The 10 Most Assembled IKEA Items in NYC Apartments

The IKEA Pieces We Build Most in NYC

After thousands of assembly jobs, the same models show up again and again. Knowing which you have helps you budget time.

1. KALLAX Shelving Unit — 20–40 min. Easy if laid flat first; tricky only when wall-mounted.
2. MALM Bed Frame — 45–75 min. Dowels and mid-beam are the failure points.
3. PAX Wardrobe — 1.5–3 hrs. Frame is fast; doors and drawers eat the time.
4. ALEX Drawer Unit — 30–45 min each. Drawers must be square or they bind.
5. MICKE Desk — 30–45 min. Cable management is the slow part.
6. HEMNES Dresser — 1–1.5 hrs. Solid wood, heavier, more cams.
7. LIATORP Wall Shelf — 45 min, plus anchoring. Needs studs.
8. BESTÅ Cabinet — 1–2 hrs. Modular; alignment is everything.
9. BILLY Bookcase — 20–30 min. Simplest large piece in the catalog.
10. FRIHETEN Sofa Bed — 1.5–2.5 hrs. The heaviest flat-pack most pros handle.

The Pattern

Drawers and doors are where time goes. If your piece has both, budget two hours minimum.

Book a pro for any IKEA model — we know the tricky ones by heart.