RTA vs. Assembled Cabinets: Which to Order for Your Job

"Should I order RTA or assembled?" is one of the most common questions we get from the trade. The honest answer: it depends on the job — and the good news is you can order either from the same catalog, at the same wholesale pricing.

What RTA (flat-pack) means

RTA — ready-to-assemble — ships flat and your team puts the boxes together on site. Industry cost guides consistently show RTA running 30–50% below pre-assembled cabinets and 50–75% below custom for the same kitchen, which is why it's the go-to for budget-driven work. See our full RTA cabinets in Phoenix lineup. If your crew has the time and hands, RTA stretches the budget the furthest.

Order RTA when: you have labor available, you're watching the budget tight, or you're shipping to a site where flat boxes are easier to stage.

What "assembled" means

Assembled cabinets arrive built and ready to hang. You pay a bit more than flat-pack, but you save the on-site labor and get to install immediately — which matters when the clock is running on a flip or a rental turn.

Order assembled when: timeline beats budget, your crew is stretched, or you just want the cabinets ready to go the day they land.

You don't have to pick one forever

A lot of our customers order assembled for flips (speed) and RTA for their own long-term projects (budget) — same account, same catalog, same 14 colors. There's no minimum order, and scribe and toe-kick are always included either way.

Either way, one supplier

RTA or assembled, you can add countertops and quartz, sinks, faucets, and hardware to the same order and have it delivered across Arizona — or pick it up at our Phoenix warehouse.

Not sure which fits your next job? Get a free quote and we'll help you spec it, or browse the catalog.