ᐅ Are there Ikea Pax wardrobes with extra-wide shelves?

Hello everyone,

I’m considering reorganizing my Ikea Pax wardrobe and have a specific question: Does Ikea offer Pax wardrobes or at least their shelves in extra-wide versions? Specifically, I mean shelves wider than the standard sizes to better accommodate bulky items or to have more space per shelf—ideally sturdy enough to hold heavier objects.

I know Ikea offers different widths for the Pax frames (like 50, 75, 100 cm (20, 30, 39 inches)), but my question is whether there are wider or specially reinforced shelves available as separate accessories that could fit frames about 120-150 cm (47-59 inches) wide, or possibly as custom-made parts.

Or do you have to rely on third-party solutions or DIY modifications in such cases? I would appreciate concrete experience, tips on available Ikea products, or suggestions for upgrades.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Regarding the question of whether there are extra-wide shelves for Ikea Pax wardrobes, the following can be said:

Ikea offers standard carcasses for the Pax series in widths of 50, 75, and 100 cm (20, 30, and 39 inches). The matching shelves are also designed for these standard widths.

There are no official Ikea shelves wider than 100 cm (39 inches), as Ikea does not produce Pax frames larger than 100 cm (39 inches) in width. If a wardrobe with a larger width is desired, multiple carcasses are typically combined side by side.

Therefore, there are no "extra-wide" shelves offered by Ikea in 120 or 150 cm (47 or 59 inches), since the wardrobe frames do not come in these widths.

If you need wider shelves, you would either need custom-made or third-party shelves, or equip several frames individually with single shelves.

Some third-party suppliers sometimes offer custom-sized shelves that fit the Pax standard frames; however, pay attention to quality and load capacity.

In short, there are no Ikea "extra-wide" shelves for Pax because the frames are only available up to 100 cm (39 inches) wide.

usbla schrieb:
Regarding the question of whether there are extra-wide shelves for Ikea Pax wardrobes, the following can be said:

That is correct, but I would like to explain it in a more technical and detailed way to clarify why this is the case and where the limits lie:

The Pax system carcasses are rigidly designed to a specific grid dimension, with a maximum width of 100 cm (40 inches). This width results from the load-bearing capacity of the side panels and the standard mounting options for shelves, which are installed using dowels and metal fittings.

A shelf is usually hung into the side panels using small metal brackets or dowel fittings — the wider the shelf, the greater the deflection under load. Beyond 100 cm (40 inches) width, the likelihood of the shelf bending increases, especially when heavy items are stored.

Ikea does offer a range of "reinforced" shelves in other product lines (e.g., Metod or other furniture series), but not for Pax, since Pax primarily relies on modular carcass units placed side by side if more width is needed.

For wider shelves (over 100 cm / 40 inches), it is possible to have custom-made, load-bearing shelves produced (woodshop, MDF panels with adequate thickness and support) or to use interlocking solutions with central supports.

If you plan something like this, you should definitely ensure stable side panels, possibly additional metal supports, or a central support for the shelf, because otherwise the load capacity will not be sufficient.

Question to the thread starter: What exactly do you need the extra-wide shelves for? Then I could ask more specifically about solutions or alternatives.

Filippo schrieb:
Question for the thread starter: What exactly do you need the extra-wide shelves for? That way I could ask more specific questions about solutions or alternatives.

That’s a smart point from Filippo! Sometimes it’s not just about the dimensions, but also the functionality – maybe you’re looking for a cabinet to store bulky items like large boxes that don’t fit in the standard compartments.

I once tried fitting a Pax unit with “unofficial” wider shelves that I had custom-made outside of Ikea. Although the width matched the frame perfectly, I felt the stability was compromised and a continuous central support beam was simply essential.

In the end, I split it into two narrower sections instead of installing one wide shelf – this might be an idea to consider with modularity in mind to avoid frustration.

Generally speaking, Ikea’s standardized components fit together quite well, but if you try something “outside” the specified sizes, it often requires some DIY effort—or a clever combination of multiple units.

It might also be worth considering other cabinet ranges if you really want that specific large shelf.