time-based pricing where I can't predict.

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DIY vs Professional: The Real Cost

The DIY Reality

Time: That PAX wardrobe saying "2-3 hours" on the box? First-timers often spend 5-7 hours.

Frustration: Flat pack can be infuriating. Wrong way round, missing dowels, confusing steps.

Mistakes: Cross-threaded screws, panels on backwards, wonky doors. These take time to fix.

Weekend: Is your Saturday worth £150? For many people, paying someone is worth it.

When DIY Makes Sense

• You enjoy it (some people genuinely do)
• It's simple furniture
• You have time
• You've built it before

When to Hire

• Complex items (PAX, kitchens)
• Multiple items
• Your time is valuable
• You've tried before and hated it
• It needs to be done quickly

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What's Included in Professional Assembly

Should be standard:

• Full assembly from flat pack
• Removing packaging (usually - ask)
• Basic wall mounting for safety
• Testing doors, drawers work properly
• Minor adjustments

Usually extra:

• Taking old furniture away
• Moving heavy items in room
• Complex wall mounting (stone, awkward access)
• Delivery from store

Always ask: What's included and what's extra.

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IKEA Task Rabbit

IKEA now offers assembly through TaskRabbit.

Pros:

• Book at same time as furniture
• Pricing available immediately
• Integrates with IKEA order

Cons:

• Quality varies (individual TaskRabbits differ)
• Often more expensive than local handymen
• Limited flexibility

My view: TaskRabbit is convenient but you're paying premium for that convenience. A local handyman usually gives better value and more reliable quality.

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Getting a Quote

Information I need:

• What brand and what items?
• Is it already delivered or need collecting?
• What room is it going in?
• Any access issues?
• Does it need wall mounting?

For IKEA: The article number (8 digits) tells me exactly what it is.

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Tips for Assembly Day

Before I arrive:

• Have everything unpacked (or at least accessible)
• Clear space in the room
• Know where it's going
• Have mains power available (for drills)

This speeds things up and keeps the cost down.

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Real Examples

Example 1: Single PAX Wardrobe

• 1 frame (236cm high x 100cm wide)
• 4 shelves, 2 rails
• Pair of BERGSBO doors
• Wall mounting included

Time: 1.5-2 hours Cost: £80-£100

Example 2: Bedroom Set

• MALM double bed
• 2x MALM bedside tables
• MALM chest of 6 drawers
• Wall mounting for bed head

Time: 2.5-3 hours Cost: £150-£180

Example 3: Triple PAX Wardrobe with Corner

• 3 frames including corner unit
• Full internal fittings
• KOMPLEMENT drawers
• Mirror doors
• LED lighting
• Wall mounting

Time: 4-5 hours Cost: £220-£280

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Need furniture assembled? I build flat pack across Exeter - IKEA, Wayfair, Argos, and everything else. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.