Beyond roast turkey, stuffing, and pie, Americans are left with a different kind of Thanksgiving leftover every year: furniture that has yet to be assembled. Airtasker data shows a surge in furniture assembly demand in the US the week after Thanksgiving in both 2024 and 2025.
From two weeks before the holiday to the week after, demand for furniture assembly on the platform more than doubled in 2024 (+130%) and more than tripled in 2025 (+207%). Here’s a week-over-week view of furniture assembly demand in the US:
In 2025 specifically, demand climbed in the run-up to Thanksgiving, grew more slowly during the holiday week, then hit its biggest spike the week after.
With the American Automobile Association (AAA) projecting a record 81.8 million Americans on the move over Thanksgiving 2025, many households probably weren’t home to build anything until after the long weekend, right around when their Black Friday deals started arriving.
The Big Apple needs the most assembly help in 2026
Los Angeles was Airtasker’s top city for post-Thanksgiving furniture assembly in both 2024 and 2025. But looking at 2026 so far, New York City steals the spotlight. Based on Airtasker data from January to October 2026, more furniture assembly tasks were posted in NYC than in any other US city.
On a borough level, Manhattan took the largest share of NYC furniture assembly demand in 2026. It accounted for roughly a third of all tasks posted, ahead of Brooklyn and Queens, even though both have more residents.
Small apartments, walk-ups, and limited space likely contribute to strong demand for furniture assembly in Manhattan. As for what Manhattanites are building, the bedroom tops the list.
Around 33% of all furniture assembly tasks from Manhattan involved items such as beds, bed frames, dressers, wardrobes, and nightstands. Among the tasks that mentioned a specific brand or retailer, IKEA was the clear leader, followed by Amazon and Wayfair.
Thanksgiving help: What to book before and after the holiday
Hosting Thanksgiving this year? There’s plenty to get done around the house, from cleaning to setting up guest rooms and making space for family and friends. And once the long weekend is over, there may be Black Friday furniture waiting to be unboxed and assembled. Here’s where a helping hand can make things easier.
What to book before Thanksgiving:
- House cleaning: Get kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas guest-ready. In the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, demand for residential cleaning on Airtasker rose by 16% in 2024 and 28% in 2025 compared with the two weeks before.
- Painting and repairs: Tackle wall touch-ups, small fixes, and unfinished home projects before guests arrive. Painting demand also increased by 35% over the same period in 2025.
- Event help: Hosting a bigger crowd? Get extra hands for food prep, serving, and event setup. Demand for hospitality services on Airtasker rose 47% over the same period in 2025.
What to book after Thanksgiving:
The week after Thanksgiving is a busy time for furniture assembly, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday orders start arriving. If you’ve scored a deal on a new bed frame or bookshelf, post your assembly task as soon as you know your delivery date, so you can lock in a time that matches your schedule before the rush.
Shopping in-store instead? Getting your home haul can be tricky without a car, or if you live in a walk-up. Taskers can pick up items from the store, carry them upstairs, and help you put everything together.
NYC Taskers: Get ready for the post-Thanksgiving assembly rush
For Taskers in NYC, furniture assembly is the category to watch this holiday season. To make the most of it:
- Keep your schedule open: Make yourself available from Black Friday weekend through the following week, when furniture assembly demand has peaked in past years.
- Highlight relevant experience: On your Tasker profile, mention any experience assembling beds, bed frames, and dressers, especially from popular flat-pack brands like IKEA.
- Respond quickly: Manhattan furniture assembly tasks on Airtasker can get an offer within three minutes of being posted. Send your rate and availability promptly to stand out.
Whether you’re staring down a flat-pack bed frame or ready to put your toolkit to work, Airtasker has you covered. Post your furniture assembly task to get it built on your schedule, or join as a Tasker to earn extra cash during the post-Thanksgiving rush.
