ᐅ How can I disassemble and transport Ikea Pax wardrobes in a space-saving way when moving?

Hello everyone, I am about to move and want to dismantle my Ikea Pax wardrobe as space-efficiently as possible for transport. The wardrobe is approximately 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) wide, and 0.60 m (2 ft) deep, consisting of several components including doors and shelves. My main question is how to disassemble the wardrobe step-by-step to store it compactly without causing damage, and how to best protect fragile parts such as doors and back panels. Are there any special tips or tools that can help with taking it apart and transporting it? I also want to avoid making the reassembly at the new location too complicated. Thanks for your experiences and advice!

Hello Henkba, good morning! Your question is very well formulated and already covers the most important points. Generally, when dismantling a Pax wardrobe, I recommend first removing all shelves and interior fittings completely. Then take out the clothes rails and drawers. You should unhinge the doors first to reduce the weight. When actually disassembling the carcasses, you should systematically unscrew the screws, ideally using a cordless drill with the appropriate bit to avoid unnecessary stripping of the screws. For the back panels: these are usually fastened only with nails, which you can carefully remove using a flat chisel and hammer. I would leave the back panels intact, as they often increase stability during transport. If you do remove the back panels, you need to be very careful not to damage them. To protect the doors and other sensitive parts, furniture blankets or bubble wrap work well. Secure everything in the van with ratchet straps. How much time do you have for the move?

Thanks in advance for the quick reply, benon! The move will take place on a weekend in about ten days, so I still have some time, but I want to finish as quickly as possible on moving day. Regarding your comment about the back panel: I read that some people leave the back panels on to maintain the cabinet’s structural stability, while others remove them to make the cabinet easier to transport more compactly. My problem is that the space in the van is limited, so I’m considering whether it makes sense to remove the back panel and transport the cabinet parts separately so they can be laid flat. Would you prefer a stable cabinet during transport or transporting the individual panels flat and assembling them on site?

Henkba schrieb:
I have the problem that the space in the van is limited, so I am considering whether it makes sense to remove the back panels and transport the carcasses separately, so they can be laid flat.

If the space in the van is limited, I would remove the back panels. Just make sure to secure the back panels well, as they are usually thinner and more prone to breaking. This way, you can lay the carcasses flat and stack them. It also protects doors and other parts better than transporting the entire carcass upright with little floor space. Reassembling is a bit more time-consuming, but with proper labeling of the drill holes and screws, it can be done easily. Mark each part with its location to make handling much easier.

Hi Henkba, I also think that taking things apart during a move can actually be quite fun – well, at least afterwards when everything is put back together 😅. Jokes aside: My advice is to definitely protect the doors with felt strips or thick cardboard to prevent them from rubbing against each other when stacked in the van. And yes, completely disassemble the wardrobe; that often gives you an extra corner for packing. For tools, a cordless drill with a bag to collect screws really helps – it saves time and frustration! If you still have enough space in the van after disassembling, maybe lay the back panels flat and stack the rest. 🤞 Good luck!

Hello Henkba, I would like to go into more technical detail about the disassembly since you value space-saving transport and avoiding damage to the parts.

Step 1: Systematically remove all shelves and interior fittings.

Step 2: Take off the doors. With Pax systems, the door hinges are usually fastened with screws that need to be carefully loosened without losing the adjustment screws.

Step 3: Dismantle the clothes rails and any existing drawers.

Step 4: Loosen the connecting fittings (Minifix, cam locks) carefully with a suitable bit or screwdriver. A cordless drill with torque control helps prevent stripping screws or fittings.

Step 5: Carefully remove the back panels. These are often nailed or stapled onto the tongue and groove joints. Using a narrow putty knife can help avoid significant damage here.

Pro tip: Take photos or make notes of each step during disassembly to document how the parts fit together. This makes reassembly much easier.

For optimizing transport: It is recommended to stack the individual panels (side walls, shelves) flat, store the doors separately with padding, and also transport the back panels flat if possible. I would rather completely dismantle the cabinet, as the stability during transport no longer depends on the assembled piece.

One more question: How much experience do you have with furniture assembly and tools?