Assembly was relatively easy once it was removed from the box that I thought I would never get it out of. I would think it was to keep the bed from being damaged, but one of the foot pieces on the headboard would not go on because the opening was bent. I had to hammer it back into a circle shape to get the piece to fit inside it. Also, the rails on the headboard are not parallel, but rather there is a curve. Overall, this bed was NOT worth the money. But most of the issues I didn't notice until I had already assembled it. Oh yeah, and there is a huge white sticker on the footboard leg that doesn't peel off and tears. So I hope you have some goo gone handy if you buy this.