There is a locking system to assemble this. It will require some tools as it's hard to close. It's a pretty bench but the locking system is fully visible on the back as you can see in the picture. Also my pillow came folded and the corners were bunched up. I am making a cover for it so that's OK but if you're going to be using the actual pillow without a cover you may want to consider that it's going to be not very flat when it comes in.