Rigid kitchen units arrive already assembled, with hinges and drawers fitted; flat-pack units arrive in boxes and are built on site. Flat-pack usually costs less to buy, while rigid saves fitting time, arrives square and is generally better specified. For most whole-kitchen projects with a paid fitter, rigid is the better value.
Rigid vs flat-pack at a glance
| Rigid | Flat-pack | |
|---|---|---|
| How it arrives | Built, square, hinges and drawers fitted | In boxes, built on site by you or your fitter |
| Fitting time | Fitter only levels and fixes each unit | Fitter builds every unit first, adding days at £150–£250 a day |
| Board | Ours: 18mm board with 18mm solid backs | Often thinner: 15mm or 16mm in some DIY-store ranges |
| Delivery and access | Needs space and clear doorways for built cabinets | Compact boxes, easy to carry and store |
| Lead time | Ours: 2–3 weeks, painted 5–6 weeks | Stocked ranges can be available in days |
| Typical 12–13 unit price | Ours: from £1,962 inc VAT (13 units) | Ikea: £1,500–£2,500 (12 units, Which? 2025) |
Price: what you really pay
Flat-pack units are usually cheaper to buy. But a fitter has to build each cabinet before fitting it, and fitters charge £150 to £250 a day. On a kitchen of 15 to 25 units, which typically takes one fitter 5 to 8 days, any day saved on assembly is a day of labour you don’t pay for.
Compare the whole cost, not just the units: units plus fitting, from the same plan.
Quality: what to check
- Board thickness: 18mm is stiffer and holds screws better than 15mm or 16mm.
- Cabinet backs: solid backs (ours are 18mm) keep cabinets square and hold wall fixings; thin hardboard backs do not.
- Hinges and drawers: Blum or Hettich soft-close fittings are set at the factory on rigid units.
- Guarantee: ours is 25 years on every carcase.
When flat-pack makes sense
- You are fitting it yourself and have the time to build the units.
- Access is tight: a narrow staircase, flat or loft where built cabinets won’t fit through.
- You need a few units quickly, such as a utility room or a single replacement cabinet.
When rigid makes sense
- You are paying a fitter for a whole kitchen.
- You want brand-name doors and a long carcase guarantee.
- You want cabinets that arrive square, with doors and drawers already lined up.
Check your accessMeasure doorways, stairs and turns before ordering rigid units. A tall larder or wide corner unit needs a clear path into the kitchen.