ᐅ KALLAX hinges constantly come loose – is the material too soft?

Hello everyone,

I noticed that the hinges on the doors of my IKEA KALLAX unit tend to become loose after some time. The material feels somewhat too soft or flexible, which likely causes the screws to loosen over time or does not provide enough stability. My question is: Has anyone else experienced similar issues with the KALLAX hinges? I’m wondering if this is really due to the material or if there is a specific installation method I might have missed. I’m especially interested in whether this problem can be fixed permanently without having to buy new hinges right away. Thanks for your advice!

At KALLAX, the hinges are often made entirely of simple metal or plastic, which makes them prone to damage. Tightening the screws can help, and sometimes using new anchors or screws is necessary.

Hello Callum64,

I can understand your problem well. The material used for KALLAX hinges, especially at the mounting points, is often made of less durable plastic, which can cause the screw holes to become worn out.

My advice:
1. Tighten the screws with a medium-strength threadlocker to prevent them from loosening quickly.
2. Before installation, check if the screw holes have already been enlarged due to repeated tightening. If so, you can fill the hole with wood filler and drill a new pilot hole.
3. Optionally, try metal hinge alternatives that may be more durable, if available.

Incorrect installation or over-tightening often worsens the problem. Also, be careful not to screw the hinges in with too much force.

bulanau schrieb:
1. Tighten screws with a medium-strength threadlocker

This actually helps a lot. I had the same problem, and after retightening the screws with threadlocker, the hinges held much longer.

I completely understand how frustrating it can be when doors keep wobbling or come loose. I once had an IKEA shelf myself and was disappointed by how delicate the hinges are.

It seems that the materials used in IKEA furniture are often designed for easy assembly and low cost, rather than long-term durability—especially when it comes to hinges. Maybe that’s why yours is becoming loose.

I want to encourage you to keep at it—there are often small tricks to stabilize things without having to replace everything. If you’re open to it, I’d also love to hear about your experiences if you try any improvements. 🙂

Regarding KALLAX and loose hinges: It is often due to the material quality of the hinges as well as the screws used.

A proven approach is to prepare and, if necessary, reinforce the screw holes. Caution: Over-tightening can quickly damage the wood threads.

I recommend:
- Lightly roughening the surface before screwing
- Using suitable screws with a larger diameter or better thread
- Avoiding excessive load or frequent door opening when the shelves are fully loaded

A permanent solution often requires either replacing the hinges or filling the screw holes with filler and then re-screwing.