How to Use the Flatpack Furniture DIY vs Assembly Service Calculator
Every time you buy flatpack furniture, there's the same question: assemble it yourself, or pay for the assembly service? Looking at the service fee alone can make it feel like a waste of money, but the time you spend assembling has real value too. This calculator compares your expected assembly time and hourly value against the service cost to show which option actually saves you more.
The math multiplies your expected assembly time by your hourly value to get the DIY opportunity cost, then compares it to the actual service price. If the service costs more than your opportunity cost, doing it yourself comes out ahead — and if it costs less, paying for the service is the better deal.
Note that this calculator only weighs time value — it doesn't include the cost of tools or materials. If you're assembling a piece for the first time, it often takes longer than expected, so padding your time estimate a bit will give you a more realistic picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use your actual hourly wage, or estimate the value of the time you'd otherwise spend resting or doing something else. There's no single right answer — just pick a consistent standard for yourself.
This calculator uses your expected assembly time as the baseline. If you have little experience assembling furniture, padding your time estimate will give a result closer to your real opportunity cost.