ᐅ Sanding Doors on Only One Side with Kallax – What Could Be the Cause?

Hello everyone,

I have the following problem with my IKEA Kallax shelf: the doors only rub on one side, even though I installed them symmetrically according to the instructions. Specifically, one door slightly rubs against the frame or the cabinet when opening or closing, while the other door does not.

I have already checked that the hinges are properly seated and that the cabinet is level, but I can’t find any mistake or uneven assembly. The doors appear to be identical, and all the hinges have the same adjustment.

My question is therefore: what could cause the doors on my Kallax shelf to rub only on one side? Is there a standard tolerance or a common cause that is often overlooked?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello Edipau,

first check if the doors are really hung parallel to the cabinet. Often, the doors rub on one side if the shelving unit is not level or the floor is uneven. Also, check the screws on the hinges. Adjusting them can often help.

Hey Edipau, great that you’re looking into this in such detail! 🙂

Sometimes the glued edge or the door leaf is slightly warped, which is hardly visible at first glance. Take a close look at the edge and check if the issue can be fixed by slightly adjusting the hinges.

You’ll definitely manage it, keep at it! If you get stuck, just reach out again, we’ll find the solution together! 👍

Hello Edipau,

I would like to approach the issue more systematically.

A door scraping on only one side of a Kallax shelf unit can have several causes:

1. Uneven floor leveling or the shelf not being positioned vertically, causing it to be tilted.
2. Slight differences in hinge installation – even a minimal variation in screw spacing or depth can cause misalignment.
3. Variations in manufacturing tolerances of the doors themselves – especially with IKEA products, there can be minor differences in panel thickness or edge banding.
4. Warping of the carcass due to transport or assembly.

For analysis, I recommend:
- Measuring the diagonals of the shelf unit to check for squareness.
- Adjusting the hinge position on the affected door (e.g., loosening the screws and shifting slightly).
- Checking whether the door lies flat by removing it and placing it on a flat surface.

These steps should help identify the cause.

Hello Edipau,

I would like to add a few basic points to the previous tips:

The Kallax shelf unit is built to be sturdy, but the doors are mounted with cam hinges that allow for adjustable settings. These cam hinges permit precise alignment in three directions: horizontally, vertically, and in depth.

If a door rubs on one side, it often indicates that the lateral or depth adjustment has not been done correctly. This usually happens when the screws on the hinges are tightened before the optimal position is found.

I recommend doing the following:
- Use the adjustment screws to slightly move the door away from the frame on the side where it is rubbing.
- Also check if the shelf is stable on the floor and does not wobble, as this can affect the overall alignment.
- If necessary, you can remove the door and readjust the hinges.

Important: Make only small adjustments and test step by step, since even minor changes can have noticeable effects. I hope this helps you!

zarJody68 schrieb:
For analysis, I recommend: - Measuring the diagonal of the shelf to check for squareness. - Adjusting the hinge position on the affected door (e.g., loosening screws and slightly shifting the position).

Thank you for the very precise tips. I checked the shelf again carefully with a spirit level and a protractor; it does seem to be slightly off in the right corner, which I hadn’t noticed before. The diagonal measurement confirmed a small difference of 3mm (0.12 inches).

I will loosen the hinges again and adjust the door, especially the lateral adjustment of the hinges.

How much tolerance does the Kallax construction typically allow without compromising stability or appearance?