ᐅ Are there any tips for when BILLY shelves don’t fit the height?

Hello everyone, I have a question about the BILLY shelves from IKEA. I noticed that some shelves don’t fit exactly at the desired height you want to set. The issue is that the holes in the BILLY bookcase have fixed spacing, so the shelves end up either slightly too high or too low, which can be especially inconvenient for custom-used compartments. Are there any known tips or methods to adjust or fine-tune the shelf height more easily despite the fixed holes? Or does anyone have experience with how to be a bit more flexible here without damaging the bookcase? Thanks in advance for your advice!

bujar schrieb:
The holes in the BILLY shelf have fixed spacing, and the shelves then sit slightly too high or too low.

This is a well-known issue. The spacing between the drill holes is usually 32 mm (1.26 inches), which does not allow for perfect individual adjustment for many users. A common workaround is to place thin washers or felt pads under the shelf supports to make minor height adjustments. It is important to choose materials that are stable and durable to maintain the load-bearing capacity of the shelf.

Alternatively, you can drill additional holes yourself, provided you do not want to disassemble the furniture or risk voiding the warranty. In this case, you should work very precisely and consider the load capacity and stability. Ultimately, whether such a modification is worthwhile depends on the specific use case.

Lorukeo schrieb:
A common trick is to place thin washers or felt pads under the floor supports to make small height adjustments.

I can definitely confirm that! 🙂 With a few simple felt pads (which are also commonly used to protect floors), you can easily raise a shelf board a bit when the hole isn’t a perfect fit. These pads are usually 1–2 mm (about 0.04–0.08 inches) thick, making them perfect for small adjustments.

And if you’re up for a bit of DIY: I once cut small wooden shims (from plywood scraps) and slipped them under the supports. It worked great and isn’t visible. But beware: changing screws and drill holes is definitely for those who feel confident—otherwise, it’s better to stick with the felt pad solution ;-)

bujar schrieb:
Are there any known tips or methods to make it easier to adjust or fine-tune the shelf heights despite the fixed drill holes?

Here is a short guide on how to optimally adjust the BILLY shelves to the right height:

1. First, check that all shelf supports are properly seated and evenly installed.
2. Use felt pads or thin plastic washers as spacers. You can easily place these under the shelf supports to compensate for height differences of 1–3 mm (0.04–0.12 inches).
3. If that’s not enough, you can carefully enlarge the drill holes with a small drill bit. This creates more play to slightly shift the shelf position. Advantage: you can vary the position; disadvantage: stability may be somewhat reduced.
4. Another option is to rotate the shelf supports if the design allows, in order to use different height settings.

In short: small height adjustment products are the first choice. Drilling is only recommended for experienced DIYers. And always ensure that the shelves are securely and firmly supported!