ᐅ Are there any useful tips for installing IKEA BESTA units on uneven floors?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install the IKEA Besta system in my living room, but I have a problem: the floor where the cabinet will stand is uneven. It is a wooden plank floor that slightly sags in some areas and is not completely level. This causes the modules to not align properly, making the cabinet lean or not fit flush at the edges.

Are there any proven and practical tips or methods for assembling IKEA Besta on uneven floors to achieve a stable and visually pleasing result? I would also appreciate advice on suitable materials, tools, or adjustments that can make the installation easier or compensate for the unevenness.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

A common method is to place thin wooden boards or furniture gliders under the legs. This way, you can compensate for unevenness.

Alternatively, you can use an assembly kit with adjustable feet, which IKEA sometimes offers. These are height-adjustable and effectively level out floor irregularities.

neoren schrieb:
A classic trick is placing thin wooden sheets or furniture gliders under the legs.

That’s true, simple solutions are often the best. I had the same issue with our old parquet floor, which was a bit uneven. What helped me was measuring the floor with a spirit level before assembling to pinpoint the problem areas. Then I inserted small felt pads under the legs and, in spots with more significant unevenness, used sturdy plastic shims.

After that, the BESTA stood really stable and nothing was crooked at all. But I can understand that it might seem annoying at first.

Have you checked how big the differences in the floor actually are? That often determines how complex the solution needs to be. And how sensitive are you to small gaps at the edges?

I’ll add some thoughts to the previous tips:

If you have uneven spots of up to about 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 inches), adjustable furniture feet work very reliably. IKEA sometimes offers tables and cabinets with such feet, which can also be bought separately. These allow precise height adjustment, reducing the effort when leveling.

For larger unevenness, it might be helpful to use thin plywood sheets as a base, cut to shape for the specific area. Important: The sheets should be non-slip or combined with anti-slip material (such as rubber mats) so that the BESTA system does not shift despite the unevenness.

Another point is that the BESTA modules often come with a back panel that provides some stability. This can be supported during assembly with temporary spacers to counter unwanted tilting.

If you are sensitive to visual irregularities, flexible seals or thin foam rubber strips on the edges can help conceal gaps. This visually improves the appearance when the floor is uneven and small gaps remain.