Took about 90 minutes to assemble with the help of my 12 year old son.  The bed is for him.  Once together, it is pretty solid/sturdy.  Directions are pictures only, but easy to figure out.  Recommend this bed for pre-teens/kids.  Only complaint was the packing.  Could probably use another layer of protection for shipping.  One of the end panels had 2 gouges about the size of a dime in it.  Luckily this was the headboard side that was going against the wall.