ᐅ Kallax doors are always installed slightly too high – does that sound familiar to you?

Hello everyone,

I have noticed that the doors on my IKEA Kallax shelving unit always seem to be mounted slightly too high. Specifically, when I install and adjust the doors according to the instructions, there is always a small gap at the top that cannot be closed without the door dragging at the bottom or slightly misaligning when touched.

Have you encountered this issue as well?

I am asking because I am not entirely sure whether this is a general design or installation issue, or if I might be doing something fundamentally wrong. It almost feels as if the mounting holes for the hinges on the Kallax are positioned so that the doors hang slightly “higher” than ideal for a flush fit.

Do you have any experience with this? If so, how did you solve it? I would really appreciate a knowledgeable assessment, ideally with tips for adjustment or alternatives. Thank you in advance!

harmla schrieb:
When I install and adjust the doors according to the instructions, there is always a small gap at the top that somehow cannot be closed without the door dragging at the bottom or slightly twisting when touched.

Hey, I know that all too well! Kallax actually has a pretty simple design, but those small gaps can be really annoying if you care about the appearance.

It looks like this might be a deliberate design choice by IKEA—the doors are probably intentionally mounted slightly higher so they don’t drag at the bottom if the floor isn’t perfectly level. The adjustments can really be a balancing act.

My personal “solution” was: leave the gap at the top, but check the bottom very carefully. Fix a few millimeters with small felt strips on the inside edge or something similar to prevent the door from shifting if it hangs too loosely.

Sometimes less than perfect is simply the lesser evil 🙂 Feel free to ask if you want more tips!

dijan schrieb:
Kallax actually has a pretty simple construction, but those small gaps can be really annoying

Hello harmla,

I would like to approach this topic a bit more systematically, as there are many similar questions about Kallax and some aspects are often overlooked.

1. Check the assembly step: Take a close look at the hinges to see if they are fully screwed in and if the adjustment screws are set correctly.
2. Dimension check: Measure the position of the doors before and after assembly – often a clearance of 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 inches) is intended to prevent the doors from sticking.
3. Compensate for uneven floors: As mentioned, an uneven floor significantly affects the fit. Make sure the unit stands stable and level.

If you want to adjust the doors, there is also the option to move the upper hinge slightly downward. This involves a bit more effort but avoids the gap at the top. Important: Be careful not to shift the door, and recalibrate the depth and lateral adjustment afterward.

Summary: IKEA frames plus doors often work on a simple principle that requires some “play” or clearance. If you don’t like that, you need to modify and “tune” it.

I hope this helps you a bit!

harmla schrieb:
It almost feels like the mounting holes for the hinges on Kallax are positioned so that the doors hang slightly "higher"

This is actually due to the design of the Kallax units and the hinges IKEA uses.

Technically speaking, IKEA does not provide the high level of precision with Kallax doors that you might expect from more expensive or custom-made furniture. The drilling holes are standardized to streamline production and reduce costs. As a result, when fitting the hinges—with their limited adjustment options—the doors can only be mounted within certain tolerances.

Switch into installation mode for a moment: the hinges typically offer three adjustment options—depth, lateral (side-to-side), and height. For height, there is usually only a few millimeters (inches) of play.

The trick is to find a position where the top gap is minimal without the door hitting too hard on the surface below when closing. Because of the limited vertical adjustment, you usually can’t completely eliminate the gap without causing other issues at the bottom—as you have already noticed.

One possible solution, if you are reasonably skilled with tools, is to carefully reposition the holes for the upper hinge a few millimeters (inches) lower using the appropriate drill attachment. This requires precision, as a significant error can cause problems with closing and unsightly gaps along the sides.

Alternatively, you can try adjusting the shelving units themselves so that they stand perfectly vertical; even a slight tilt can create the impression of an excessively high door gap.

One last tip: the hinges used on Kallax are not the most robust. If you notice this problem repeatedly, check whether the hinges already have play or are damaged—that will worsen the gap issue.

How have you adjusted the doors so far? Have you fully used the adjustment screws or just mounted the doors roughly?

kaubi schrieb:
The drill holes are standardized to streamline manufacturing and reduce costs.

That’s exactly the point! Perfectly adjusting and fine-tuning is simply not IKEA’s priority at the price point of Kallax.

Sometimes, a bit of a workaround with felt pads or small washers on the hinges is the only way to get the best results.

kaubi schrieb:
How have you been adjusting the doors so far? Are you fully using the adjustment screws or just roughly mounting them?

If harmla provides more information, I’d be happy to share some simpler tips!