ᐅ Disassembling a BILLY Shelf for Moving – What to Keep in Mind?

Hello everyone, I am about to move and want to disassemble my IKEA Billy shelf to make it easier to transport. Since the shelf has multiple shelves and a back panel, I am especially interested in what I should pay attention to during disassembly to avoid damage and ensure everything remains stable when reassembled. What is the best way to proceed, which tools are recommended, and are there any specific tips, especially regarding the back panel or the shelves? I look forward to your experiences and advice!

Hello vin44, that’s a good question and a common challenge when moving BILLY shelves. It’s important to first remove all the shelves from the unit and carefully take off the back panel. The back panel is usually only attached to stabilize the shelf, so you should avoid damaging it. For disassembly, a Phillips screwdriver is recommended to unscrew the connectors. Be sure to keep the screws and wooden dowels carefully—preferably in small bags or containers—so you can easily find them when reassembling. If the shelf was very full, you can mark the position of each shelf beforehand with a felt-tip pen. This will help prevent installing the shelves incorrectly later on. One more thing: during transport, make sure to cushion the parts well, especially the white shelves, as they are prone to scratches.

Hey vin44, it’s great that you want to carefully take apart your BILLY shelf! 🙂 I did the same a few months ago and definitely recommend photographing all the parts. This way, you can always check how to put it back together! The back panel is the tricky part when pulling out the nails—use a thin nail puller or a pair of pliers for best results. The boards can easily get scratched, so wrap them in bubble wrap or at least cover them with a thick cardboard. Also, if you roughly number the shelves beforehand, for example with masking tape and a marker, reassembling will be much easier! You’ve got this 🙂!!!

Hello vin44, a few additional tips: When removing the back panel, be very careful, especially if it is made of fiberboard, as it can be quite fragile. A small diagonal cutter can help if the back panel is nailed in place, since the nails tend to stick to the wood otherwise. Before dismantling connected parts like side panels and shelves, make sure all screws or dowels are fully loosened to avoid bending or damage. The shelving unit is basically designed for assembly and disassembly, but since it is not a professional moving shelf, don’t expect complete stability after multiple reassemblies. Therefore, careful work steps will yield the best results. If you secure the shelf additionally with strapping bands during transport, you can prevent damage when loading.

TEOZAR schrieb:
Make sure to store the screws and wooden dowels carefully—ideally in small bags or containers—so you can find them quickly during reassembly.

Hello, thanks for the tip! Is there a recommended order for loosening the screws, like removing all from one side first or layer by layer? I’ve also read that sometimes it’s better to take off the back panel first and then the shelves. What would be the best procedure here to avoid any damage?

Hello vin44, regarding the order of disassembling a BILLY shelf unit, I recommend the following: First, remove all the shelves, as they usually rest simply on wooden dowels and might get in the way during the rest of the process. Next, carefully detach the back panel, if possible, using a small prying tool to loosen nails or staples without damaging the wood. After that, you can start removing the screws and wooden dowels, ideally in a straightforward sequence, for example from top to bottom or from one side to the other. This helps prevent any stress in the wood that could cause warping. Make sure not to completely unscrew the screws if dowels are used for stabilization, as the dowels can get stuck or break.