The Honest Timeline
People underestimate assembly because the instruction booklet says "30 minutes." That number assumes you've done it before, the parts are sorted, and nothing is missing. A realistic timeline for a non-pro is 2-3x the booklet's estimate.
Small Items (20-40 min)
A LACK table, a POÄNG chair, a single ALEX drawer — these genuinely take 20-40 minutes if the parts are sorted and you have a screwdriver.
Medium Items (1-2 hours)
A MALM bed, a 4-cube KALLAX, a dresser with 3 drawers — 1-2 hours. The drawer runners and cam alignment are where the time goes.
Large Items (2-4 hours)
A PAX wardrobe with doors, a 5-drawer dresser, a bunk bed — 2-4 hours. PAX doors alone can eat 90 minutes.
Why a Pro Is Faster
A pro has done your piece before. They pre-sort, use a power driver, and catch alignment issues before they become rework. A pro assembles a MALM bed in 35 minutes; a first-timer takes 90.
The Hidden Time
Unboxing, parts inventory, and cleanup add 20-30 minutes per piece. A "1 hour" dresser is 1.5 hours of total work.
Book assembly in NYC — a pro finishes in the time you'd spend reading the instructions.
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