Price guide
How much does flat-pack assembly cost?
Short answer
One Carterton firm publishes flat-pack assembly from £60, and a bed or wardrobe from £100 to £180. Oxford assemblers charge £35 an hour, one with a two-hour minimum. A national cost guide puts most items at £40 to £80 each. The size of the item and the number of items change the price most.
What local firms charge
Local firms publish either a price per item or an hourly rate. We found three firms near the Cotswolds that publish flat-pack prices on their own websites.
| Firm (base) | Job | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Oxfordshire Handyman (Carterton) | Flat-pack assembly | From £60 |
| Oxfordshire Handyman (Carterton) | Bed or wardrobe | £100 to £180 |
| Oxfordshire Handyman (Carterton) | Shelf or rail fitting | £60 to £90 |
| Oxford Flatpack (Oxford) | Hourly rate in the Oxford area | £35 an hour, plus £10 beyond 5 miles of Oxford |
| Oxford Man and Van (Oxford) | Flat-pack assembly, one person | £35 an hour, 2-hour minimum |
Prices that each firm publishes on its own website, checked on 15 October 2026. No page states VAT or a price date. Oxford Man and Van adds a call-out fee outside the city and gives a discount for 6 or more items; the page gives neither amount. Sources: Oxfordshire Handyman (Carterton): price list, Oxford Flatpack (Oxford): hourly rate, Oxford Man and Van (Oxford): flat-pack furniture assembly.
National flat-pack prices
A national cost guide gives a similar range per item. This is a national figure, not a Cotswold quote.
| Source | Job | National price |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Services cost guide | Flat-pack assembly, per item | £40 to £80 |
From the Fantastic Services 2026 handyman cost guide, checked on 15 October 2026. The guide says its prices are indicative and does not state VAT. It is not a local price. Sources: Fantastic Services: handyman prices 2026 (national cost guide).
What changes the price
Big items with many parts take longest. A large wardrobe with sliding doors can take a whole morning. A small bedside table can take under an hour.
Fixing a tall unit to the wall adds time. Old stone and lath-and-plaster walls need more care than modern walls.
Some firms charge to take the packaging away, or to travel to rural villages.
How to get an accurate price
Send each firm the same details. Then the prices will cover the same job.
- The make and product code of each item.
- Whether each item must be fixed to the wall.
- Which floor and room the items go in.
- Whether you want the packaging taken away.
Questions
How much does it cost to build a wardrobe?
One Carterton firm publishes £100 to £180 for a bed or wardrobe. The price depends on the size and the number of doors and drawers.
Is hourly or per-item pricing cheaper?
For one small item, a per-item price is often cheaper than a minimum charge. For many items, an hourly rate can be cheaper. Ask for both.
Do I pay extra to fix furniture to the wall?
Some firms include it, and some charge for the extra time. Ask before the visit, and say what the wall is made of.