How Much Does Furniture Assembly Cost?

Hiring experts to set up furniture costs between $23 and $70 per hour

Hiring a professional to work on my entertainment center came at a hefty cost, despite freeing up my time for other activities. Depending on your location and other factors we’ll cover, hiring experts to set up furniture costs between $23 and $70 per hour. 

This price range is an average that doesn’t apply to all furniture. Experienced assemblers may charge lower than $20 to put together a small, wooden chair. Let’s dive deeper into the factors that affect the cost of hiring professionals:

Cost by Location

The typical cost of hiring a furniture assembler varies depending on your city or state. Hiring furniture assemblers costs more in large, heavily populated cities such as Seattle, WA. Prices for assembly services are lower in small towns far from metropolitan areas. The cost of living is generally higher in major metropolitan areas, which raises the cost of home services. 

Here’s a table containing the hourly cost of professional furniture assembly across the five US regions: 

Northeast U.S.Price Range
Albany, NY$25 – $70
Pittsburgh, PA$25 – $95
Southeast U.S.
Jacksonville, FL$20 – $45
Marietta, GA$22 – $70
Midwest U.S.
Colorado Springs, CO$25 – $70
Des Moines, IA$20 – $55
Northwest U.S.
Seattle, WA$20 – $60
Portland, OR$20 – $50
Southwest U.S.
Richmond, CA$35 – $150
Tucson, AZ$20 – $40

Cost by Furniture Size and Type

The size and type of the furniture that needs to be assembled affect the amount you’ll pay for the service. Hiring a pro to put together a small coffee table will cost less than $100. Larger pieces of furniture require more time and resources to assemble, so the pros will naturally charge you higher. 

Here are some difficult and costly types of furniture to assemble:

Item (one piece)Cost (including labor + materials)
Wall Mount$273 – $426
Bunk Bed$137 – $363
Entertainment Center$153 – $406
Bookcase$100 – $263

Cost by Number of Furniture

You should expect to pay close to double if professionals piece together twice the amount of furniture. Assembling two or more pieces of furniture requires more time, effort, and resources. The more time and resources professionals spend on piecing together your new furniture, the higher they’ll charge for their services. 

Is DIY Furniture Assembly More Affordable? 

A DIY assembly project can easily cost more than hiring pros. This is especially true if complex projects require additional tools that aren’t included with the pre-packaged furniture. You can purchase tools from your local hardware store, Lowe’s, or Walmart. Personally, I’ve found that purchasing tools on Amazon, even with a delivery charge, is cheaper than driving to the nearest store. Here’s a cost breakdown of tools you may need for a DIY: 

ToolsCost
Tape Measure$10
Level$16
Hammer$10
Impact Driver$62
Pneumatic Nail Gun$46
Phillips Screwdriver$3
11-piece Wrench Set$20
100-piece Impact Driver Bit$53
Anti-Fog Safety Goggles$9
Protective Gloves$8

FAQ About Furniture Assemblers

Is it customary to tip furniture assemblers? 

In some cases, yes. Most homeowners tip furniture assemblers that do not own their own assembly business. Depending on the size and type of furniture, tipping anywhere between $5 and $20 is generally acceptable. Some furniture companies include assembly services in the cost of delivery, so tipping won’t be necessary. 

Is public liability insurance mandatory for all furniture assemblers? 

No, liability insurance isn’t mandatory for furniture assemblers. However, assemblers who do get coverage offer homeowners some peace of mind. In case of accidentally breaking or damaging furniture during assembly, the assemblers won’t have to pay out of their own pocket. 

Can furniture assemblers refuse to piece together certain furniture items? 

Yes, professional assemblers may refuse to work on ready-to-assemble items purchased from home furnishing chain stores. This is mainly because you can assemble the item yourself using materials that are packaged with the furniture. 

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Home Gnome writer Rahul Sattineni contributed to this report.

Main Photo Credit: Elnur / Adobe Stock

Jeffery Keusseyan

Jeffery Keusseyan is a writer with a knack for research and handiperson skills. He enjoys writing about home improvement projects and efficient ways to maintain your home exterior.