How long does it take to assemble RTA cabinets?
An RTA Cabinets Plus cabinet box clicks together in under 2 minutes, about 10x faster than traditional RTA cabinets built with cam locks, dowels and glue. The box goes together with 100% tool-free box assembly on a licensed click-together system: anything wood-to-wood clicks together, no tools, no glue, no screws, box and face frame alike. The only parts that need screws are the metal ones: the hinges, glides and pulls, with a screwdriver. A drill hangs the cabinets. For a typical 10 x 10 kitchen of about 10 to 12 cabinets, the boxes take well under half an hour; hanging, leveling and fitting the hardware take the rest of the time, as with any kitchen.
Traditional RTA is slow for three reasons. This box has none of them.
- Cam locks and screws
- A traditional RTA box is held together with cam locks, screws and dowels, each one placed and turned by hand. Ours is held by a concealed internal pinlock: the panels click to each other, and there is no exposed hardware on the box.
- Glue and clamps
- Glue means mixing, clamping, wiping and waiting. This box needs none: not required and not recommended.
- A second pair of hands
- Holding one panel square while you fix another is a two person job. Here the panels lock as they meet, so most people build their first box on their own.
What is tool-free, and what is not.
Anything wood-to-wood clicks together, no tools, no glue, no screws. The only parts that need screws are the metal ones, and the wall takes a drill, as on any kitchen.
- No tools
- Building the box and fitting the face frame. Anything wood-to-wood is hands only.
- A screwdriver
- Hinges, drawer glides and pulls: the metal parts, the only ones that need screws.
- A drill, a level and shims
- Hanging the finished cabinets on the wall and leveling the bases.
Six steps, and only the last two need a tool.
This order works for every cabinet on this site. Very DIY friendly: it saves you time, headaches, and possibly your marriage.
Open the carton and count
At delivery
Check the contents against the packing list before the carrier leaves, and note anything damaged or missing on the delivery receipt.
Lay the panels out
Finished faces up
Spread the panels on a flat surface, on carton card or a blanket. The click profiles only meet their own partner, so the layout shows you the order.
Click the box together
No tools
Sides to bottom, then the back, then the top or stretchers, then the face frame. Anything wood-to-wood clicks together: no tools, no glue, no screws, and nobody holding a panel steady.
Check every joint
No tools
Run a hand along every joint. A gap means a click that is not seated, so press it home. Tight everywhere means the box is square.
Fit the metal
Screwdriver
The metal parts are the only ones that need screws: screw in the hinges, drawer glides and pulls. Leave the soft-close adjustment until the run is hung and aligned.
Hang it
Drill, level, shims
Set a level line, hang the wall cabinets before the bases, and shim the bases to a level top before the countertop goes on.
What people ask next.
How long does it take to assemble one RTA cabinet?
An RTA Cabinets Plus cabinet box clicks together in under 2 minutes, about 10x faster than a traditional RTA box built with cam locks, dowels and glue. Anything wood-to-wood clicks together, no tools, no glue, no screws. The only parts that need screws are the metal ones: the hinges, glides and pulls, fitted with a screwdriver.
Do I need tools to assemble RTA cabinets?
Not for the box. RTA Cabinets Plus cabinets have 100% tool-free box assembly: anything wood-to-wood clicks together, no tools, no glue, no screws, box and face frame alike. The only parts that need screws are the metal ones: the hinges, glides and pulls, with a screwdriver. Hanging the cabinets takes a drill, a level and shims.
Do I need glue?
No. The box is held by a concealed internal pinlock on a licensed click-together system. Glue is not required and not recommended.
Can one person assemble RTA cabinets?
Yes, for the box. The panels lock as they meet, so there is nothing to hold square while you fasten it, and most people build their first box on their own.
Is a click-together cabinet as strong as a glued one?
Skipping the glue gives nothing up. The licensed insert and the plywood lock together and the box is rigid the moment it clicks. Independently tested to KCMA standards. Passed.
Who we areRTA Cabinets Plus is an independently owned retailer that sells ready to assemble kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities direct to homeowners, remodelers and trade buyers. Made by a manufacturer that builds cabinets for one of the largest semi-custom brands in the U.S.
What makes the best RTA kitchen cabinets?
How to judge ready to assemble kitchen cabinets: plywood or particle board, real finish or a wrap, drawers, hinges, how the box assembles, price and warranty.
What are RTA cabinets?
RTA means ready to assemble: cabinets that ship flat and go together at home. How they compare with stock, semi-custom and assembled cabinets, and what to check.
RTA vs assembled cabinets: which should you buy?
RTA or assembled kitchen cabinets: what differs in price, lead time, returns and work. Same cabinet, same build; the difference is who builds the box.
How much do RTA kitchen cabinets cost?
What RTA kitchen cabinets cost: a typical 10 x 10 kitchen (13 cabinets) runs about $2,480 in Sterling Snow before freight and tax, what moves the price, trade pricing.
Plywood vs particle board cabinets: which is better?
Plywood or particle board kitchen cabinets: how each handles water, screws, shelf weight and repairs, where MDF fits, and how to tell which one you are buying.
Are kitchen cabinets safe? Formaldehyde, CARB2 and TSCA Title VI explained.
What CARB Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI mean for kitchen cabinets: the formaldehyde limits for plywood, particle board and MDF, the label to look for, and why it matters.
What is a shaker cabinet door, and which style should you choose?
What a shaker cabinet door is, wide rail or slim rail, how a door style differs from a finish, and which finishes our Sterling, Studio and Mantel doors come in.
Painted vs stained cabinets: which is better?
Painted or stained kitchen cabinets: how each looks, wears and touches up, and why paper, thermofoil and melamine wraps are a different thing altogether.
What are the standard kitchen cabinet sizes?
Standard kitchen cabinet sizes: bases 34 1/2" tall and 24" deep, wall cabinets 12" deep in seven heights, tall cabinets to 96", vanities 21" deep, and every width.
How does a free kitchen design work?
How our free kitchen design works: what to send, what a designer sends back within 1 business day (floor plan, 3D renders, parts list and price), and what it costs.
Want a person to check your plan?(305) 782-7587, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm ET. Or send your measurements for a free design.