ᐅ Why is my Ikea Metod kitchen cabinet wobbly after installation?

That would be great, thanks! I suspect I only tightened the screws until they were ‘firm,’ but no more. A precise sequence or installation depth might help.

Certainly:

How to optimally install Metod connecting fittings:

- Step 1: Keep both cabinet sides perfectly clean, with no wood chips or dust in the holes.
- Step 2: Screw the cam connector into the panel hand-tight first, without applying too much resistance.
- Step 3: Position the cabinets exactly flush against each other, without forcing them.
- Step 4: Carefully tighten the cam lock with a suitable screwdriver until slight resistance is felt.
- Step 5: Check with a spirit level whether the fronts are aligned.
- Step 6: Adjust the cam if necessary until no gap is visible.
- Step 7: Finally, fully tighten the cam—not too much, but enough to eliminate any play.

I recommend holding the cabinets steady while tightening to prevent shifting. This creates a stable, play-free connection. Often, only one part wobbles because a connection is not seated properly.

In addition to the procedure already described, I would like to point out that the back panels of the cabinets play an important role in stability. These should be properly installed and fully screwed in to prevent the units from twisting.

If the back panel is only nailed or not lying completely flat, this can cause the units to give way under load, resulting in the wobbling you describe.

The installation of the countertop is also relevant – careful gluing or screw fixation ensures that the units together form a rigid structure.

Thanks for the tip. The back panels are fixed with small nails, not screws. I had considered that sufficient, but if this can affect the stability, I will correct it and use appropriate screws. Is there a recommendation for the screw size or type for the back panels? Unfortunately, the Ikea instructions don’t provide any specific information on this.

lelalo schrieb:

I had considered that sufficient, but if that can already affect stability, I will correct it and use appropriate screws.

This is an important point. To minimize twisting, the back panels should definitely be secured with screws.

Typically, 10 mm (0.4 inch) long Phillips screws with a diameter of 3.5 mm (0.14 inch) or 4 mm (0.16 inch) are well suited. They need to be short enough not to go through the wood or back panel but deep enough to create a solid connection.

Using screws instead of nails significantly strengthens the overall construction and greatly reduces the risk of wobbling.

I find it interesting that the floor situation has not been questioned further so far – you mention it is a tile floor with minor height variations. However, this can still have a significant impact on wobbling.

Wyatt schrieb:

Even slightly uneven floors cause the support feet to bear different loads.

Even if felt pads are placed underneath—they are often not sufficient, as they do not level the surface but only protect the floor.

I strongly recommend following the adjustment instructions during the Metod installation and setting the feet individually to compensate for height differences. There can be large variations here, and this is often the real reason a kitchen wobbles—even if all other connections are perfect.