ᐅ Do the compartments in the upper KALLAX section tend to become misaligned more quickly?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled my IKEA KALLAX, and I noticed that the compartments in the upper section seem to tilt more quickly than the lower ones. I’m wondering: do the compartments in the top part of the KALLAX actually become crooked faster?

I’m specifically referring to the compartments that you open and place items into—the actual shelves in the upper rows. I suspect that due to the weight or the design, there might be a higher load or deformation occurring compared to the lower compartments, which are better supported.

I’m especially interested in whether anyone else has observed this and if it might be a design flaw, normal material fatigue, or simply an issue related to assembly or load.

Thanks for any experience, technical advice, or tips on this topic!

surian schrieb:
Do the compartments in the upper KALLAX area really warp faster?

From my experience and after examining the KALLAX construction, I can say: yes, the upper compartments tend to warp or lean sideways more than the lower ones.

The main reason is that the upper shelves are not supported by additional horizontal elements above, whereas the lower ones are secured by at least one more level above. This means that when loaded with books or storage items, there is greater leverage acting on the side panels in the upper compartments.

Also, the particleboard or MDF material IKEA uses is not fully resistant to deformation under load. This should be taken into account during assembly and loading.

Recommendation: When loading, try to store heavier items at the bottom. Additionally, extra reinforcement or carefully aligning the shelves during assembly can help prevent warping in the long term.

elliot schrieb:
The upper shelves are not supported by additional horizontal elements above them

This is exactly where the technical issue lies!

Above the top shelf, there is usually only the cabinet frame edge, which does not provide real load-bearing or support. As a result, stronger bending moments act on the side panels under load, causing the material to gradually warp over time.

I recommend a simple check:
1. Check how securely the fasteners (screws or dowels) are fixed at the top. Loose connections already lead to visible misalignment.
2. Make sure the shelving unit stands completely level. Any unevenness in the floor transfers to the entire piece of furniture.
3. Distribute the loads evenly on the top shelf. Heavy weights concentrated in one spot increase deformation.

Additionally, you might consider attaching thin reinforcement strips on the backside at the top inside the KALLAX unit. This stabilizes the frame with little effort.

In conclusion: The warping is a well-known phenomenon that tends to occur more easily in the upper area due to the construction, but it can be limited with careful assembly and maintenance.

surian schrieb:
I can imagine that due to the own weight or the design, there might be increased load or deformation

Hello, to add to this: Affordable shelves like KALLAX rely on simple materials and construction, which do not have professional structural engineering. This is fine for normal use, but depending on the weight and how they are used, it may not always be ideal.

It is also important how the shelves or inserts are supported: Are the shelves properly placed, sitting fully on all sides? Are all support surfaces intact and usable?

Climate also plays a role. Moisture can cause wood materials to swell, which may lead to slight warping, especially in the upper compartments that are usually more exposed.

My advice: For heavy loads, use metal boxes for example, or store heavy books at the bottom and lighter items on top. This way the stress is better distributed and deformation is minimized.

This is brilliant, how well the causes are explained here! 🙂

I had exactly the same problem with my KALLAX – the top row became a bit warped despite careful use.

But I solved it with a simple trick: just attach a few narrow wooden strips along the back at the top to stabilize it a little. This helps to distribute the load better and prevents further warping.

Also, I didn’t have a perfectly level floor during installation. So, leveling again and adding some shims can work wonders!

So: don’t worry, this can be easily improved with simple measures! :-)