ᐅ Is it necessary to always use a cordless drill when assembling the Kallax?

Hello everyone, I’m considering buying a Kallax shelf from Ikea, but I have a question about assembly: Is it always necessary to use a cordless screwdriver when putting the shelf together, or is it also possible to assemble it easily using just a regular screwdriver or even by hand?

I’d prefer not to buy a cordless screwdriver if it’s not absolutely required. On the other hand, I want to avoid making the assembly unnecessarily complicated or too time-consuming.

Does anyone have experience with this or can offer advice on the best approach?

Hello tukla,

regarding your question: Is it absolutely necessary to use a cordless screwdriver when assembling a Kallax shelf? Basically, it’s not strictly required, because Ikea provides the shelves with fittings that you can screw in by hand. However, I highly recommend using a cordless screwdriver if you regularly assemble furniture or larger shelves like the Kallax.

A cordless screwdriver makes the work much easier, especially since you can drive the screws much faster and with less effort. With the many tension screws used in the Kallax, doing it by hand can be quite tiring.

tukla schrieb:
Is it always absolutely necessary to use a cordless screwdriver when assembling a Kallax shelf?

You can do it without one, but it will take longer and be more tedious. If you already have a cordless screwdriver, definitely use it. If not, it’s also possible with a good Phillips screwdriver, just make sure to take enough breaks to avoid blisters 😉

If this is your first piece of furniture of this size, you can borrow an inexpensive cordless screwdriver or buy one cheaply – it usually pays off.

tukla schrieb:
Do you always have to use a cordless drill when assembling a Kallax shelf?

No, you don’t have to.

You can also screw the screws in by hand using a screwdriver.

Using a cordless drill is faster and easier, but it’s not mandatory.

I think your question is really important because many people underestimate the effort involved in self-assembly.

Tevin schrieb:
You can do it without, but it takes longer and can be a bit tiring.

I can only confirm that. I once only had a simple screwdriver and assembled the Kallax. It was quite exhausting, and by the end, my fingers really hurt. On the other hand, it does make you a bit proud to have assembled the shelf completely without any power tools. But for me personally, a cordless drill is a huge relief.

Especially if you plan to assemble other furniture or do this more often, investing in one can really be worth it. And if you don’t have one, you could ask friends or family if you can borrow theirs.

Don’t worry, you can definitely manage without one! 🙂

Lisele schrieb:
I once only had a simple screwdriver and assembled the Kallax shelf. It was pretty exhausting, and my fingers hurt a lot by the end.

This is exactly the point many people underestimate. While it’s possible to assemble without a cordless drill, the physical effort can be quite significant, especially with multiple shelves or larger furniture items.

If you’re only putting together a small shelf and aren’t in a hurry, it can work without a cordless drill. Just be careful not to overtighten the screws.

A tip from me: start by screwing all the screws in by hand with light pressure to avoid damaging the pilot holes. Then, when you use a cordless drill, you can tighten the screws properly without damaging the shelf materials. If you don’t have one and can’t borrow one, I recommend a good quality Phillips screwdriver with an ergonomic handle—it helps reduce hand fatigue a bit.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!