Price the finished furniture
Compare the usable, assembled item rather than a flat-pack price with a ready-to-use quote.
Home & living · 3 min read
Sources checked
AI-assisted, source-based guide. Not a hands-on review.
The short answer
Put delivery, assembly and any required fitting on separate lines before choosing the cheaper furniture option.
Separate the services
IKEA Singapore offers assembly as a bookable service and distinguishes assembly from delivery-only purchases. Its service page lists conditions for drilling and particular product categories. Use the current quotation for your exact item rather than applying one percentage to every product in the store.
List what “finished” means for you: assembled, placed in the intended room, packaging removed and any manufacturer-required attachment completed by a suitable person. Ask which of those tasks is included. Do not treat a verbal “installation included” as an answer to every one of them.
Compare equal endpoints
Imagine a S$180 unit with S$25 delivery and S$35 assembly, versus a S$225 assembled unit with S$20 delivery. The totals are S$240 and S$245. The five-dollar difference is more useful than comparing S$180 with S$225. These figures are invented, not retailer quotes.
Self-assembly is an option only if you can follow the instructions and have the required tools, space and help. Do not improvise wall fixings or ignore safety instructions to save a service fee. If the job exceeds your ability, compare suitable professional quotes rather than assuming labour costs nothing.
Check the handover
Ask whether assembly and delivery happen on the same day, what access is required and who handles missing parts. Photograph labels and keep the receipt until the job is resolved. If a required service is unavailable, the cheaper basket may not yet be a complete purchase.
Check the assembled item against the agreed scope before closing the job. This is a quotation checklist, not proof of workmanship or a claim that one retailer offers the lowest total. A small premium can be sensible when it buys a clearly defined service you actually need.
Sources & limits
Facts were checked on the date above, not continuously. Follow the provider’s current information before spending or travelling. Suggestions are our editorial reasoning; we do not claim a product test, a site visit or a whole-market comparison.
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