This arrived packed flat. There was some assembly required, but it's pretty simple. The only tool that I should have needed is an allen wrench, which is supplied in the form of a very classy, gold colored metal.First, install the casters on the bottom. The casters on the front have a locking mechanism to keep them from rolling if you want to use that feature.The bottom shelf folds down.Then, you put the middle shelf in place. It's not fastened to the cart, and when folded, is a separate piece. There are 4 pieces of hardware already in place that fit in slots in the bottom of the shelf when it is place and help keep everything rigid. In my particular case, the back of the cart was just a smidge wider than the front of the cart, so the two back hooks didn't fit in the slots. They nearly fit, and I got a screwdriver and used it as a pry bar and pried the hooks just a little further out from the back supports, which made it fit. I don't know if this is a fluke, or something that happens a lot with this cart.The only real assembly is putting the top on. There are two blocks under the top fastened to the top with hinges. There are 4 screws that you need to use to fasten the blocks to the back support.Once you do that, you can take the middle shelf out and fold the whole thing up. The blocks under the top let it fold out far enough from the back that there is space for the bottom shelf and the sides and legs. The middle shelf will be a separate piece that you'll have to keep with it if you're folding it when moving or something.The result is a very sturdy, nicely finished, good looking piece of furniture. I think it's a great value for the price.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]