ᐅ Does anyone have experience with soft-close drawers in KALLAX units?

Has anyone here had experience with installing or using soft-close drawer slides in a KALLAX shelving unit?

I am planning to equip my KALLAX furniture with these soft-close slides to avoid the typical slamming when closing the drawers quickly. I’m especially interested in whether the soft-close function is really noticeable, how easy the installation is, and if there are significant differences between manufacturers.

It would also be great to know if the soft-close slides fit well in the narrow KALLAX drawers, or if special slides are needed for those.

Thanks in advance for your insights and experiences!

Fudries36 schrieb:
Has anyone here had experience with installing or using soft-close drawer slides in a KALLAX shelving unit?

That sounds like a really practical idea! I installed soft-close drawer slides myself last year, but on an Ikea shelving unit called Besta, not on the KALLAX.

The soft-close mechanism definitely makes a difference, especially when the drawers are fully loaded and you sometimes close them a bit too fast. The loud banging is practically eliminated, which is definitely a benefit for my apartment. 🙂

However, I found the installation a bit tricky because Ikea’s measurements can be quite precise. You should definitely check the standard sizes of the drawer slides against the depth of the KALLAX drawers.

Have you already picked out specific slides, or are you still looking for recommendations?

Jumping in quickly 😎

vincent46 schrieb:
However, I found the installation a bit tricky

Sounds almost like the drawer slides are hosting a little escape room challenge for DIYers! 😂

I originally bought my soft-close drawer slides for a sideboard, and I have the standard slides installed in my KALLAX, but the banging noise can be really annoying sometimes.

If you’re going with ones from Hettich or Blum, they’re often very high quality with built-in damping and glide smoothly and quietly in and out. Oh, and manufacturers usually recommend checking the exact cabinet depth before buying, or else they won’t fit properly. 😉

Renovations are a mix of “fiddly, but fun” – that aha moment when it finally works is amazing!

Fudries36 schrieb:
I am particularly interested in whether the damping is really noticeable, how the installation works, and if there are significant differences between manufacturers.

To bring some clarity here, a brief overview:

1. Function: Soft-close drawer slides usually have an integrated damping mechanism that prevents the drawer from slamming shut. This is definitely noticeable with KALLAX, as the traditional drawer tends to close quite loudly.

2. Installation: Accurate measurement of the drawer depth and width is essential. KALLAX units are 33cm (13 inches) deep, with the drawers being slightly less.

Here, for KALLAX, you need extra slim slides (about 250mm (10 inches) in length) or you may shorten them yourself if technically feasible.

3. Manufacturers: Blum and Hettich are the common, higher-quality options. Cheap imports can cause issues with fit and durability.

My tip: Always check the exact dimensions before purchase and, if necessary, look for solutions specially designed for KALLAX compatibility.

If self-shortening isn’t an option, suitable adapters can also help.

In summary: Yes, the damping is pleasant, but the installation is not quite straightforward.

PRA64 schrieb:
KALLAX modules are 33 cm deep (13 inches), the drawers slightly less.

That's correct. For KALLAX, you need as short drawer slides as possible to have enough space. Measure precisely and then choose the appropriate length.

vincent46 schrieb:
The soft-close feature definitely makes a difference

Absolutely. With that, the slamming noise is gone for me.

I can confirm this: If you don’t want to do any modifications yourself, you should purchase drawer slides that are specifically designed for KALLAX or similarly deep shelves. The standard lengths of 350–400 mm (14–16 inches) usually don’t fit.

If you are experienced in DIY, it is possible to shorten the slides, but you can quickly run into issues with their operation if everything isn’t installed perfectly straight.

It is also important that the drawer material is sturdy enough to properly secure the somewhat thicker soft-close slides. This can be challenging with KALLAX cardboard furniture.

If you like, I can give you some recommendations on which models fit well.