ᐅ How much time can be saved assembling the Ikea Brimnes after some practice?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled the IKEA Brimnes shelving unit and am curious about how much time practice can actually save during assembly. Specifically, who has put this furniture together multiple times and can share their experience on how the required time changed from the first attempt to maybe the third or fourth?

I’m interested not only in the pure assembly time but also whether certain steps become faster and if learning processes significantly reduce error rates or detours.

I would appreciate it if you could share your times, approaches, and any tips, especially regarding which phases of assembly benefit most from practice.

oscar_dan schrieb:
I’m not only interested in the pure assembly time, but also whether certain steps go faster and if learning processes can significantly reduce error rates or detours.

That’s a very detailed question, which I’m happy to answer in depth since I have assembled the Brimnes design several times.

The first time took me about 3 hours, with most of the time spent on fitting the back panels together and screwing in the hinges, which required a lot of patience. A big portion of the time was lost figuring out the instructions and sorting the parts.

The second time I managed to reduce the assembly time to just under 2 hours. The main reasons were:
- Better pre-sorting of screws and parts before starting
- Understanding the side hinges and their exact positioning
- Knowing the critical steps that shouldn’t be skipped

By the third or fourth assembly (for example, when rearranging or moving), the time dropped to about 1 to 1.5 hours. At this point you can notice:
- The process becomes automatic, with smoother workflows
- Errors from inserting parts incorrectly decrease significantly, avoiding rework

A side tip: While the IKEA instructions are clear, it’s worth checking all wooden parts for damage beforehand and having the right tools ready – ideally a cordless screwdriver with torque control. This makes the process easier and saves time.

I hope this gives a realistic timeframe. How do you approach it?

kulau schrieb:
During the third or fourth assembly (e.g., after rearranging or moving), the time reduced to about 1 to 1.5 hours.

This matches my experience. To specify objectively:

The initial assembly of the Brimnes shelving unit takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. This is usually due to lack of experience and having to decode the instructions for the first time.

After one or two more assemblies, this time can be reduced to about 1 to 1.5 hours. Gaining routine here allows for faster identification of parts and more efficient processing.

The biggest time savings come from:
- a better understanding of the screw sequences
- avoiding mistakes when installing the drawer slides
- and more effective handling of the back panels, which are often incorrectly positioned if not installed carefully.

I consider a time reduction of around 50% after some practice to be realistic, provided certain basic conditions (tools, preparation) are met.

oscar_dan schrieb:
I am interested not only in the actual assembly time but also whether certain steps can be done faster and if learning processes can significantly reduce error rates or detours.

I have assembled the Brimnes bed three times now. At first, it took me almost 4 hours, but now it takes about 90 minutes. I hardly make any mistakes anymore, especially fitting the slat frame holders goes much faster now.

Ellis schrieb:
At first, I took just under 4 hours, now it’s about 90 minutes.

This clearly shows how practice helps. I would add that not only does the time improve, but also the quality of the assembly. After several builds, you develop a feel for the fit of the parts – such as precisely aligning the drawer slides and front panels.

It is also important to prepare the assembly environment: sufficient space, good lighting, and a sturdy, level surface can reduce assembly time.

Additionally:
- Practice eliminates uncertainties about the order of assembly steps
- After gaining experience, you can secure parts stably with minimal screwing effort

When it comes to saving time, using a cordless drill with adjustable speed can make a big difference. Skillful handling always beats pure muscle power here.

What tools do you use? How does that affect your assembly speed?