RTA Cabinets vs. Assembled Cabinets: Which Are Best?
So you’ve settled on stock cabinets for your big kitchen remodel -a great choice if you want to save money without sacrificing quality and style. But there’s still one decision to make: Will you choose even more affordable RTA Kitchens cabinets in Orlando, or assembled cabinets that’ll save you installation time? When it comes to deciding between RTA cabinets vs. assembled cabinets, the choice ultimately depends on your budget and timeline. We put together this guide to help you weigh the pros and cons of each type of cabinet.
- RTA vs. Assembled Cabinets: Side-by-Side Comparison
- What Are RTA Cabinets?
- What Are Assembled Cabinets?
- What Is the Average Cost of RTA vs. Assembled Cabinets?
RTA vs. Assembled Cabinets: What’s the Difference?
RTA CABINETS
- 10-to-20-minute on-site assembly per cabinet
- Ships in one to two weeks
- Flat packs cost less to ship
- Save 15%-20% on labor costs and shipping
PRE-ASSEMBLED CABINETS
- Cabinets arrive ready to install
- Ships in three weeks to three months
- More expensive to ship
- Save time on installation
What Are RTA Cabinets?
RTA cabinets are shipped disassembled in flat boxes, often referred to as “flat packs.” The pieces needed for assembly are included and cut to size, labeled, and finished with the hardware holes pre-drilled for quick and easy assembly. When you order from Kitchen Cabinet Kings, the hardware comes pre-attached to the cabinet, so putting together your cabinet boxes is as easy as fitting pegs in a hole. One cabinet takes about 10-20 minutes to assemble, so for an average 10×10 kitchen, that’s about three to four hours of extra labor in addition to installation time.
Pros and Cons of RTA Cabinets
PROS:
Cost-efficient: You can save up to 20% on kitchen cabinets when you decide to go with RTA cabinets vs. assembled.
Easy to assemble: Kitchen Cabinet Kings uses high-quality hardware, pre-drilled holes, and pre-attached hardware to make assembly as simple as possible. You’ll only need a screwdriver and perhaps a rubber mallet to piece one together yourself.
Faster and cheaper shipping: Because RTA cabinets are shipped in flat packs and don’t require assembly time, you’ll save time and money on shipping.
Quality construction: Our RTA cabinets are made with top-quality materials and hardware to ensure you’re getting the best stock cabinets that will last for decades to come.
CONS:
Possibility of damage and unforeseen costs: If you damage the cabinet during assembly, you may need to dig into your budget to purchase a replacement.
Longer assembly time: Although many manufacturers have made the cabinet assembly extremely easy, it will take a novice about 35-45 minutes to assemble the first cabinet. After the initial cabinet, assembly speeds considerably, with many people taking only 15 minutes to assemble each cabinet after the first.
No warranties or guarantees: Since RTA cabinets are not put together by the manufacturer, it may be difficult to get all your money back if you have serious problems with the cabinets post-installation.
What Are Assembled Cabinets?
Assembled cabinets arrive on-site already pieced together by the manufacturer and ready to install – saving you valuable labor time. From the cabinet box to the sliding drawers, homeowners won’t need to lift a finger to prepare assembled cabinets for installation.
Pros and Cons of Assembled Cabinets
PROS:
Pre-assembled by professionals: Because they are assembled by a professional cabinet manufacturer with industrial-grade tools, you can rest assured your cabinets were pieced together with the utmost care and skill.
No time needed for assembly: When you purchase assembled cabinets, they are ready to install as soon as they arrive, saving you time.
Still cheaper than semi-stock or custom cabinets: Although assembled cabinets are more expensive than RTA cabinets, they’re still cheaper than semi-custom cabinets. Semi-custom cabinets cost $150-$650 per linear foot, while assembled cabinets cost $100-$300.
CONS:
Additional costs for labor and shipping: Manufacturers have to charge for the labor of putting the cabinets together, but that amount is nominal compared to the shipping costs. Since assembled cabinets cannot ship in flat boxes, they take up much more space in a shipping container, so the shipping cost is significantly higher than with RTA cabinets.
Longer shipping time: It generally takes up to three weeks to three months longer to acquire assembled cabinets vs. RTA cabinets.
RTA VS. ASSEMBLED CABINETS FAQS
Why are RTA cabinets cheaper than assembled cabinets?
RTA cabinets are cheaper than assembled cabinets because they are shipped in flat packs, which cost significantly less to ship compared to assembled cabinets. With RTA cabinets, homeowners have also opted to assemble the cabinets themselves, cutting labor costs.
How can you tell if stock cabinets are good quality?
Choosing high-quality stock kitchen cabinets can be difficult, especially with so many options from big-box stores. The best quality stock cabinets seem to have these things in common:
- Grade A plywood-constructed cabinet boxes
- Full-height back panels
- Soft close drawer and door glides
- Hardwood dovetail drawer boxes
- Fully concealed and adjustable door hinges
Our selection of ready-to-assemble and assembled cabinets check all those boxes, so you know you’re getting the best quality stock cabinets at the right price.
If you’re ready to start shopping for your new cabinets, our NKBA-certified design team is available to help you choose a kitchen layout and cabinet style that fits your space perfectly.
DEVELOPER/MULTI-UNIT PROJECTS
If your a developer, large builder or GC managing larger multi-unit projects then contact us today. We’re a great option to consider for numerous reasons:
- $100M+ of cabinets in inventory in 20+ U.S. warehouses at all times.
- 2-7 day shipping timelines. Warehouse pickup always available (1-3 days are normal timelines).
- Backorders (delays) are very unusual. Our Customer support team will always identify if backorders exist and provide you with very transparent details of when the items are expected to arrive in the event of backorders.
- We receive, on average, 200 new containers monthly.
- Free Design services. Our team will quickly turn-around full color renderings and pricing per any give project.
- Access to additional products: lighting, countertops, flooring, cabinet hardware and ZLINE appliances.
- Flat Pricing = Cost of Goods + Pre-Determined Margin (3 tiers per any customer/order size)
- Field Measuring Services (full container orders only – 700 -800 cabinets minimum)
- National Assembly & Install Services (full container orders only – 700 -800 cabinets minimum)
- Site visit availability (to see our cabinet quality and install services)
CONTAINER PROGRAM
If your a developer, large builder or GC managing larger multi-unit projects then contact us today for container ordering. Includes deeper discounts beyond our already low multi-unit pricing.
- Container fits 700-800 cabinets
- 120 – 150 days for production
- 50% down to start production
50% once container hits U.S. port - Container is delivered to jobsite for unpacking, no additional shipping charges
- Driver returns container to port after unpacking (2-5 hours on site)
- Builder grade specs and custom colors available (particle board, melamine, partial overlay, etc)