The short answer
Small items such as side tables, shelving units and simple drawers are usually fine to assemble yourself. Wardrobes, tall bookcases, beds with storage and anything that has to be stood up or fixed to a wall are where paying someone saves time and risk. IKEA Australia’s assembly service lists a call-out from $40 and prices such as $120 for a double-door PAX wardrobe. Airtasker’s Sydney IKEA assembly page shows an average cost range of $95–$200. Tall furniture should be anchored to the wall.
What is worth doing yourself
If the piece is low, light and has a short instruction booklet, DIY makes sense. Clear a space bigger than the finished item, lay out the panels, count the fittings against the parts list before you start, and use a hand screwdriver for the final turns so the screws do not strip the particleboard.
Two people make most medium items easier. Doing it on a rug or the flattened box protects both the floor and the finished surfaces.
- Usually fine to DIY: side tables, bedside tables, low bookcases, simple desks and chairs.
- Think twice: chests of drawers with many runners, beds with lift-up storage, sit/stand desks.
- Often worth paying for: wardrobes, tall bookcases, wall-hung units and anything over head height.
When paying someone makes sense
Large wardrobes are the classic case. A tall carcass assembled flat on the floor may not stand up under a low ceiling or in a narrow room, so it has to be assembled where it will stay. Doors and drawers then need adjusting so they hang straight, and the unit needs fixing to the wall.
Time is the other factor. A room full of furniture after a move into a Bankstown unit or house can take a whole weekend. If you are paying for someone’s time, a written list of every item, with the product names, makes the quote far more accurate.
Anchor tall furniture to the wall
Product Safety Australia says toppling furniture has killed at least 28 people in Australia since 2000 and causes nearly 20 injuries every week. Its advice: “The best way to prevent furniture from tipping over is to secure it to the wall or floor.” If the furniture does not come with anchoring hardware, it says to buy an anchoring kit.
The supplied wall fixing usually suits only one wall type, so check whether your wall is plasterboard, brick or something older before using it. On plasterboard, the fixing should reach a stud. In a home built before 1990, check the wall is not fibro that may contain asbestos before drilling. IKEA says its assembly partners “must attach the product to the wall” where the instructions require it for safety, and that adding structures for wall mounting costs extra.
Renting? NSW lists “securing furniture to a wall (other than a tiled wall) if needed for the safe use of the furniture” among the minor changes a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Ask in writing first; the rental repairs guide explains the process.
Published IKEA and flat pack assembly prices
The figures below are quoted as published. IKEA’s page shows no date, so its figures are as they appeared on 12 October 2026. IKEA charges by the time to assemble the items in your order; the prices are its stated averages.
Published assembly guides
| Job or charge | Published guide | Publisher & scope |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA assembly call-out fee | From $40 | IKEA AustraliaIKEA order assembly; areas vary; no page date |
| IKEA double-door PAX wardrobe | $120 average | IKEA AustraliaIKEA average; no page date |
| IKEA sofa-bed | $100 average | IKEA AustraliaIKEA average; no page date |
| IKEA adjustable sit/stand desk | $60 average | IKEA AustraliaIKEA average; no page date |
| IKEA assembly in Sydney | $95–$200 (median $137) | AirtaskerAirtasker Sydney page, last updated 10 Oct 2026; GST not stated |
| Furniture assembly | $120–$250 / task | AirtaskerNational task category; last updated 17 June 2026; GST not stated |
AUD figures as published, checked 12 October 2026. Not quotes from this website or a Bankstown average. IKEA’s service covers items in an IKEA order and package removal is a separate $15 IKEA service. Item count, size, stairs and wall fixing change the total.
Furniture bought elsewhere, second-hand pieces and a mix of brands are not covered by a retailer’s own service. The handyman cost guide shows the other published hourly and per-task figures.
What to have ready
- The product names or article numbers, and how many of each.
- Boxes in the room where the item will stay, if possible.
- Which items need fixing to the wall, and what the wall is made of.
- Stairs, lifts and parking for a unit block.
- Permission for wall fixings in a rental or strata building.
Flatten the cardboard for the recycling bin once the job is done, and keep the instructions and spare fittings together in case a door needs adjusting later.
This service covers minor, non-structural work. Residential building jobs are limited to $5,000 in total, including labour, materials and GST. Electrical, plumbing, gas and other specialist trades are outside this service. The limit applies to the whole job; work cannot be split into smaller invoices to avoid licensing. NSW licensing rules.
Questions about this guide
How much does IKEA charge to assemble furniture?
IKEA Australia’s assembly page lists a call-out fee from $40 and charges by the time to assemble the items. Its averages include $120 for a double-door PAX wardrobe, $100 for a sofa-bed and $60 for a sit/stand desk. The page shows no date; figures checked 12 October 2026.
Is it worth paying for flat pack assembly?
For large wardrobes, tall units and rooms full of furniture, often yes. For small items with simple instructions, DIY is usually fine. Weigh your time, tools and whether the item needs fixing to the wall.
Does IKEA’s service anchor furniture to the wall?
IKEA says its assembly partners must attach the product to the wall where the instructions require it for safety. Adding structures for wall mounting is an additional cost.
Can I anchor furniture to the wall in a rental?
NSW lists securing furniture to a non-tiled wall, if needed for safe use, as a minor change a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Ask in writing first.
Sources and date checked
- IKEA Australia — assembly service (no page date)
- Airtasker — IKEA assembly in Sydney (last updated 10 Oct 2026)
- Airtasker — handyman prices (last updated 17 Jun 2026)
- Product Safety Australia — toppling furniture and TVs (25 Sep 2026)
- NSW Government — making changes to a rental property (modified 21 Sep 2026)
- NSW Government — asbestos safety in the home
Information checked 2 October 2026. Guides explain the source’s published scope; a job needs its own assessment.