Assembled vs. RTA

What Are RTA Cabinets?

RTA (Ready To Assemble) cabinets are flat-packed and shipped as unassembled cabinetry parts. These parts are supposed to be assembled at the site of installation. K&B Solutions label all the pieces for ease of joining. The holes are pre-drilled — all you need to do is gather parts and assemble the joints. These type of RTA cabinets are available at all big box stores like IKEA, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco, and our parent company AAA Distributor.

Advantages of RTA Cabinets

Ready to assemble cabinets are cheaper than their assembled counterparts, since the cost of assembly is not factored in by the seller. You have the option of buying all parts separately to save cost. Essentially, you can buy a higher quality cabinet if you choose the RTA style. Since the cabinets are mass-produced, the shipping time is considerably less if you are shopping online. In most of the cases, the assembly is a rudimentary process and doesn’t really require prior experience with hardware. Assembling the cabinets yourself affords you a flexibility in design. You can take off a shelf to have more standing space, adjust the cabinet according to the kitchen layout, and do a lot more.

What are Pre-Assembled Cabinets?

The opposite of RTA, pre-assembled cabinets are delivered fully built and functional to the installation site. Pre-Assembled cabinets need not be worked upon by the homeowner or a contractor, and everything is ready to go including drawers and hardware components. Just like RTA cabinets, pre-assembled cabinets have their own pros and cons.

Advantages of Pre-Assembled Cabinets

No assembly effort is needed by the homeowner or a contractor, and the installation can be done straight away. Designs are more abundant and more complex due to custom options pre-fabricated at the factory. Customizability is an amazing feature of pre-assembled cabinets. You can find various measurements and versions of the same product depending on your needs. However, assembled cabinets cost a lot more to ship, and some installers working in apartments or multi floor buildings prefer to use RTA over pre-assembled since it is a lot simpler to deliver.