Flat pack assembly is one of the cheaper trades to hire — there are no materials to buy and most jobs finish the same day — but pricing varies a lot between assemblers and between jobs. This guide explains the pricing models you’ll meet, the ranges we typically see, and what makes a quote climb.
All figures on this page are indicative ranges based on typical quotes. Your job may sit outside them — the only reliable number is a quote for your actual items and postcode.
The two pricing models
Hourly rate. The assembler charges for time on site, usually £25–£45 per hour depending on region and experience, often with the first hour as a minimum. Simple and transparent, but you carry the risk of a slow build.
Per item (fixed price). The assembler quotes a set price per piece — say, one figure for a bed frame, another for a six-drawer chest. You know the total before anyone arrives, and a fiddly build is their problem, not yours.
Many assemblers mix the two: fixed prices for common items they’ve built a hundred times, hourly for anything unusual. Our guide to hourly vs fixed pricing digs into which to choose.
Typical per-item ranges
These are the ballparks we commonly see quoted across the UK. Big-city prices (especially London) sit toward or above the top end.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Bedside table, small shelf unit | £15–£35 |
| Chest of drawers (4–6 drawers) | £35–£70 |
| Standard bed frame (double) | £40–£80 |
| Bunk bed or cabin bed | £60–£120 |
| Bookcase or tall shelving unit | £25–£60 |
| Desk (straight, no drawers) | £25–£55 |
| Wardrobe, hinged, 2 door | £60–£120 |
| Large modular wardrobe (e.g. IKEA PAX with interiors) | £120–£300+ |
| Sofa or sofa bed (flat pack) | £40–£90 |
Drawers are the great time sink of flat pack — each one is a small box to build — so anything with six drawers costs meaningfully more to assemble than its doorless twin.
What pushes a quote up
- Access. Third-floor flat, no lift, narrow Victorian stairs — carrying and unpacking time is real time.
- Drawer count and doors. More moving parts, more minutes.
- Wall fixing. Anchoring wardrobes and chests to the wall (which you should do — it’s a genuine safety issue with children around) adds drilling time, and solid or crumbly walls slow it further.
- Disposal. Taking away the cardboard and polystyrene is often a small extra charge; some assemblers include it.
- Distance and parking. Congestion zones, paid parking, and jobs at the edge of an assembler’s patch can all add a little.
What brings a quote down
- Batching. The second and third items are always cheaper per piece than the first — travel and setup are already paid for. If you’re furnishing a room, get it all built in one visit.
- Flexibility. Assemblers fill gaps in their diary at better rates than they interrupt a full day.
- Preparation. Boxes in the right rooms, floor space cleared, old furniture out of the way — some assemblers will knock a little off a job they know will run smoothly.
Getting a fair price
Get more than one quote, and make sure each one answers the same questions: does it include travel, wall-fixing, and packaging disposal, and is it fixed or estimated? A cheap hourly rate with an open-ended time estimate can cost more than a sensible fixed price. Our hiring guide covers the rest of the vetting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does flat pack assembly cost per hour in the UK?
Most assemblers and handymen we see quote somewhere between £25 and £45 per hour, with London and the South East at the top of that range. Many also set a minimum charge — commonly £30 to £50 — so a single small item rarely costs less than that, however quick the build.
Is it cheaper to pay per item or per hour?
Per-item (fixed) pricing usually works out better for large, slow builds like wardrobes, because you are protected if the job overruns. Hourly usually wins for a batch of small, quick items. If you are unsure, ask for a fixed quote and compare it against a realistic hourly estimate.
Do assemblers charge for travel?
Some build travel into their minimum charge; others add a call-out fee for jobs outside their usual patch. Always check whether the quote includes travel, parking and congestion charges where relevant.
Prices and timings on this page are indicative, based on typical quotes we see across the UK. Your job may cost more or less — the only way to know is to get quotes for your specific items and location. This site earns a fee when we pass enquiries to assembly firms; this never changes what you pay.