Is It Worth Paying Someone to Assemble IKEA Furniture?

The Real Time Cost of DIY IKEA Assembly

Most people underestimate how long IKEA furniture takes. An IKEA PAX wardrobe takes the average person 3–5 hours. A MALM bed with storage drawers: 2–4 hours. A full bedroom set: 8–12 hours spread over a weekend. A professional assembler does the same work in roughly half the time.

The Cost Comparison

Professional assembly for a PAX wardrobe: £65–£90. DIY cost: your time (3–5 hours) plus any tools you need to buy. If your time is worth £15–£20 per hour, DIY breaks even. If your time is worth more — or you factor in the stress — paying wins easily.

The Quality Argument

Improperly assembled IKEA furniture is a real problem. Wobbly wardrobes, misaligned drawers, doors that don't hang right, and — critically — units not wall anchored safely. IKEA requires all tall furniture to be anchored to walls. A professional assembler does this as standard. DIY often skips this step.

When DIY Makes Sense

Small items: a BILLY bookcase, a KALLAX unit, or a simple desk are genuinely manageable for most people in 1–2 hours. If you enjoy the process and have time on a weekend, these are satisfying DIY projects.

When to Definitely Pay Someone

Large wardrobes (PAX systems, sliding door wardrobes), full bedroom sets, anything that needs wall anchoring, elderly or mobility-limited customers, anyone who has started and got stuck, and anyone moving into a new property with multiple rooms to furnish.

The Stress Factor

IKEA assembly frustration is a well-documented phenomenon. Relationships have been strained by flat pack furniture. If the thought of a Sunday afternoon with an Allen key fills you with dread, the £65 assembly fee is genuinely worth it for your wellbeing.