What Are RTA Cabinets?
RTA cabinets are ready to assemble. They come in compact boxes with all the individual parts packed together. They’re designed to be easy enough for you to assemble on your own with a few basic tools, making them a great choice for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.
What Are Fully Assembled Cabinets?
RTA Cabinet and Fully Assembled Cabinet Considerations
While both RTA and fully assembled cabinets are good options, there are some pros and cons to both.
Shipping Time
RTA cabinets are pre-made and unassembled, all the pieces packed in flat boxes, or flat packs. The flat packs are easy to ship given their compactness and generally arrive quickly. At select Lowe’s stores same day delivery is available, or you can have them quick shipped direct to your home.
Fully assembled cabinets come in larger containers. Some common designs are always available in stock and can be taken home the same day or delivered within a few days. If there’s customization involved, production starts after the order has been placed. Expect shipping to take longer.
Installation
Fully assembled cabinets take no construction time at all. All you need to do is install them. Since cabinets are heavy, it’s best to have two people to mount them.
Manufacturers say assembling RTA cabinets takes 15 minutes per cabinet, assuming you’re an expert DIYer. For a beginner, plan for 45 minutes, at least. RTA cabinets include pre-cut wood, screws, hinges and come with pre-drilled holes. To put them together, you’ll need a few basic tools like a screwdriver, drill, tape measure, level and hammer. It’s also helpful to have a stud finder and clamps. RTA cabinets come with a set of instructions and often have walk-through videos to help you with the process.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install kitchen cabinets if you plan to install them yourself. Don't have time to install cabinets yourself? Check out our professional cabinet installation service.
Customization
Fully assembled and RTA cabinets are both customizable, with a variety of colors and cabinet styles and materials available. And fully assembled cabinets that are semi-custom or custom have even more options to choose from, giving you more control over their design and your personal requirements. Features like soft-close hinges, pull-out trash cans and lazy Susans are available for either type of cabinet as well. Some kitchen cabinets come with reversible doors that can swing either left or right so you can install them based on your preference and kitchen layout. Matching kitchen cabinet accessories like toe kicks and touch up kits help bring the look together.
Pricing
RTA cabinets offer the best value on cabinets. They are less expensive than fully assembled because they come in flat packs, saving on shipping costs. And because you put them together yourself, you also save on labor costs.
Quality
Both RTA and fully assembled cabinets come in solid wood and human-made materials. Cabinet and drawer boxes are available in materials like furniture board and plywood. Cabinet doors and drawer fronts can be a variety of different species of hardwood, such as birch, oak, hickory and maple, as well as human-made materials like medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
It also matters how well the cabinets are put together. Fully assembled cabinets go through a factory assembly line, which can ensure consistent construction, while RTA cabinets are DIY assembly. Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions for assembling your RTA cabinets to ensure a solid build.
Which Cabinet Type Should You Buy?
When purchasing, you’ll need to consider design, style and configuration of your cabinetry. Both cabinets are available in flat, recessed and raised panel designs. Glass panel cabinets come fully assembled. Wood finishes are usually painted, stained or laminated. If you want to customize the color, choose unfinished cabinets. Whether you decide on RTA cabinets or ones that come fully assembled, consider your kitchen’s layout to ensure your cabinets are installed correctly around appliances and sinks, and will fit in corners. There are cabinets designed to fit those specific needs like corner cabinets, oven cabinets and sink cabinets.
Both RTA and fully assembled cabinets are great choices for your home. The type of cabinet you choose for your kitchen comes down to time, money and your DIY skill level. Will you spend on easier installation? Or save money by putting in the time and effort to build your cabinets yourself? If you’re on a tight budget, RTA cabinets are probably the best choice, but you can find stock cabinets that are fully assembled and budget friendly too. For larger budgets and more design freedom, semi-custom and custom fully assembled cabinets give you the option to create cabinets that meet your individual needs.
The Lowe’s Kitchen Planner can help you create your dream kitchen. Take our style quiz, get a cost estimate and meet with one of our designers for a free consultation.