Do RTA Cabinets Ship Free? How Cabinet Shipping Really Works
Cabinet orders ship by freight, on pallets, so the truck is always paid for somewhere: either as a freight charge you can see or inside the cabinet prices. At RTA Cabinets Plus freight on a cabinet order is calculated at checkout from your delivery address, so it is shown before you pay, and sample doors ship with shipping included.
Here is how cabinet shipping works, what delivery day looks like, and how to compare a free shipping offer with a store that charges freight.
Why cabinets ship by freight
A kitchen is big and heavy, even flat packed. Base cabinets, wall cabinets, tall pantries, panels and trim go out in many cartons, and most kitchens are too large and too heavy for parcel delivery. So they travel the way furniture and appliances do: strapped to pallets, on a freight truck, often with a liftgate to bring them down to the ground.
Ready to assemble helps. A cabinet that ships flat takes far less space than one that ships built, which is one reason RTA cabinets cost less than assembled ones. You are not paying to ship air.
How freight is priced at our store
- Calculated at checkout. Freight depends on the delivery address and on what is in the order, so it is worked out at checkout and shown before you pay.
- Not built into the cabinet price. Every cabinet price on the site is the price of the cabinet. Freight sits on its own line, so you can see what each part of the order costs.
- Continental United States. We ship to the continental United States.
- Sample doors include shipping. A full sample door is $19.99 and a quarter door sample is $4.99, shipping included, and the sample price is refundable.
The full terms are in our shipping policy.
How to compare a free shipping offer
A free shipping banner and a freight line at checkout can end up at the same total, or not. To compare two stores fairly:
- Price the same kitchen at both. Same cabinets, same sizes, same trim. Compare the total delivered price, not the headline.
- Check for a minimum. Free shipping is often tied to an order size. Read the condition before you plan around it.
- Compare the build, not only the price. A plywood box against a plywood box, real paint against real paint. A cheaper cabinet with free shipping is not a saving if the box is particle board. Our guide to RTA cabinet cost walks through what moves a cabinet price.
- Check what delivery includes. Curbside, inside the garage or inside the house are different services, and they matter on a heavy order.
What delivery day looks like
- The carrier calls to schedule. Once the shipment reaches the local terminal, the carrier contacts you to book a delivery appointment.
- Residential delivery is curbside. The freight is set down at the curb where the driveway meets the street. Moving the cartons inside is up to you.
- An adult has to sign. Someone 18 or older must be there to accept the delivery, and a second adult to help is a very good idea on a large order.
- Inspect before the driver leaves. Check for visible damage and count the items, then write anything damaged or missing on the delivery receipt before you sign. A note on the paperwork makes a claim far easier than a photo taken later.
- More than one shipment is normal. Depending on the mix of products, an order can arrive in more than one shipment. Your tracking email lists what is on each.
If something does arrive damaged, file it through the claims page. A claim is not a return, and it carries no restocking fee.
Get the list right the first time
The most avoidable shipping cost is the second delivery: the filler, panel or toe kick nobody remembered. Before you order, send your measurements for a free kitchen design. A designer lays out the room with real cabinets and checks every filler and toe kick, so the first delivery is the whole kitchen.
Questions
Do you offer free shipping on cabinets?
No. Freight on a cabinet order is calculated at checkout from the delivery address. Sample doors are the exception: shipping is included in their price.
Will the driver bring the cabinets into my house?
No. Residential delivery is curbside, and moving the cartons inside is up to you.
Can I pick my order up instead?
No. Every order is drop shipped to the address on the order, and there is no pickup and no will call.
Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii?
No. We ship to the continental United States.