RTA vs assembled cabinets: which should you buy?
At RTA Cabinets Plus it is the same cabinet either way, with the same build; the difference is who builds the box and when. Ready to assemble costs less and ships faster: in-stock RTA orders leave our dock within two business days, while assembled cabinets are made to order and take up to 21 business days. Because our boxes click together on a licensed system in under 2 minutes each, with 100% tool-free box assembly, the labor RTA used to cost you is mostly gone. Choose assembled only when the convenience is worth the wait and the price.
What changes, and what does not.
| Ready to assemble | Assembled | |
|---|---|---|
| The cabinet | Same box, same plywood, same real paint and stain finishes, same hinges and glides. | Same box, same plywood, same real paint and stain finishes, same hinges and glides. |
| Price | Lower. You are not paying to ship air or for somebody else to build the box first. | Higher. The convenience is priced as one. |
| Lead time | In stock orders leave our dock within two business days. | Made to order, up to 21 business days to produce and ship. |
| Your work | Click each box together in under 2 minutes a box: wood-to-wood, no tools, no glue, no screws. Only the metal parts need screws. | None on the box. It arrives built. |
| Returns | Within 30 days of delivery, unassembled and in the original packaging, with a 20% restocking fee. You pay return freight. | Not returnable: they ship assembled, and returns must be unassembled. |
| Hanging | A drill, a level and shims, the same as any kitchen. | A drill, a level and shims, the same as any kitchen. |
RTA suits most kitchens. Assembled suits a few.
- Choose RTA when the budget matters, when the job cannot wait for a made to order build, or when you are doing the work yourself. Traditional RTA asked for a weekend of cam locks, dowels and glue; our licensed click-together box is about 10x faster than screw-together RTA, and very DIY friendly. It saves you time, headaches, and possibly your marriage.
- Choose assembled when nobody on the job will build a box at all and the made to order wait suits the schedule. Keep in mind that assembled cabinets cannot be returned, because returns must be unassembled.
- Or mix them in a single order, and balance labor against budget however the job needs.
What people ask next.
Are RTA cabinets cheaper than assembled cabinets?
Yes. The same cabinet costs less ready to assemble, because it ships flat and nobody is paid to build the box before it reaches you. At RTA Cabinets Plus both prices are on the product page.
Are RTA cabinets as good as assembled cabinets?
At RTA Cabinets Plus they are the same cabinet, with the same plywood box, real paint and stain finishes, solid wood face frame and soft-close hardware. Only who builds the box changes.
How long do assembled cabinets take to ship?
Assembled cabinets are made to order and can take up to 21 business days to produce and ship. In-stock ready to assemble orders leave our dock within two business days.
Can I return assembled cabinets?
No. Assembled cabinets ship assembled, and returns must be unassembled, so assembled orders cannot be returned. Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, unassembled and in the original packaging, with a 20% restocking fee, and the customer pays return freight. Shipping damage and defects are not returns: they go through the claims process.
Can I mix RTA and assembled cabinets in one order?
Yes. Ready to assemble and assembled cabinets can go in a single order.
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.
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.
How long does it take to assemble RTA cabinets?
Our RTA cabinet boxes click together in under 2 minutes each, about 10x faster than traditional RTA. What needs tools, what does not, and the order of work.
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.