I was hesitant to assemble this after reading some reviews. Yes, it comes in 6 boxes. The boxes that state hardware have the instructions. Yes, there are 3 different sets of instructions. When assembling the bed, remember to assemble the full conversion at the same time. Itll prevent you from backtracking and save time. I also used an impact tool instead of hand tool. I assembled it myself. Took about 8 hours, but I started in the evening and finished the next day. I also had to keep stopping for the kiddos. Dont let the reviews persuade you. This was easy to assemble and directions were clear. Its a very sturdy bed and my son loves it