For the screws I would suggest using a power drill however I only had a screw driver. Its not impossible but its very difficult to do if thats all you have. It took 2 people to build it about an hour an 1/2. This was my first time building something from scratch and my first bulk item ordered from wayfair. I live in Hawaii so there's never going to be free shipping doesnt matter how much you spend. It comes in 2 pretty heavy boxes. The bottom of the bed came in first labeled 2 out of 2 so i called customer service to find out what happened to the head board. They said the shipping people sent it back so she ordered me a replacement which came in a week later. I really like the way it looks and I prefer if your not going to use a boxspring a 10" mattress and up wont make your mattress look so close to the floor.