Flat-Pack or Assembled Cabinets: What Works Best for Overseas Delivery

One of the most common questions from overseas buyers is whether cabinets should be shipped flat-packed or pre-assembled. Both methods have a place, and the right answer depends on your project.

Flat-packed

Flat-packing typically increases container utilisation by 40 to 60 percent because panels nest tightly. Freight cost per unit drops, and the risk of transport damage is lower. The trade-off is that site assembly is required, so you need a competent installation team.

Pre-assembled

Pre-assembled carcasses save site labour and are common in hotel and apartment projects with a tight handover schedule. However, you will pay for air, and any transport damage affects a finished unit rather than a flat panel.

Our recommendation

For most residential and hospitality projects we recommend flat-packing the carcasses and pre-assembling only the visible components. Every panel we ship is numbered and accompanied by an assembly drawing, so installation is straightforward even for a team that has not worked with our product before.