ᐅ Adding Furniture Casters to Kallax Units Later – Are They Stable?

Hello everyone,

I am considering attaching furniture casters to my already assembled Kallax shelf to make it easier to move around the room. My main question is: How stable is this solution really?

Can you estimate whether the casters will make the shelf very wobbly or even affect its load-bearing capacity? I’m concerned that adding casters might reduce the shelf’s safety, especially when storing heavy items inside.

Which type of casters are best suited (with locking brakes, large or small wheels), and what is the ideal way to attach them without damaging the material?

Are there any practical tips or important points to consider, especially when the furniture is already fully assembled?

Thanks for your advice!

I also equipped my Kallax with casters. It is important that the casters have a load capacity that can easily support the weight of your shelf plus its contents. I attached them using sturdy metal brackets and screws. This keeps it stable.

Lakebu schrieb:
What type of casters are best suited (with locking brake, large or small wheels) and how can I ideally attach them without damaging the material?

This is a very important question. I recommend casters with a fixed plate mount and ideally with a locking brake, as they provide better stability. Small wheels are often not ideal because they can easily get stuck or jam under load, especially on uneven floors.

You should attach the casters with screws that are long enough but not too deep to avoid splitting the wood. Pre-drilling is absolutely necessary.

Additionally, it makes sense to install glides or washers on top of the shelving unit to distribute the load more evenly when moving it. Another important point is that the bottom panels of the Kallax are often quite thin (approximately 12 mm (0.5 inches)), which can be challenging for securing screws. In this case, I recommend reinforcing them, for example with an additional wooden panel inside or a metal plate onto which the casters are attached.

My tip: Casters with locking brakes are essential. Otherwise, the shelf will easily slide away. Install the casters at the corners using strong screws to ensure the shelf stands securely.

Hey, I also added caster wheels to my Kallax and I’m very happy with it. 🙂 Just a heads-up: don’t use wheels that are too large, as it can look unstable and may tip over easily when walking past.

Parbo schrieb:
Small wheels are often not ideal because they can get stuck on uneven floors or jam under load.

That’s true as well. Medium-sized wheels (around 40-50 mm (1.5-2 inches) in diameter) work perfectly for me. They roll smoothly, and the shelving unit stays stable. I added a brake so it doesn’t roll away when airing out the room. Really very practical!

Lakebu schrieb:
I’m concerned that adding casters might reduce the shelf’s stability, especially when storing heavy items.

That’s a valid concern. The Kallax design is intended for a stable, fixed base. Adding casters changes the contact area with the floor, which can increase the risk of tipping if the shelf is tall and narrow or loaded unevenly.

It would be interesting to know how heavily you plan to load the shelf and whether you only intend to move it occasionally.

If you want to be on the safe side, you might consider reinforcing the shelf internally and making sure that preferably all the casters have brakes. The load on each individual compartment can also affect overall stability.

Another point to consider: the quality of the screws and fastenings is crucial to prevent wear and material fatigue from the use of casters.