Comes assembled. The holder is of very good quality. It is of a good weight so that it does not move when you unroll the paper. It is just the right height to place on a small table, shelf or counter in any bathroom. The finish is vibrant, very pleasing to the eye. Only negative is that you have to maneuver a little to get the roll onto the shaft and not have the spring jump away from you. But, I have done it three times now and it gets easier every time. And the spring needs to be like this in order for the shaft to fit securely into the holder. Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase, would buy another one and highly recommend it.