ᐅ MALM furniture legs wobble – how can I effectively stabilize them?

Hello everyone,
I have a problem with the legs of my Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, which start to wobble more and more after some use. The legs themselves are securely screwed in, but I can feel an unpleasant movement that affects the stability. I’m wondering what practical and long-lasting measures can be taken to eliminate or at least significantly reduce this wobbling.

Does anyone have experience stabilizing the MALM wooden legs? What materials or techniques have proven effective? For example, should spacer pieces be used, glued additionally, or is it better to replace the legs entirely? I’m grateful for any tips, especially those suitable for DIY use without expensive special tools or advanced craftsmanship required.

It’s great that you started this topic here! 🙂 I had exactly the same problem with my MALM chest of drawers and was able to fix the wobbling very easily. When the legs wobble, it’s often because the connecting screws have loosened or the material has slightly given way. My solution was to stick small rubber pads under the legs, which both provide some cushioning and secure the connection. Additionally, I thickened the screws with a bit of wood glue – tightened them firmly, and the hold was much better!

After just a few hours, the chest of drawers was like new, with no more wobbling. Give it a try; it costs almost nothing and was a real success story for me! :-)

MALM furniture often features a simple assembly system where the legs are screwed onto wooden plates or metal threads. Wobbling usually occurs due to material wear or slightly stretched threads.

Therefore, I recommend the following steps:
1. Remove the legs and inspect the screws and threads for wear or damage.
2. If the threads are stretched, you can either use larger screws or apply fine wood shavings mixed with wood glue to the outside of the threaded hole, let it dry, and then reattach the legs. This usually tightens the thread again.
3. Another option is to use metal threaded inserts, which provide long-term stability to the thread.

If the wobbling is caused by contact between the leg and the floor, small felt pads or anti-slip pads can also help.

To truly eliminate the wobbling of the MALM furniture legs in the long term, you should carefully examine the entire fastening system. First, some technical details: the legs are usually attached to the base section with wood screws or knock-in nuts. With frequent use and due to material changes (wood moisture, temperature fluctuations), the threads or bearing surfaces can become damaged.

The following approach might help:

1. Remove the legs and clean the threads and contact surfaces from dust or glue residues.

2. Check the fit – does the leg sit securely? Are the knock-in nuts loose in the drilled holes?

3. If the knock-in nuts fit, the mounting holes can be filled with wooden dowels and wood glue depending on the damage and then re-drilled after drying.

4. Alternatively, inserting metal threaded inserts fixed with epoxy resin is recommended. This provides a stable, durable solution and prevents the threads from wearing out again.

5. For loose screws, medium-strength threadlocker adhesive is advised.

6. Additionally, fine strips of rubber or felt can be placed between the wooden leg and the underside of the furniture to ensure a firmer, vibration-free fit.

I am also interested in how old the dresser exactly is and whether the legs have been mounted multiple times, as this affects the durability of the threads.

What exactly have you found regarding the screws and the fastening method?

Thanks in advance for the initial suggestions!

The dresser is about 2 years old and has only been assembled once since purchase, with no relocations. The screws themselves look unchanged on the outside; I couldn’t detect any major looseness, but I do notice slight movement, especially when I press against it. The legs are attached directly with wood screws on the underside—no insert nuts—which affects the available options.

Is there a way to reinforce the threads without fully disassembling the piece? And what do you think about adding some kind of diagonal bracing under the dresser to stabilize wobbly legs? Would that be overkill for such a simple piece of furniture or a sensible approach?

I’m looking forward to your further insights!

Wood screws often become loose if the hole is slightly too large. Simply insert a wooden toothpick or a small wooden strip into the hole, add some wood glue, and then screw in the screw. This fills the hole and provides a secure hold.