Buy from IKEA and you have four realistic routes to getting the boxes turned into furniture. They differ more in how you buy than in what happens on the day — the same wardrobe gets built either way. Here’s an honest comparison.
Option 1: IKEA’s own assembly service
Assembly bought as an add-on in the IKEA checkout, fulfilled by IKEA’s delivery partners or TaskRabbit depending on area.
Good: one transaction, IKEA’s customer service behind it, no research needed. Predictable formula pricing. Less good: you don’t choose the person; formula pricing can be uncompetitive for large or multi-brand jobs; extras like disposal of old furniture or non-IKEA items usually aren’t covered. Best for: single-item orders where convenience beats everything.
Option 2: TaskRabbit directly
IKEA-owned marketplace of independent “taskers” with hourly rates you can see, filter and choose.
Good: transparent hourly rates, reviews per person, often same-week or even same-day availability in cities. Less good: quality varies tasker to tasker — the platform vets lightly, so the reviews are doing the real work; hourly billing needs the usual care (see hourly vs fixed); coverage thins outside big cities. Best for: small urban jobs, fast turnarounds, people happy to do their own vetting.
Option 3: A local independent assembler or handyman firm
The traditional route: a person or small firm who assembles furniture (often among other handyman work) in your area.
Good: the most flexible — multi-brand jobs, wall-anchoring, disposal, “while you’re here” extras; often the best price on multi-item jobs; you can build a relationship with someone you’d rehire. Less good: finding a good one takes effort — reviews, insurance checks, a few quotes. That vetting is on you; our hiring guide is the checklist. Best for: multi-item jobs, whole rooms, anything involving your walls.
Option 4: A quote-matching service (that’s us)
You describe the job once; the service passes it to vetted local assemblers who quote directly. It’s Option 3 with the finding-and-filtering done for you.
Good: a few comparable quotes without the legwork; enquiries only go to assemblers who actually cover your postcode; free to use. Less good: we currently cover a limited set of regions — we’d rather be honest about that than pretend national coverage. And as with any route, the contract is between you and the assembler you pick. Best for: anyone who wants independent quotes without doing the outreach. How it works explains the details, or just request quotes.
The comparison in one table
| Booked via | Pricing | You choose the person? | Multi-brand / extras | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA service | IKEA checkout | Formula | No | Limited |
| TaskRabbit | TaskRabbit app | Hourly, per tasker | Yes | Sometimes |
| Local independent | Direct | Quote (fixed or hourly) | Yes | Yes |
| Quote-matching | One enquiry form | Compared quotes | Yes, from quotes | Yes |
Whichever route you take, the same two rules apply: know your item list before you ask, and make sure the price you accept says what it includes.
Frequently asked questions
Does IKEA assemble furniture in the UK?
Yes — IKEA offers assembly as a paid add-on, fulfilled through its delivery partners and through TaskRabbit in many areas. Availability and pricing vary by location and change over time, so check the current terms in the IKEA checkout for your postcode.
Is TaskRabbit the same as IKEA’s assembly service?
They overlap: IKEA owns TaskRabbit and routes much of its assembly work through it. Booking via IKEA gives you IKEA’s process and formula pricing; booking a tasker directly on TaskRabbit lets you choose the person and hourly rate yourself, with quality varying tasker to tasker.
Which option is cheapest?
It depends on the job. Formula-priced services are competitive for single items; independents usually win on multi-item jobs because travel and setup are spread across the batch. The only reliable answer is to compare a real quote for your actual list — which is the point of getting more than one.
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.