ᐅ KALLAX Slightly Tilted After Installation – What Could Be the Cause?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled an IKEA KALLAX shelving unit and noticed that after assembly, the unit is slightly tilted. It leans a bit, which is noticeable to the naked eye, especially when used as a room divider. It sits flush against the wall, but on the floor, it doesn’t seem entirely stable.

My questions:
1. What are the common causes for a KALLAX to stand slightly tilted after assembly?
2. Are these usually due to assembly errors or unevenness in the floor/wall?
3. How can such tilts best be fixed without having to take the whole thing apart?

I followed the assembly instructions step by step, all screws are tightened properly, so it should actually be stable. Maybe someone has experienced this before and can help me understand what to look out for?

Thanks for your advice!

Hey Jael35!

It’s great that you’ve already inspected the shelf so thoroughly! :-)
Many people underestimate how even small unevenness in the floor can cause a KALLAX unit to tilt – it can be really frustrating when it’s not obvious!

From my experience: I had the same problem, and it turned out the floor simply wasn’t level. Adjustable feet often work wonders in these cases. If your KALLAX doesn’t have feet, you can also use small felt pads combined with shims.

Try using a spirit level to check both the surface under the shelf and the shelf itself! That way, you can better determine whether the issue comes from the furniture or the floor.

Keep us updated, you’ve got this! 🙂

Hello Jael35,

I can only agree with Fredlo; this is a common issue where uneven flooring is usually the main cause. However, the installation is also important – it’s essential that the back panel is properly secured, as it plays a key role in the overall stability.

I’d also like to help with the assessment: Are you using all of the supplied anchors and screws? Have you checked whether all the corner joints fit flush? Even small misalignments can contribute to the tilt.

A tip: Carefully lay the shelf on its side and check the connection points again using the instructions. Often, errors are easier to spot this way than when it’s standing upright.

Fredlo schrieb:
For me, the issue was simply that the floor wasn’t level.

Thanks for the tip! Yes, I checked with a regular spirit level, and it did look a bit crooked, but I thought it wouldn’t be that serious.

Josan schrieb:
It’s important that the back panel is properly secured

I attached the back panel with small nails, but not all nails are perfectly straight, so maybe that’s causing a problem—how much does that affect stability?

Also, I haven’t put any feet or washers underneath yet because I thought it wasn’t necessary for a shelf like this. Do feet have a big impact if the floor is uneven?

Hello Jael35,

let’s approach this from a technical perspective: A KALLAX shelf is made of chipboard panels that are connected using dowels, screws, and a thin back panel. The back panel acts as a diagonal brace to prevent the shelf from wobbling sideways or becoming warped. If the back panel is not firmly and squarely attached, the piece of furniture loses stability and can tilt or stand unevenly.

When you mention that not all nails are driven in straight, this can affect the tension of the back panel. This often leads to slight warping, especially in larger shelves.

The floor also plays a significant role – if individual feet rest on an uneven surface, the shelf will lean without compensation.

My suggestions:
- Use a spirit level to check the floor’s flatness under each shelf foot.
- If the floor is uneven, use washers or adjustable furniture glides installed underneath.
- Check that the back panel is seated firmly and evenly. Sometimes it’s worth tightening the back panel with small screws and angle brackets instead of nails to improve stability.

Can you describe your floor construction? Is it hardwood, tiles, or carpet?

fidasi schrieb:
Could you describe how your floor is constructed?

Good point! The floor is laminate, which was unfortunately installed with some irregularities because the room isn’t perfectly rectangular but has a slight slope in one wall.

I suspect that this slope and the walls not being exactly parallel make the floor feel uneven.

I will now try to level the shelf by placing small wooden wedges or felt pads under one side. Maybe that will help.