ᐅ If overloaded, the KALLAX compartments can become warped or misshapen – has anyone experienced this?
Created on: 4 Sep 2020 14:07
F
FloshonHello everyone,
I have a KALLAX shelf unit from IKEA in my apartment, which I mainly use for storing books and decorative items. I recently noticed that some of the compartments are starting to warp noticeably due to excessive weight – they look crooked, almost as if the shelves are bending and the sides are no longer standing straight.
Has anyone experienced something similar when these KALLAX compartments are filled too much or loaded too heavily? I am particularly interested in whether this is common with normal use or if I might already be reaching the load limits specified by the manufacturer.
Additionally, it would be helpful to know if there are any technical or practical solutions to prevent this leaning – for example, by reinforcing the shelves or using a different method of load distribution.
Looking forward to your insights and advice!
I have a KALLAX shelf unit from IKEA in my apartment, which I mainly use for storing books and decorative items. I recently noticed that some of the compartments are starting to warp noticeably due to excessive weight – they look crooked, almost as if the shelves are bending and the sides are no longer standing straight.
Has anyone experienced something similar when these KALLAX compartments are filled too much or loaded too heavily? I am particularly interested in whether this is common with normal use or if I might already be reaching the load limits specified by the manufacturer.
Additionally, it would be helpful to know if there are any technical or practical solutions to prevent this leaning – for example, by reinforcing the shelves or using a different method of load distribution.
Looking forward to your insights and advice!
Hello Floshon,
I think it makes a lot of sense that you first analyze the load. KALLAX shelves are made of particleboard with a melamine coating, which can bend over time under heavy loads. The manufacturers specify a maximum load per shelf, usually around 13 kg (29 lbs), which can be reached quickly with books.
The deformation occurs due to material fatigue and compressive stress, which weakens the wood fiber structure over time. It is especially problematic when large surfaces are loaded without distributing the weight across multiple levels.
Have you checked how heavy each individual shelf is approximately? Are there many heavy books or rather a few heavy objects?
A practical solution would be to add additional support bars or sturdy wood panels—lightweight plywood or MDF panels for reinforcement would be ideal. You might also secure the shelf to the wall to increase the overall stability of the furniture.
Oh, one more question: Have you tried distributing the heavy items across several shelves or keeping the shelves below slightly emptier? This can reduce the load.
I think it makes a lot of sense that you first analyze the load. KALLAX shelves are made of particleboard with a melamine coating, which can bend over time under heavy loads. The manufacturers specify a maximum load per shelf, usually around 13 kg (29 lbs), which can be reached quickly with books.
The deformation occurs due to material fatigue and compressive stress, which weakens the wood fiber structure over time. It is especially problematic when large surfaces are loaded without distributing the weight across multiple levels.
Have you checked how heavy each individual shelf is approximately? Are there many heavy books or rather a few heavy objects?
A practical solution would be to add additional support bars or sturdy wood panels—lightweight plywood or MDF panels for reinforcement would be ideal. You might also secure the shelf to the wall to increase the overall stability of the furniture.
Oh, one more question: Have you tried distributing the heavy items across several shelves or keeping the shelves below slightly emptier? This can reduce the load.
Hello Floshon,
Thank you for your well-formulated and specific question about the KALLAX shelves. You clearly pointed out the issue of sagging shelves due to excessive weight, which is a common problem with many particleboard furniture pieces.
Typically, these shelves are designed for evenly distributed loads with items that are not too heavy. When it comes to books, it is easy to exceed the weight capacity, especially if many heavy hardcover books are placed together on one shelf. Over time, this leads to sagging.
I would recommend not overloading the shelf and placing heavy items on the lower shelves, as stability is better supported downwards.
If possible, I would also suggest securing the back panel or anchoring the shelf to the wall – this helps to prevent leaning and sagging.
If the shelves at the bottom are already noticeably sagging, you might be close to or have exceeded the load limit.
Don’t worry, you are not the only one with this problem – these shelves are very practical, but they do have their limits in terms of load capacity.
Thank you for your well-formulated and specific question about the KALLAX shelves. You clearly pointed out the issue of sagging shelves due to excessive weight, which is a common problem with many particleboard furniture pieces.
Typically, these shelves are designed for evenly distributed loads with items that are not too heavy. When it comes to books, it is easy to exceed the weight capacity, especially if many heavy hardcover books are placed together on one shelf. Over time, this leads to sagging.
I would recommend not overloading the shelf and placing heavy items on the lower shelves, as stability is better supported downwards.
If possible, I would also suggest securing the back panel or anchoring the shelf to the wall – this helps to prevent leaning and sagging.
If the shelves at the bottom are already noticeably sagging, you might be close to or have exceeded the load limit.
Don’t worry, you are not the only one with this problem – these shelves are very practical, but they do have their limits in terms of load capacity.
Ernesto schrieb:
Have you checked roughly how heavy each individual shelf is? Are there many heavy books or rather individual heavy objects?Thank you for the detailed response! Yes, I have about 10-15 heavy hardcover books on one shelf, each weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 kg (3.3 and 5.5 lbs) – that quickly adds up to around 20-25 kg (44 and 55 lbs). In my estimation, I am definitely exceeding the recommended limits of 13-15 kg (29–33 lbs).
The other shelves are less full and contain lighter items. So far, I haven’t secured the shelving unit to the wall yet, which I now note as an important tip.
Tudogo schrieb:
I would recommend not overloading the shelf and placing heavier items on the lower shelvesThat matches my intuition – I will move the heavy books to the lower shelves.
Are there any practical experiences with reinforcements for the shelving unit, like Ernesto described? What is the best way to do this without altering the design too much?
Floshon schrieb:
Are there any practical experiences with reinforcements in shelving, like Ernesto described?Yes, with KALLAX shelving units, I have often installed plywood panels cut to the size of the shelves. These panels are more stable and hardly warp under weight. It is important that you either place the additional panel directly under the original shelf or completely replace it to avoid stacking layers.
Step-by-step:
1. Measure the shelf size
2. Cut a plywood panel (about 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick) to these dimensions
3. Insert the panel and, if necessary, secure it or add small side strips to guide it
This noticeably increases the load capacity.
If you are handy, you can extend the durability and prevent sagging this way.
For aesthetic reasons, you can also wrap or paint the panel white to maintain the typical KALLAX design.
Do you have access to such a panel or someone who can help with cutting?
Similar topics