ᐅ Why do some Billy bookcases only start to squeak after extended use?

Hello everyone, I am currently looking into a phenomenon that might be familiar to some of you: why do some IKEA Billy shelves only start squeaking after prolonged use?

Specifically, I want to understand the mechanical or material-related reasons why a shelf initially stands silently but begins to produce that annoying squeaking noise after some time under load or use.

I suspect that factors such as load forces, material and joint wear, the type of assembly, or environmental influences like humidity play a role, but I would like to hear your opinions.

Has anyone had experience with this or can pinpoint the exact cause? I am especially interested in whether there are typical spots where the noise occurs and how to prevent it—perhaps through lubrication or tightening screws. Thanks in advance!

The squeaking in Billy shelves after extended use can be explained technically. It usually occurs due to slight shifts or friction at connection points that initially seem tight but may loosen over time from load and minor material fatigue.

Typical causes are the dowels and screws in the joint holes: chipboard or particleboard changes slightly from moisture and load, creating small movable gaps that cause squeaking when the shelf is moved.

Thiesjon schrieb:
Whether load forces, material and joint wear, the type of assembly, or environmental factors such as moisture play a role

Paulus, exactly these factors are relevant.

Prevention can be achieved by occasionally tightening the screws and, if necessary, lubricating the joints with silicone oil or wax. Important: regular oil can damage the material and should therefore not be used.

I have been using my Billy shelf for years and can confirm that squeaking often comes from the screws on the shelves. Just check all the screws and tighten any that are loose.

This is a quick and simple solution that doesn’t require much effort.

Interesting question and good initial answers. However, I would like to point out that often only a single cause is considered.

andre3 schrieb:
It usually arises from slight shifts or friction at connection points that initially seem tight but can loosen due to stress and minor material fatigue.

That is true, but one should also consider the impact of different material qualities in Billy-type shelving units. The particleboard used is sensitive to fluctuating humidity. This characteristic can promote squeaking by affecting the fit of the joints.

Furthermore, wall fixings can also play a role. Shelves that are not securely fastened to the wall move slightly during normal use – and this movement is exactly what causes the noise.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone here has experience with measures to prevent wall movement.

I find this discussion really interesting – those small noises can be quite annoying, especially when you use the shelf daily and the squeaking gradually starts over time.

What personally bothered me was the uncertainty about whether something might break or if I could cause more damage by handling it incorrectly. From my experience, gently tightening the screws and carefully lubricating the parts significantly improved the problem.

Sometimes it also helps to realign the shelf and tighten the wall fastenings a bit more. That feeling of everything becoming more stable reduced the annoying noises for me and also gave me some peace of mind.

Thanks to everyone here who shares their practical tips – it encourages me to tackle the problem directly.