RTA Cabinets: Ready to Assemble Kitchen Cabinets

Why choose ready to assemble

• All-plywood cabinet boxes, no particleboard shells
• Soft-close doors and dovetail drawer boxes standard
• Flat-pack pricing — no assembly labor baked in
• Faster availability than built-to-order assembled runs
• Free pickup in Edison, NJ, or delivery throughout NJ & NY

RTA vs pre-assembled

Both builds use identical doors, boxes and hardware. RTA arrives flat and costs less because assembly labor and freight volume come out of the price. Pre-assembled arrives built, ready to hang the same day it lands, and suits anyone who would rather not spend a weekend with a mallet. If your installer is billing by the hour, run the math both ways — assembled sometimes wins once labor is counted.

Compare the two side by side on our pre-assembled cabinets page, or read the cabinet buying guide before you measure.

What you need to assemble

A Phillips screwdriver or low-torque drill, a rubber mallet, a square, and floor space. Every box ships with its own hardware pack and printed instructions. Doors arrive pre-drilled and hinges are already bored, so the door goes on last and adjusts in seconds.

Frequently asked questions

What are RTA cabinets?

RTA stands for ready to assemble. The cabinet ships flat-packed with every panel, hinge, screw and cam lock included, and you put the box together on site. The finished cabinet is identical to a pre-assembled one — you are simply doing the last step yourself and keeping the labor cost.

How long does it take to assemble a cabinet?

Most wall and base cabinets take 15 to 25 minutes each once you have done the first one. A typical 10x10 kitchen is a comfortable weekend project for two people with a screwdriver, a rubber mallet and a clear floor.

How much do RTA cabinets save compared to assembled?

Assembly labor and the extra freight volume of a built box usually add 20 to 30 percent. Choosing RTA keeps that in your pocket and often shortens lead time because flat packs move faster.

Are RTA cabinets lower quality?

No. Our RTA lines use the same all-plywood boxes, dovetail drawer boxes and soft-close hardware as the assembled versions. The difference is packaging, not construction.

Can I get help planning the layout?

Yes. Upload your drawing to the instant quote tool for a same-day itemized list, or use the free design service and we will lay the kitchen out for you.