How Ready to Assemble Cabinets Can Cut Your Kitchen Remodel Time in Half

Remodeling a kitchen is exciting, but it can also feel stressful, slow, and expensive. For many homeowners, the biggest delays come from waiting on cabinets. Traditional cabinets often take weeks—or even months—to arrive. Then you need installers, tools, and extra time to get everything in place. All of this stretches out your project and raises your budget.

That’s why more people today are turning to Ready to Assemble Kitchen cabinets. These cabinets come packed in flat boxes with all the parts inside, ready for you or your contractor to put together. And the best part? They can cut your kitchen remodel time in half without lowering quality or style.

In this post, you’ll learn exactly how RTA cabinets speed up your remodel, what makes them different from traditional cabinets, and how to make the most of them for your new kitchen.

What Are Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets?

Ready-to-Assemble cabinets—often called RTA cabinets—are cabinets that you receive as separate parts. They usually include:

● Cabinet box panels

● Hinges

● Screws and hardware

● Doors and drawers

● Shelf pins

● Toe kicks

Instead of arriving as a fully built cabinet, each piece comes neatly packed, labeled, and ready to put together. You can assemble them using simple tools like a drill or screwdriver. Most brands also include step-by-step instructions, and some even have online videos to walk you through the process.

The goal is to give you a high-quality cabinet system without the long wait times or high labor costs. RTA cabinets have become so popular that many homeowners can’t even tell the difference between them and custom-built cabinets after installation.

Why Traditional Cabinets Slow Down a Remodel

Before we talk about how RTA cabinets save time, it helps to understand why traditional cabinets take so long.

1. Long Manufacturing Times

Custom or semi-custom cabinets often take 6 to 12 weeks to build. They are made in a factory, then stained or painted, then shipped. That’s a lot of waiting before the remodel even starts.

2. Shipping Delays

Fully built cabinets are huge. Because they take up so much space in delivery trucks, shipping can get delayed, damaged, or backordered.

3. Changes During Installation

If one cabinet doesn’t fit, arrives damaged, or needs replacement, you might wait weeks for a new one.

4. Scheduling Installers

Carpenters and cabinet installers often have busy schedules. Once cabinets arrive, you might wait several more days—or weeks—before they can install them.

All these steps add up. It’s not unusual for a kitchen remodel to take three months from start to finish, and cabinets are usually the biggest reason.

How Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets Solve These Problems

RTA cabinets change the entire process of remodeling your kitchen. Here’s how they save time and speed up your project.

1. Faster Shipping and Delivery

Because RTA cabinets arrive flat-packed, shipping is much easier and faster. Manufacturers can fit many boxes into one truck, and warehouses can ship them out quickly. Most RTA cabinets arrive in one to two weeks, which is far quicker than custom cabinets.

Flat packaging also protects parts more effectively, lowering the chance of damage during shipping. If a piece does arrive damaged, it’s much easier to replace just that one part instead of the whole cabinet.

2. You Can Start Your Remodel Sooner

With traditional cabinets, you often have to wait for delivery before demolition begins. You don’t want to tear your kitchen apart and then wait months for new cabinets.

But RTA cabinets arrive fast, so you can schedule your remodel earlier. Some homeowners even start assembly before demolition, so once the kitchen is ready, the cabinets are ready too.

This simple time shift can save you weeks.

3. Easy, Quick Assembly

Many people assume RTA cabinets are complicated to put together, but that’s not true anymore. Modern RTA cabinets are built with smart engineering and simple systems like:

● Cam locks

● Pre-drilled holes

● Easy-fit connectors

● Clip-on hinges

These features allow you to put together a cabinet in about 10 to 20 minutes once you get the hang of it. Even a full kitchen can be assembled in a weekend.

And if you hire a contractor, assembly goes even faster because they can build multiple cabinets at the same time.

4. Installers Spend Less Time on the Job

Even if you hire professionals, RTA cabinets save time because installers don’t have to build the cabinets from scratch. Most of the work is already done for them. They simply:

● Place the cabinets

● Level them

● Screw them into studs

● Connect the doors and drawers

Since assembly is handled beforehand, installation becomes smooth and quick. This can cut labor time by 30% to 50%, which also saves money.

5. Fewer Delays and Fewer Problems

With traditional cabinets, one mistake can halt the entire project. For example:

● A wrong-sized cabinet

● A missing door

● Shipping damage

● Wrong finish color

● Delayed replacement parts

Any of these problems can add weeks to your remodel.

RTA cabinets give you much more control. If a piece is wrong, most companies can send a replacement part quickly because the parts are standardized. And because boxes are small, you can open them early to check everything before installation even starts.

This helps prevent the “domino effect,” where one problem slows down the whole kitchen.

6. You Can Work at Your Own Pace

One of the biggest advantages of RTA cabinets is flexibility. You’re not forced to follow the schedule of installers or factory delivery times.

You can:

● Assemble cabinets during evenings or weekends

● Store them safely until the kitchen is ready

● Install them in stages

● Make changes easily

This freedom means the remodel moves faster because it fits your schedule—not the other way around.

7. Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets Are Affordable Without Sacrificing Quality

While cost savings may not directly shorten your remodel time, they affect your decision-making. When cabinets cost less, you don’t have to wait for sales, quotes, or long back-and-forth conversations with manufacturers.

RTA cabinets often cost 30% to 50% less than custom cabinets, which lets you move forward faster with the remodel. And because many RTA cabinets use solid wood, soft-closing doors, and high-quality finishes, you don’t lose quality.

When quality and price both work in your favor, you can make faster decisions.

8. Better Inventory and Faster Replacement Parts

RTA cabinet companies usually have huge warehouses full of inventory. Unlike custom cabinet makers, they don’t have to build every order from scratch. This means:

● Parts are always available

● Replacement shelves or doors come fast

● You don’t have to wait weeks for special orders

Fast access to inventory keeps your remodel moving without delays.

Why RTA Cabinets Don’t Lower Quality

Some people worry that RTA cabinets are “cheap” or “lower quality,” but this isn’t true. Many RTA cabinets are built with:

● Solid wood frames

● Plywood boxes (not particleboard)

● Soft-close hinges

● Dovetail drawers

● Water-resistant finishes

The only difference is that you assemble the cabinet instead of receiving it pre-built.

Modern RTA cabinets can last for many years and hold up to heavy daily use. Once installed, most people can’t tell the difference between RTA and custom cabinets.

How Long Does an RTA Kitchen Remodel Take?

Here’s a simple comparison.

Traditional Cabinets:

● Design + ordering: 2–3 weeks

● Manufacturing: 6–12 weeks

● Shipping: 1–2 weeks

● Installation: 1–2 weeks

Total time: 10–18 weeks

RTA Cabinets:

● Design + ordering: 1 week

● Shipping: 1–2 weeks

● Assembly: 1–2 days

● Installation: 2–4 days

Total time: 3–5 weeks

As you can see, RTA cabinets can truly cut your remodel time in half—sometimes even more.

Tips to Make Your RTA Cabinet Remodel Even Faster

Here are a few simple ways to speed up your project:

1. Measure Carefully

Accurate measurements prevent returns, mistakes, and delays during installation.

2. Order Early

Order RTA cabinets before demolition begins so they arrive on time.

3. Assemble Before Installation

Build the cabinets while waiting for electricians, plumbers, or flooring teams.

4. Lay Out All Parts and Tools

Organizing screws, hinges, and panels ahead of time makes assembly smooth.

5. Use a Drill Instead of a Manual Screwdriver

A drill speeds up the process and makes connections tighter.

6. Work in a Clean, Flat Area

A clear workspace prevents scratches and misplaced parts.

These small steps can shave even more time off your remodel.

Final Thoughts: Why RTA Cabinets Are the Smart Choice for Faster Remodels

A kitchen remodel is a big investment in time, money, and energy. That’s why homeowners everywhere are choosing RTA cabinets—they’re fast, stylish, durable, affordable, and perfect for modern kitchen designs.

By arriving flat-packed, shipping quickly, and allowing easy assembly, RTA cabinets help you avoid the biggest delays in traditional cabinet remodeling. You can start your project sooner, finish it faster, and enjoy your new kitchen without months of waiting.

If you want a kitchen that looks great and fits your timeline, Ready-to-Assemble cabinets are one of the best upgrades you can choose. You get professional quality and a beautiful finish—all while cutting your remodel time in half.