Assemble a sofa.

Sofa assembly in the UK typically costs £60–£200 for flat-pack and modular sofa configurations, depending on size and complexity. Most modern sofas (Made.com, Loaf, IKEA Friheten and similar) ship in 2-6 boxes and need 1-3 hours' assembly. Larger corner sofas and modular configurations (Snug, Loaf modular) take longer and cost more — £150-£300 is typical.

The skill is in stage-managing heavy components without scratching floors or walls, getting the modular pieces aligned, and identifying any factory faults during assembly while you can still raise them with the supplier.

Typical UK assembly costs

What's typically included

• Unboxing — careful removal of components, packaging set aside.
• Inventory check — confirm all parts present before starting (saves return trips if missing).
• Floor protection — blankets or sheets under heavy components to protect timber/carpet.
• Assembly per manufacturer instructions — using supplied fixings.
• Position in agreed location — some heavy pieces need to be placed before final assembly.
• Test stability and seating — confirm everything is firmly attached and squeak-free.
• Packaging removal — usually included; sometimes charged extra for cardboard / polystyrene disposal.

Modular sofa specifics

Modular sofas (Snug, Made, Loaf, Sofa.com) ship as 4-8 individual modules that connect via clips, bolts or interlock systems. Common configurations:

• 3-piece — left arm + middle + right arm (or chaise). Simplest layout.
• 5-piece — adds an end seat module on one or both sides.
• Corner — adds a corner module that turns the run 90°.
• U-shape — 6+ modules forming three sides of a square.

Configuration is often customisable on assembly. Have a clear plan of where it'll sit before the assembler arrives.

Things people often miss

• Doorways and access — measure twice. Most modern modular sofas are designed to fit through standard 76 cm doorways in pieces, but check the largest module's dimensions before delivery. Single-piece traditional sofas are often the access problem.
• Floor protection — bare-bottom sofa frames can scratch laminate or timber floors when slid into position. Felt pads or a moving blanket prevent this.
• Arm height matching — on modular sofas, individual modules must align at the back-rest height. Mismatched modules look misaligned even when seated.
• Cushion settling — new foam takes 1-3 weeks to settle. Don't judge firmness on day one; the cushions soften with use.
• Removable covers — many premium sofas (Made, Loaf, Sofa.com) have washable removable covers. Identify the zip locations during assembly so you know how to remove them later.
• Damage discovery — inspect each component as it's unboxed. Factory damage discovered after assembly is harder to claim than damage flagged immediately to the retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A handyman or assembly specialist will turn flat-pack stress into a finished sofa in a couple of hours. Worth the £80-£200 vs an evening of wrestling cardboard and connectors.