ᐅ Why do screws loosen in BILLY shelves?

Hello everyone,

I have a question that has been on my mind for a while: Why do the screws in IKEA BILLY shelves keep loosening? I’ve noticed that especially the white shelves tend to become a bit loose after some time, even though I tightened the screws properly during assembly.

I assembled the shelf according to the instructions, use the original screws, and don’t place any unusual weight on it. Still, I have to retighten the screws regularly. Could this be due to the design, the quality of the materials, or perhaps vibrations that aren’t immediately noticeable?

I would be very grateful for well-informed answers or tips on how to solve this problem long-term without having to completely rebuild the shelf. Thanks in advance!

Plogi schrieb:
Why do the screws in IKEA BILLY shelves keep coming loose?

It’s great that you brought up this topic here! 😊 Screws that loosen over time are really annoying but definitely fixable. Often, it’s because these shelves are made from engineered wood materials, which can expand or contract slightly due to changes in temperature and humidity.

This causes the joints to be a bit “flexible,” and as a result, the screws can gradually loosen.

My advice: use small washers or even thread-locking adhesive (such as Loctite or a similar product) when screwing them in! This prevents the screws from turning loose again. And don’t worry: with a bit of patience, you can get any shelf back in good shape :-)

Plogi schrieb:
Why do the screws in IKEA BILLY shelves keep coming loose?

Regarding the cause of screws loosening in BILLY shelves: The shelves are mainly made from particleboard with a melamine coating, which, unlike solid wood, does not have a natural holding strength for screws.

When screws are driven into particleboard, the material slightly expands, and fluctuations in humidity (especially in living spaces during heating seasons) cause minimal movement. These micro-movements gradually loosen the threads in the composite material.

Additionally, the design uses cam locks and the proven dowel-and-screw system, which is generally considered static but can still be affected by movement.

To prevent this, it is recommended to:
- Tighten screws firmly but without excessive force to avoid damaging the material.
- Use thread-locking compounds (e.g., screw adhesives).
- Periodically retighten the screws as part of maintenance.

This is a normal occurrence with furniture of this type and is not considered a manufacturing defect.

Ninanon schrieb:
Often, this is because wood-based materials tend to expand or contract easily due to temperature and humidity changes.

You described this very well. I would like to add that this effect is often underestimated. Many users avoid tightening the screws again because they believe the shelf is faulty – in reality, it is a normal material characteristic.

KAMERON schrieb:
The shelves are mostly made of particleboard with a melamine coating, which does not have the natural screw retention properties of solid wood.

Exactly, the surface is very smooth, and the material has a lower density than solid wood, which affects the holding power of the screws.

I recommend not only tightening the screws firmly but also using an appropriate Phillips or Allen key to avoid over-tightening. Additionally, applying some assembly adhesive or threadlocker to all screws before the first assembly helps improve durability.

Patience pays off, and regular checks keep the shelf stable. Good luck!