ᐅ Holes in the KALLAX unit don’t align properly – should I return it?

Hello everyone, I recently bought a KALLAX shelving unit to assemble myself, and during assembly, I noticed that some of the holes are not precisely aligned. Specifically, the pre-drilled holes for the screws and dowels are either too large or slightly offset, which means the shelves don’t fit properly or I had to use a lot of force to put everything together somehow.

My question is: Should I return or exchange the shelving unit? Or is this kind of issue normal for KALLAX units, and am I possibly assembling it wrong? I had always heard that the fit and finish are usually quite good.

Has anyone had similar experiences or advice on whether I should just keep it? Maybe there are tricks to compensate for these inaccuracies? Thank you in advance for your insights!

glen59 schrieb:
Should I really return or exchange the shelf? Or is this kind of issue normal with KALLAX shelves?

If the holes are really too large or misaligned, returning it is worth considering. Proper fit should usually be expected with KALLAX. Otherwise, there could be stability problems.

glen59 schrieb:
The pre-drilled holes for the screws and dowels are either too large or slightly misaligned

Hello! I’m sorry to hear you’re having these issues. Generally, KALLAX shelves are known for their easy assembly, and the holes should align properly. However, sometimes manufacturing defects or transportation damage can cause parts not to fit exactly.

Before returning the shelf, you might want to double-check the assembly instructions to ensure all parts are oriented correctly. If the holes really don’t match up, a return or exchange through the retailer would be completely justified. Ensuring stability is very important, as otherwise the shelf could be damaged or, worse, cause accidents.

If you prefer to keep the shelf for practical reasons, you might consider using wooden dowels, some wood glue, or even small washers as a workaround – but this is more of an improvised fix and doesn’t guarantee full stability.

I hope these tips help you a bit! 🙂

Tofra45 schrieb:
If the holes are really too large or misaligned, it’s worth returning the item.

I can totally understand how frustrating it is when you want to assemble a piece of furniture and run into these kinds of problems. Even though KALLAX is generally known for its quality, nobody is completely immune to receiving a defective part – I’ve experienced that myself.

Sometimes I try to see if the issue can be fixed with small tricks first, but if it really affects the basic structure, returning the item is the better option. After all, the furniture should be stable and durable, not start to wobble or warp after a month.

How do you feel about the idea of sending the shelf back? Is that still possible, or have you already disposed of the original packaging? Maybe we can still find a good solution together!

glen59 schrieb:
The pre-drilled holes for the screws and dowels are either too large or slightly misaligned

From a technical perspective, this means that either the manufacturing tolerances have been exceeded or your unit has a defect. Accurate fit is essential for assembly, as deviations can compromise stability. Returning or exchanging the product is advisable in the case of such a significant defect.

If you are skilled with tools, you might be able to compensate somewhat using wooden dowels or special assembly adhesives, but this is more of a temporary solution. True precision fit cannot be achieved this way.

I would recommend contacting the retailer and clearly explaining the issue. Often, replacements are provided without problems as long as the unit hasn’t been in use for an extended period.