Kitchen Buying Guides

Ready Assembled Kitchen Cabinets Buying Guide

Factory assembled by skilled craftspeople, ready-assembled cupboards are intended to save time during installation, making them a great choice for projects on a time crunch. This ready-assembled kitchen cabinets buying guide explores the features, benefits, and planning considerations when deciding on ready-made units, highlighting the additional parts needed for a complete fit, so you and your trade professional can expertly plan your next project.

What are the benefits of ready-assembled?

Which? Best Buy

Our rigid cabinets were awarded a Which? Best Buy in June 2024. Which? said that the cabinets are solidly built and received an excellent rating for the strength of the drawers and hinges. Of all the customers surveyed, Howdens customers were the least likely to have problems with their units after it was installed.

Antibacterial properties

All our cabinets are made from MFC, which has natural antibacterial properties. It prevents bacteria from multiplying and is proven to reduce bacteria over 24 hours, without compromising the colour and performance of the unit.

25-year cabinet guarantee

All of our cabinetry is made from high-quality materials and stress-tested rigorously by a dedicated facility to ensure they are built to last. As a result, we offer a 25-year guarantee on all of our cupboards, to give total peace of mind.

See guarantees and accreditations

Time-saving assembly

Featuring a sturdy dowel-and-glue construction for long-lasting use, our pre-assembled units will speed up fitting times. With less time spent on fiddly jobs, it means a new design can come together faster.

Factory-fitted accessories

Our ready-assembled units come with accessories pre-installed, saving time on tricky tasks. These devices offer easy access to items and keep things tidy. They also come in an on-trend, anthracite shade, so cupboards can look stylish inside and out.

A selection of different wooden cabinetry

More designs

Our assembled cabinetry is available in more than 200 configurations, including wall, base, and corner units. This makes it easy to create a personalised look and the best fit in any space and layout.

Things to consider when planning ready-assembled units

earthed trend kitchen doors, floors and worktops

Cupboard doors

Our factory-assembled kitchen cabinetry can be fitted with all of our cupboard door styles. This makes it a great choice when you want the freedom to choose a custom design that will reflect your personal taste and lifestyle.

Colours

Design is in the detail, which is why we offer a choice of colours. Versatile white will match any decor, while the croft-grey complements a cooler palette. Classic natural oak is only available in rigid, and will add warmth and traditional tailoring to any space.

Our cabinets (Natural Oak) - kitchen brochure

Cabinet types

From larders that make use of height, to drawers that offer easy access, plus extra tall and deeper wall units too, our ready-assembled units offer a vast number of options to make it simple to create a bespoke look in an interior.

Size options

With three wall heights, including 360mm, 720mm and 900mm, plus three cupboard depths at 575mm, 290mm and 390mm, you can be sure to find the right unit size for any room. In-between widths, like 350mm and 450mm, are available too for a custom fit.

Croft Grey Cabinets

Our new croft grey kitchen cabinets provide a versatile backdrop that pairs well with a number of styles. Available in over 250 configurations, they come fully-wrapped, allowing them to be installed without an end panel when fitted with a croft-grey kitchen - saving money on a design.

Features for more function

Upgrade drawers

Featuring a soft-close mechanism, our upgrade drawers feel luxurious and are fully extendable for easy access. They can also be tailored with a push-to-open device to create a stylish, handle-free look.

Extra wide openings

Our ready-assembled units come with standard 110-degree hinges, and you can upgrade to a wider170-degree option. These make items at the back easier to access – great for multi-generational homes.

Curved options

Creating a smooth, flowing design that is both stylish and safe to use, curved doors are now available with our ready-assembled cabinets and can be paired with our Tewkesbury, Fairford and Chelford styles.

Room for supply

Designed with a 72mm service void, these cabinets have plenty of space to conceal energy supplies, wiring and waste fittings. It also offers easier access to the back – great when carrying out repairs.