ᐅ Shelf in KALLAX unit broken by a thick binder – grounds for a complaint?

Good morning everyone,

I recently used a shelf panel from my KALLAX unit to store some thick binders. Unfortunately, the panel broke. My question is whether this could be a case for a claim, as at first glance, I believe this type of load should be acceptable under normal use. Does anyone have experience with the load capacity of KALLAX shelf panels or know if one can expect goodwill from the manufacturer in such a case? Thanks in advance for your insights!

Folders are often heavier than the shelves can support. It’s best to check the maximum load capacity that IKEA specifies for the shelves. If you exceed this limit, making a claim will be difficult.

If the floor has broken without being overloaded, you can definitely give it a try. IKEA customer service is sometimes lenient, even if the damage was caused by misuse.

The technical specifications of the KALLAX shelf indicate a maximum load capacity of up to 13 kg (29 lbs) per shelf. If heavy binders exceed this limit, it is considered an overload and therefore not eligible for a claim. Otherwise, any damage should be covered by material or manufacturing defects, and IKEA may offer a solution.

Danabla schrieb:
The technical specifications of the KALLAX shelf panel list a maximum load capacity of up to 13 kg per shelf.

Thank you for the information. My binders are quite thick, but I tried to estimate: The shelf was holding about 8 binders, each weighing around 2 kg. That would be approximately 16 kg (35 lbs), which is clearly above the specified load capacity. Still, I believe IKEA should provide greater load capacity for a shelf, especially for office use.

Interesting point that you exceeded the stated load limit. Still, the question remains whether IKEA should better inform customers about possible limits.

abdel59 schrieb:
I tried to estimate: The shelf was filled with about 8 binders, each weighing approximately 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds). That would be around 16 kilograms (35 pounds), clearly above the specified load.

If the load limit is that low, the product shouldn’t really be used for such storage purposes, right? The manufacturer should communicate this more clearly.