ᐅ Which screws are best suited for modifying the Ikea Besta unit?

Hello everyone, I am currently planning to modify the Ikea Besta cabinet to create a slightly more stable and durable piece of furniture. I am wondering which types and sizes of screws are best suited for this kind of modification. It is important to me that the screws can both withstand the stresses from everyday use and do not damage the material. I am particularly interested in screws for connecting the individual components and possibly for attaching new panels. Which screws would you recommend, what should be considered when choosing them (length, diameter, material, head type), and do you have any tips from your experience on which screws work best for a Besta modification? Thank you in advance for your expertise!

I usually recommend stainless steel countersunk screws, about 4 mm (5/32 inches) in diameter and 30-40 mm (1¼ - 1½ inches) long. They hold well and do not rust. For wood joints, chipboard screws are suitable.

Hello kelechi, it’s great that you are paying close attention to the choice of screws, as this is indeed a crucial aspect when modifying furniture. I recommend the following approach:

- First, you should determine whether you want to reuse the original washers and dowels from Ikea or if everything will be replaced.
- For connections in particleboard, particleboard screws are ideal; they have coarse threads that grip the wood better.
- The length usually depends on the thickness of the panels: about 2.5 times the panel thickness is a good guideline, often 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 inches).
- It is also important to use countersunk screws for visible screw heads so they can be recessed flush.
- Zinc-plated or stainless steel screws are suitable to prevent rust.

Common mistakes are screws that are too short to hold securely or too long and protrude on the back side.

Good luck!

I usually use 4x35 chipboard screws with countersunk heads. This ensures that the panels are securely fastened and that the screws are not too long.

kelechi schrieb:
Which screws would you recommend, what should be considered when choosing them (length, diameter, material, type of head), and do you have any tips from your experience on which screws work best for a Besta conversion?

That’s a very good question! However, I wonder if you have considered using screws with different thread types? Traditional chipboard screws are good, but if the load is higher, self-drilling or metric screws combined with anchors might be better to protect the material and provide a more durable fix.

Also, the load on the furniture is crucial: for example, when fitting shelves or doors, different screws make sense.

I recommend defining the requirements for tensile and shear forces more precisely, and then selecting the screws accordingly.

That sounds like a cool project! I did my Besta conversion using 4x40 mm (1.6x1.6 inch) chipboard screws – super sturdy and everything holds really tight. I also think using stainless steel helps a lot since you don’t have to worry about rust 🙂 Have fun with the conversion, it’s going to be great!