Local service guide
Furniture Assembly in Des Moines, IA
Arrange Furniture Assembly in Des Moines by sending the assembler your product links, item quantities, delivery status and access details before requesting a written quote. Ask them to price assembly, required anchoring, moving boxes into the room and cleanup as separate tasks. Choose your old-furniture disposal plan before booking: the city offers scheduled bulk pickup, while its SCRUB program excludes commercial haulers. [1] [3]
Request a quote for the finished job
Send the brand, model and product link for each piece, plus the assembly instructions if you have them. Include the number of identical items and tell the assembler whether you want each piece built in its final room. Photograph the boxes and any visible damage before the appointment.
Ask whether the quote covers a fixed scope or hourly work. For hourly work, request the rate, minimum charge, expected time and the point at which the assembler must seek your approval to continue. Ask how they handle missing hardware, damaged panels or a return visit. Get any travel, parking, carrying and disposal charges in writing.
Separate assembly labor from disposal fees when comparing offers. The published city sticker prices below concern waste collection; use an item-specific quote to budget the assembly itself. [1]
Confirm anchoring and the handover
Share the manufacturer's anchoring instructions before booking. Ask the assembler to confirm whether their scope includes the specified wall attachment and hardware. For a rental, obtain permission for wall attachments before the appointment. Tell the assembler about the wall surface and any restrictions you know about; ask them to assess the attachment location before drilling.
For a bunk bed, loft bed or other piece with safety instructions, ask the assembler to follow the supplied manual and review the completed work with you. Do not accept substitutions for missing parts without resolving them with the manufacturer. Keep the manual, spare hardware and purchase details after the job.
Before signing off, open drawers and doors, check alignment and ask the assembler to address wobble or loose connections. Confirm the agreed placement and anchoring. Photograph any unresolved issue and record the agreed next step before the assembler leaves.
Prepare the room and delivery route
Confirm delivery before committing to an assembly appointment. Tell the assembler where the boxes will arrive, which floor holds the final room and whether they must carry anything upstairs. Share elevator reservations, entry instructions and parking arrangements that apply to your home.
Clear a work area and a route to the final position. Measure the intended space against the product dimensions, including clearance for drawers and doors. Agree on floor protection and where the assembler should stage panels, hardware and packaging. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
Choose who handles old furniture and packaging
For an old dresser, table or bed frame, compare paid removal with city curbside collection. Des Moines requires a pink $5 Large Item sticker on each qualifying bulk item. Call 515-283-4950 at least 24 hours before your next regular collection day, then place the stickered furniture at the curb by 7 a.m. with the sticker facing the street. Ask the assembler to quote carrying it to the curb if you need help. [1]
If you plan to self-haul, SCRUB accepts furniture at Metro Central Transfer Station and MEGA SCRUB locations. The city limits participation to Des Moines residents with photo ID or a current utility bill, excludes commercial haulers and asks residents to unload their own vehicle within 15 minutes. Check the event calendar before loading your vehicle. [3]
Ask whether cleanup means collecting packaging in the room, taking it to your bins or hauling it away. For excess cardboard, the city offers a cardboard-only drop-off at 110 SE 6th Street, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Flatten the boxes before dropping them off. Keep plastic bags and Styrofoam out of the recycling cart. [2]
Published Des Moines waste-collection sticker fees
Local details that affect your job
City pickup needs advance scheduling and curb placement
A bulk sticker alone does not complete your pickup arrangements. Call 515-283-4950 at least 24 hours before your next regular collection day. Each qualifying furniture item needs a pink $5 sticker, and you must place it curbside by 7 a.m. with the sticker facing the street. Include curb carrying in the assembly scope if you cannot move the old piece yourself. [1]
SCRUB cannot serve as your contractor's disposal route
SCRUB offers free drop-off for Des Moines residents and excludes commercial haulers. Bring photo ID or a current utility bill and plan to unload your vehicle. The city accepts cars, pickups and qualifying small trailers, with a 12-foot maximum trailer length and additional trailer restrictions. Choose paid removal if you cannot meet the resident self-hauling requirements. [3]
Excess flat-pack cardboard has a separate destination
Use the cardboard-only site at 110 SE 6th Street if your boxes exceed your recycling-cart space. The city lists this site as open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and asks you to break down boxes. It also lists cardboard dumpsters at East Side, Franklin Avenue and South Side libraries. Agree with the assembler who will separate and transport the packaging. [2]
Choose the assembly and cleanup scope
| Your situation | Arrange | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| You want furniture assembled in its final room | Assembly and carrying | Box location, stairs, room dimensions and floor protection |
| The manufacturer's instructions call for wall attachment | Assembly with the specified anchoring | Hardware, wall assessment and any rental permission |
| You can arrange curbside disposal | City bulk pickup and any needed curb carrying | $5 sticker per qualifying item; call at least 24 hours before regular collection |
| You can transport and unload old furniture | Resident SCRUB drop-off | Residency proof, event location and vehicle restrictions; no commercial haulers |
| You have excess cardboard | Separate cardboard cleanup | Flatten boxes for the city cardboard-only drop-off; exclude foam |
Your hiring checklist
- Send product links, quantities and assembly instructions.
- Confirm delivery and inspect boxes for visible damage.
- Specify carrying, final placement and anchoring in the quote.
- Ask about minimum charges and approval for extra work.
- Clear the room and confirm parking, stairs or elevator access.
- Choose city pickup, resident self-hauling or paid removal.
- Agree on cardboard, foam and other packaging cleanup.
- Review drawers, doors, connections and unresolved issues before handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I budget for assembly?
Request a written quote for your exact models and quantities. Ask the assembler to identify labor, carrying, anchoring, cleanup and removal charges. The city disposal fees on this page do not establish an assembly labor price. [1]
Can an assembler take my old furniture to SCRUB?
The city excludes commercial haulers from SCRUB. Use the resident self-hauling option if you meet its requirements, or ask the assembler to quote another disposal route. [3]
Can I recycle all the packaging?
Separate it first. Des Moines accepts flattened cardboard but excludes plastic bags and Styrofoam from recycling carts. Use the cardboard-only drop-off at 110 SE 6th Street for excess boxes. [2]
Should I include wall anchoring in the quote?
Share the manufacturer's instructions and ask the assembler to include any specified attachment in the written scope. Confirm hardware and permission to drill before the appointment, then review the attachment at handover.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.