Assembled vs RTA
RTA vs Assembled Cabinets: What You Get From WoodArt
Every homeowner and retail cabinet order from WoodArt Cabinets arrives fully assembled: glued, screwed and squared in our San Antonio shop, with the soft-close hinges installed, the doors aligned and the drawers fitted. RTA (ready-to-assemble, flat-packed) cabinets are only for approved contractor accounts, at a lower trade price point. We do not sell RTA cabinets to homeowners.
Assembled and RTA, side by side
| Assembled (every homeowner order) | RTA (approved contractor accounts) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can order it | Homeowners and retail customers | Approved contractor accounts only — we do not sell RTA to homeowners |
| How it arrives | Built, squared and ready to install | Flat-packed, to be assembled on site |
| How the box is joined | Glue and screws, not just cam-locks, squared in our San Antonio shop | Assembled by the contractor's crew |
| Doors, hinges, drawers | Full-overlay doors aligned, soft-close hinges installed, dovetail drawers fitted, shelves clipped in, quality-checked before delivery | Fitted and adjusted by whoever builds the cabinet |
| Time on site | Cuts on-site install time roughly in half compared with flat-pack | Every box has to be built on site before it is installed |
| Price | Standard pricing: cabinets only for a 10×10 kitchen start at $1,750 | Trade pricing at a lower price point, set per account |
| Workmanship warranty | Installs by WoodArt crews carry our 3-year workmanship warranty | Covers only installation work done by WoodArt crews; manufacturer product warranties still apply |
Every WoodArt style is built on a ½" select birch plywood box with solid-wood frames, ¾" plywood shelves, ⅝" solid birch dovetail drawers and soft-close hinges and glides — see all 36 door styles in 5 collections.
Why homeowner orders come assembled
A flat-pack cabinet is only as square as the person who builds it. A cam-lock box that is slightly out of line shows up later as uneven gaps between doors, shelves that sag and doors that never quite close. Building every homeowner order in our shop — glued and screwed, squared, with the doors hung and adjusted — means the cabinets arrive ready to install, and the installer's time goes into leveling and fitting your kitchen instead of building boxes. You also skip the weekend of assembly and the trip to the store for a missing part.
What every assembled cabinet includes:
- Box assembled with glue and screws, not just cam-locks
- Full-overlay doors aligned and soft-close hinges installed
- Dovetail drawers fitted and gliding on soft-close glides
- Adjustable shelves clipped in
- A quality-check pass before the cabinet leaves the shop
Read more about how our shop assembly works.
RTA for contractors, builders and flippers
RTA is part of our contractor program. Approved accounts can order in-stock styles flat-packed at a lower price point — useful for flips and rental refreshes where the crew assembles on site — or pre-assembled when a fast install matters more. You can choose per job, one PO can cover several units and addresses, and Silver and Gold accounts can apply for net-30 terms.
- Apply online. The contractor application is free and takes about two minutes.
- Get your tier and pricing. We reply within one business day with your tier, trade pricing and pickup terms. Pricing is account-specific and confidential.
- Order RTA or assembled. Pick the format for each job, and send your clients to the Isom Rd showroom to see doors and slabs in person.
Reselling to your own clients? See the dealer program.
Canyon Lake, Boerne and the Hill Country
Contractors and homeowners outside the city are served from the same showroom at 431 Isom Rd. Delivery is flat-rate across the San Antonio metro and to Boerne, New Braunfels, Bulverde and the surrounding areas; longer runs, up to 250 miles from the showroom, are quoted by distance. For a Canyon Lake or Spring Branch address, ask us for the delivery rate. See cabinet delivery and our local pages for Canyon Lake, Boerne and New Braunfels.
Which one fits you?
- You are a homeowner. Your cabinets arrive assembled — that is the only way we sell cabinets to homeowners. Pick them up at the showroom, add delivery, or have our crew install them. Start with a free quote and a free in-home measurement.
- You run a crew. Open a trade account and choose RTA or assembled on each order.
- You build or develop. Builder accounts get project pricing locked at PO, custom style packages and job-lot ordering with deliveries scheduled to your build.
Still comparing? The kitchen cabinet cost guide shows what a 10×10 kitchen costs with and without countertops and installation.
Assembled vs RTA: common questions
Can homeowners buy RTA cabinets from WoodArt?
No. Homeowner and retail cabinet orders arrive fully assembled from our San Antonio shop — glued, screwed and squared, with the doors aligned and the drawers fitted. RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets are only for approved contractor accounts.
How are your assembled cabinets put together?
Each box is glued and screwed rather than held by cam-locks alone, then squared. We align the full-overlay doors, install the soft-close hinges, fit the dovetail drawers, clip in the adjustable shelves and give every cabinet a quality check before delivery.
Are RTA cabinets cheaper?
For approved contractor accounts, RTA is available at a lower price point, and trade pricing is account-specific. Homeowner orders are priced assembled: cabinets only for a standard 10×10 layout start at $1,750.
Does the warranty cover cabinets someone else assembles or installs?
Our 3-year workmanship warranty covers installation work performed by WoodArt crews in the greater San Antonio area. Work installed by anyone else is not covered by it, but the manufacturer warranties on the products still apply, and we help you file those claims.
Homeowner or contractor — get the right quote
Free design and in-home measurement for homeowners; trade pricing for approved contractor accounts.