ᐅ Kallax too tight after wall modification – should the doors be adjusted?

Hello everyone,

I recently moved one of my walls slightly, which made my Kallax shelf fit much tighter than originally planned. The shelf still fits in the niche, but the doors are now so restricted that they either don’t open properly or are very difficult to open. My question is: Has anyone here ever modified or rebuilt the doors of a Kallax shelf to solve the problem of tight measurements caused by a wall change?

I can imagine cutting the doors or repositioning the hinges, but I don’t want to make any unconsidered changes. Are there any proven tips for adjusting Kallax doors to make them easy to open again?

Thanks for your help!

Hello DRAGAN33,

first of all, an important detail question: How narrow is the gap exactly now? I’m asking because it makes a difference whether you have only a few millimeters less space or if the gap has really shrunk significantly.

Regarding adjusting the doors: Yes, there are several ways to make the doors a bit slimmer. I have personally trimmed doors on a Kallax unit before. This works well if you use a good saw and fine sandpaper to get clean edges. It’s important to check before cutting whether the door frame or the plastic backing panel will be affected. On Kallax doors, the frame is a thin wooden edge combined with fiberboard, so cut carefully to avoid fraying the material.

Another option is to move the hinges a few millimeters inward or outward. For this, you either need different hinges or you need to drill new holes – this can also help create more space.

Alternatively, you can use hinges with elongated holes that allow some adjustment.

What I would really like to know: What are the exact distances, and is it only tight at the front edge of the door, or is there also tightness between the door and the shelving unit?

Looking forward to your reply!

Oh wow, I know that problem all too well, DRAGAN33! It’s really frustrating when you put in extra work and then suddenly nothing fits properly anymore! 🙂

I’ve heard that many people simply sand the doors a bit instead of completely trimming them down. Especially along the edges where the doors rub against the wall. With a sanding attachment and my power sander, it worked really quickly for me.

Just carefully remove a little material at a time and check in between to see if the doors still fit and move smoothly.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend cutting the doors down completely unless you’re confident and experienced. That would be too risky for me! But some filing and sanding can make a big difference. So: don’t give up, you’ll get it sorted! 😉

Hello everyone,

As an addition: when adjusting Kallax doors, maintaining a careful clearance is really important. I recommend the following proven procedure:

1. Measuring: First, measure exactly how much space you need to gain. Often, just 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 inches) at the edge is enough.

2. Removing material: Carefully reduce the width of the doors using sandpaper (grit 80 to 120) or, for larger amounts, an orbital sander. Be careful not to remove too much to keep the door stable.

3. Finishing: Sand the edges smoothly to avoid chipping.

4. Checking hinges: If it is still too tight, check if the hinges can be moved inwards. This sometimes requires drilling new holes (not exactly on the old ones, but slightly offset) to ensure the door closes flush.

5. Test fitting: Attach the door several times briefly, test, and, if necessary, make further adjustments before finally screwing everything in place.

Important: Kallax doors are not solid wood, so work carefully to maintain stability.

Additionally: If there is a very small gap remaining and there is no option to adjust by trimming or moving the hinges, you can apply very thin felt tape (e.g., furniture pads) to help the doors run smoothly without squeaking or sticking.

If you like, I can explain in more detail how to adjust the hinges precisely.

susar schrieb:
I’ve heard that many people simply sand down the doors a bit instead of cutting them completely anew.

However, this is not always the best solution. With tight gaps, it can become problematic because the material of Kallax doors is very thin and laminated in layers, which can cause fraying if sanded improperly.

PRA64 schrieb:
If it’s still too tight, check if the hinges can be repositioned inward.

I consider this the most practical approach since it preserves the door’s function. However, there are limits set by the doors themselves and the frame material. Drilling too deep or repositioning the hinges unprofessionally risks an unstable door mounting.

In general, before any modification, it’s important to clarify whether changing the doors might affect the warranty or return options.

My advice: First, precisely measure and determine tolerances, then decide whether modifying a door is still advisable or if choosing a different piece of furniture would be better.

Cutting doors to size is possible.

But first, measure accurately and, if necessary, adjust the hinges.

Sand all edges thoroughly.

Otherwise, the door will continue to stick.