The RTA Cabinet Store offers various ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets that infuse your kitchen with both style and functionality without jeopardizing your budget.
To find your way within the vast range of RTA kitchen cabinets, you need to learn what makes for good cabinets and how their pros and cons measure up.
What Are RTA Cabinets?
The RTA Cabinet Store specializes in kitchen cabinets for people who enjoy DIY projects.
This Pennsylvania-based company sells kitchen cabinets that are very straightforward to assemble and also quality-made.
Although the cabinets come neatly packed and are designed for seamless DIY assembly, the company also sells pre-assembled products.
When it comes to RTA kitchen cabinets, the choice of styles and materials is quite broad.
You can opt for plywood, MDF, HDF (medium- or high-density fiberboard), or hardwood elements in various shapes and detail levels.
For instance, you might be interested in cabinets with soft-closing doors or elements that feature dovetail joinery.
The interesting part when choosing kitchen cabinets from the RTA Cabinet Store is that you’re dealing with a completely online shop.
This means more available models, since the cabinets don’t take up actual space in a store and are packed and stored separately.
As is often the case, the online nature of the company has an upper edge compared to brick-and-mortar shops when it comes to pricing.
However, you may wonder how you’ll know if a particular set of RTA kitchen cabinets will fit in your kitchen. Fortunately, the dealer has a handy solution for that, too.
The RTA Cabinet Store provides a free designing service.
Plus, the company has a team of experienced interior designers to help you pinpoint the size and style of your new cabinets.
Better yet, the RTA Cabinet Store offers excellent customer support, providing assistance after you’ve equipped your kitchen with the desired cabinets.
And speaking of the cabinets themselves, the choice is indeed broad.
There are standard, shaker, raised, and slab cabinets in various color options, ensuring you’ll get precisely what you want.
Did you know? Kitchen cabinets exist in more variants than one might presume. There are four main types of kitchen cabinets (standard, wall, tall, and specialty), each with specific dimensions and uses. Of course, cabinets differ by assembly method, coming in RTA or pre-assembled forms. Finally, there are several styles. Besides the mentioned shaker, raised, and slab, kitchen cabinets can also come in louvered, minimalist plywood, inset, beadboard, and glass-front styles.
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Average Cost Of RTA Kitchen Cabinets
The average cost of RTA kitchen cabinets for the entire kitchen will vary based on several factors.
For instance, you’ll need to account for the size of your kitchen, as well as the style, type, and any optional features of the cabinets.
Luckily, there’s plenty to explore and choose from when it comes to RTA kitchen cabinets, and finding an option to fit your budget is relatively easy.
With all this in mind, the best way to look at the average total costs for kitchen cabinets from the RTA Cabinet Store would be to go with the “starting at” prices listed on the company’s website.
These prices are listed for every cabinet style and represent the cost when buying a set of cabinets to completely equip a smaller kitchen.
A basic kitchen with standard cabinets will have an average price of about $2,300.
Shaker cabinet prices are a bit more affordable, averaging at about $2,200, while slab cabinets will be pricier with an average price of $3,400.
| Basic Kitchen Cost | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Shaker Cabinets | $3,911 | $1,919 |
| Slab Cabinets | $3,702 | $1,877 |
| Standard Cabinets | $5,998 | $2,070 |
| Raised Cabinets (One model listed) | $3,875 | $3,875 |
It’s worth mentioning that cabinet prices can vary widely, so take the mentioned averages as nothing more than orientation points.
A larger kitchen done in a particular style and with premium materials and colors would cost significantly more than the mentioned figures.
On the other hand, the RTA Cabinet Store claims to have the best prices in the market, even offering to lower the cost by 5% if you provide a more favorable quote from a competitor.
Another piece of information that might be of interest is the stated typical job cost, as seen on the RTA Cabinet Store page on the Houzz review website.
The figure mentioned there is quite a broad range – $1,500 to $7,500 for a kitchen.
It provides a good illustration of the varying prices we mentioned above.
Also, when talking about the “total” cost of an RTA kitchen, note that the cost primarily consists of the cabinets themselves and delivery.
Since ready-to-assemble components are designed for DIY projects, installation costs are usually not considered.
After all, the cabinets are meant to be assembled by the buyer, so professional services usually don’t get involved.
Did you know? On average, installation expenses for kitchen cabinets start at $150 per linear foot or $250 per cabinet. In other words, installing the cabinets may easily cost as much as the cabinets themselves. The high expenses of installation services are the primary reason why RTA cabinets shot up in popularity.
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RTA Cabinet Cost Breakdown
The cost of your kitchen cabinets isn’t a simple matter.
The final expense will depend on factors that can increase the base price significantly.
Here’s what you’ll need to consider when estimating the price of kitchen cabinets:
- The size of your kitchen
- The choice of materials
- Design
- Stock, semi-custom, or custom options
Kitchen Size and Linear Feet
Unsurprisingly, the kitchen size represents one of the major factors.
The most common method of pricing kitchen cabinets is by linear foot, i.e., the length of space that the cabinets will occupy.
Thus, the math is straightforward: the larger the kitchen, the more cabinets you’ll need, and the higher the total cost will be.
Even when cabinet prices aren’t stated per linear foot, size will still matter.
In fact, this is the case with the RTA Cabinet Store, which gives prices for individual cabinets.
For instance, a 12-inch single-door base Weston shaker cabinet in white costs $269. So, if you want to place these cabinets on three linear feet, you’d need to order three units.
The good news is that, with the RTA Cabinet Store, the price per linear foot may decrease with the size of a cabinet.
Consider this: the mentioned Weston shaker cabinet costs $269 in the 12-inch variant. However, the larger 18-inch cabinet of the same type and style costs $317, which means it’s cheaper by linear foot than the 12-inch model.
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Materials
The choice of materials impacts prices in many industries, and kitchen cabinets are no different.
Wood is the most expensive choice while plastics like melamine will be more affordable.
However, you won’t need to worry about including materials in your calculations when shopping for specific RTA Cabinet Store models.
When looking into a specific model on the shop’s website, you’ll immediately see the type of material it’s made of.
Design
We’ve already touched upon the subject of design styles relative to pricing.
At the RTA Cabinet Store, shaker cabinets will be, on average, cheaper than slab cabinets of the same or similar size.
Of course, looking for special design options will invariably incur larger expenses, which brings us to the final point: choosing the customization level.
Stock, Semi-Custom, or Custom
The choice between stock, semi-custom, and custom kitchen cabinets is relatively straightforward.
All other features being the same, stock cabinets are the cheapest option.
These are manufactured for general use and don’t have features that would make the cabinets more fitting for one particular space.
Semi-custom cabinets are one step higher price-wise. These represent stock cabinets but with modifications per the customer’s request.
Naturally, ordering semi-custom cabinets will be costlier compared to the stock option, since additional work will need to go into adjusting the cabinets.
Finally, custom cabinets are the most expensive option by far.
In this case, you’re not going for an existing design option but ordering the cabinets to be built according to your specific needs.
Depending on how far your cabinets stray from the standards, the total cost may surpass stock options considerably.
Pro Tip: Going for the highest-tier option isn’t always the best overall choice. Of course, you’ll want the best quality possible, but your budget might get quite strained if you shop following only that logic. Ideally, aim for a good balance between the two. As a simple rule, define your demands before buying and choose the cheapest option that meets your desires.
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Additional RTA Kitchen Cabinets Cost Factors
Since RTA kitchen cabinets don’t require professional installation, there’ll be fewer additional factors influencing the price.
However, you’ll need to take a few other things into consideration to get the most precise estimate of the final expense.
Firstly, there’s the cost of delivery.
While delivery expenses will usually be either included in the price or stated clearly on the product page or checkout, many buyers don’t take them into account and end up surprised when their new cabinets arrive.
Plus, if you choose expedited shipment, the price will be higher.
Next, there’s the potential cost of assembly.
Here, you might be thinking that assembly doesn’t count in the expense since you’ll be doing it yourself. But that doesn’t mean the installation will necessarily be for free.
Drilling additional holes may be necessary in some situations, and you’ll need a set of (usually basic) tools to complete the installation.
If you’re an experienced DIY enthusiast, you’ll probably have the required drills, screwdrivers, and other tools.
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But if you’ve opted for RTA kitchen cabinets purely for budgetary reasons, your toolshed might not be properly stocked for the project.
In other words, some owners might need to borrow, rent, or buy certain tools before assembling the cabinets.
This can potentially cause additional costs.
On a similar note, there’s always the possibility of encountering issues when assembling a cabinet. In that case, you might need to employ help or even end up hiring a professional installer.
We’re mentioning this possibility mostly for the sake of covering all possible scenarios – RTA Cabinet Store’s products are usually quite easy to assemble, so there are low chances you’ll run into difficulties in that regard.
Pros And Cons Of RTA Kitchen Cabinets
Like all products, RTA kitchen cabinets have their share of advantages and downsides.
These could be the deciding factor when planning your new kitchen layout.
Let’s look at the main considerations.
Pros of RTA Cabinets
The price point is one of the greatest advantages of RTA kitchen cabinets.
Since professional assembly isn’t necessary, the total cost of installing your new cabinets will most likely be considerably lower compared to pre-assembled components.
In fact, the price reduction can have a massive impact on your budget.
On average, homeowners opting for RTA cabinets save around 15% on cabinetry.
The percentage can get even higher for certain models.
Best of all, RTA kitchen cabinets are so straightforward to put together that most customers will have no issues assembling them.
On a similar note, you won’t need to pay an expert to install the cabinets into your kitchen.
RTA kitchen cabinets are quality-made and, for the most part, extremely user-friendly. They’re designed for DIY projects, so installing them yourself shouldn’t be an issue.
Next, shipping is made easier when cabinets are transported without assembling them.
Since they come in parts, RTA cabinets are packed in flat boxes that are much less complicated for the carrier to load, transport, and offload.
As a result, you’ll probably pay less for RTA cabinet shipping compared to transporting regular, pre-assembled cabinets.
Finally, RTA cabinets often offer better value, i.e., the ratio of price and quality.
This isn’t necessarily because RTA cabinets have superior build but more often because pre-assembled cabinets cost more to produce and assemble in-house.
Simply put, going the RTA route means you can get the same or even better quality while keeping more money in your wallet.
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Cons of RTA Cabinets
When talking about the downsides of RTA kitchen cabinets, the most notable con stems from the very defining trait of the elements – user assembly.
When putting an RTA cabinet together, you’re completely responsible for the end result.
While this may earn you bragging rights, it also means any potential damage will be on you.
This is the opposite of what happens with professional installation and assembly, where the contractor bears the responsibility and the customer may be eligible for refunds if something is damaged.
Assembling kitchen cabinets yourself may also take considerably longer than if the job was done by a professional.
Expect to spend at least 15 minutes on a single cabinet, but note that putting one piece together can take longer.
But even at 15 minutes per piece, installing the entire kitchen could easily take an entire day, if not two.
Lastly, voiding warranties is much more likely during DIY projects.
After all, you might not have the required know-how, experience, and professional-grade tools, while a licensed installer will be equipped with all that.
As a result, crucial mistakes may happen, and some of them could jeopardize your warranty.
This could incur additional costs when you need to order replacement parts.
RTA Kitchen Cabinets Reviews
To say the reviews for kitchen cabinets by the RTA Cabinet Store are stellar might be an understatement.
The reviews on the store’s website are uniformly positive, with reviewers praising the delivery and replacement speed, cabinet quality, and the overall design.
The company’s reviews on Houzz are more of a mixed bag.
Numerous customers there also left five-star reviews, but there are also several disappointed buyers.
The most common complaints among the negative reviews referred to the customer service, particularly the time it takes to get a response in the form of a phone call or email.
However, it’s worth mentioning that some customers complaining about response times also noted that their requests were processed, followed by the parts in question being replaced.
Did you know? According to the latest research, no more than 10% of buyers leave online reviews. Yet, that minority of customers impact sales considerably, affecting the revenue of online stores by about $400 billion yearly.
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Are RTA Cabinets Good Quality?
It’s safe to say that many RTA cabinets can compare with pre-assembled products in terms of quality.
Although the price difference might suggest otherwise, RTA components are mostly cheaper because of cost deduction for assembly and transport.
On the other hand, the quality of the products may be the same or even higher than standard cabinets.
Are RTA Cabinets Durable?
The durability of your RTA cabinets will depend on several factors.
First, you may order cabinets from different materials and with various finishes, which will impact how long your cabinets will last. Picking quality materials will likely ramp up the cost, but may also ensure a longer lifespan.
Furthermore, durability will be subject not only to the manufacturing quality but also how well the cabinets are put together.
Of course, this will be on you. Follow the instructions carefully while assembling the cabinets, and you’ll prolong their usefulness.
Ready To Assemble Your Kitchen Cabinets? Pick The Best Options In The Market
Although buying kitchen cabinets may seem straightforward, the truth is that you need to consider plenty of factors when making a decision.
Fortunately, you should have more than enough reading material now to figure out whether RTA cabinets are for you and which option to choose.
One thing is certain: your budget will be less strained with RTA cabinets.
Make an informed decision, and you can get a brand-new, quality kitchen that won’t break the bank.
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