Hello everyone,
A few months ago, I bought an Ikea PAX wardrobe system and am generally very satisfied with its flexibility and appearance. However, I miss the soft-close feature on the doors, which I find very practical, especially to prevent slamming and to close the doors more slowly and quietly.
Now I am considering whether I can retrofit soft-close kits for the doors. I have the following questions:
- How exactly does the retrofit work with the standard PAX doors?
- Which kits are recommended and really fit well with the PAX hinges and doors?
- Are there any special points I should be aware of, such as installation options, space requirements, or necessary tools?
- Is the effort significant or rather manageable so that I can do it myself?
I look forward to your experiences, tips, and possibly instructions or recommendations! Thanks in advance.
A few months ago, I bought an Ikea PAX wardrobe system and am generally very satisfied with its flexibility and appearance. However, I miss the soft-close feature on the doors, which I find very practical, especially to prevent slamming and to close the doors more slowly and quietly.
Now I am considering whether I can retrofit soft-close kits for the doors. I have the following questions:
- How exactly does the retrofit work with the standard PAX doors?
- Which kits are recommended and really fit well with the PAX hinges and doors?
- Are there any special points I should be aware of, such as installation options, space requirements, or necessary tools?
- Is the effort significant or rather manageable so that I can do it myself?
I look forward to your experiences, tips, and possibly instructions or recommendations! Thanks in advance.
Hello plokamal,
Your questions about retrofitting soft-close systems on Ikea PAX doors are very well asked and get straight to the heart of the matter. I have personally upgraded several PAX doors with soft-close features, so I’m happy to give you a detailed overview.
Basically, you need what are called dampers or soft-close mechanisms for retrofitting. These are usually small cylinders or flaps mounted on the hinges or inside the door panel. Ikea itself offers specially designed soft-close hinges, but there are also compatible retrofit kits from third-party suppliers.
It is important to check the door thickness and the hinge type before purchasing. Most PAX doors are between 18 and 21 mm (0.7 and 0.8 inches) thick. For thicker or thinner doors, the appropriate kit must fit exactly; otherwise, the function won’t work properly or installation will be difficult.
The installation generally proceeds as follows:
- Remove the door (for PAX: lift upward to unhook from the hinge)
- Remove old hinges or any existing dampers, if present
- Attach the new soft-close dampers to the pre-drilled holes or alternatively to a suitable position (usually screwed in)
- Rehang the door and test the function
The space required is limited, and the dampers are fairly small, but installation can sometimes be tricky due to positioning, especially if the hinge gets in the way when opening. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with the hinge mechanism. If you use Ikea original parts, it usually works best because these are perfectly matched to the PAX system.
You basically only need a screwdriver (preferably a Phillips head) and possibly a drill if there are no holes or if you want to position the set individually.
The time required per door is usually between 20 and 40 minutes if you have the right instructions. There are also plenty of tutorials on YouTube that show this nicely.
One last question for you: Do you have standard PAX doors with wooden or glass fronts? This can affect the retrofitting options.
I hope this helps you already!
Your questions about retrofitting soft-close systems on Ikea PAX doors are very well asked and get straight to the heart of the matter. I have personally upgraded several PAX doors with soft-close features, so I’m happy to give you a detailed overview.
Basically, you need what are called dampers or soft-close mechanisms for retrofitting. These are usually small cylinders or flaps mounted on the hinges or inside the door panel. Ikea itself offers specially designed soft-close hinges, but there are also compatible retrofit kits from third-party suppliers.
It is important to check the door thickness and the hinge type before purchasing. Most PAX doors are between 18 and 21 mm (0.7 and 0.8 inches) thick. For thicker or thinner doors, the appropriate kit must fit exactly; otherwise, the function won’t work properly or installation will be difficult.
The installation generally proceeds as follows:
- Remove the door (for PAX: lift upward to unhook from the hinge)
- Remove old hinges or any existing dampers, if present
- Attach the new soft-close dampers to the pre-drilled holes or alternatively to a suitable position (usually screwed in)
- Rehang the door and test the function
The space required is limited, and the dampers are fairly small, but installation can sometimes be tricky due to positioning, especially if the hinge gets in the way when opening. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with the hinge mechanism. If you use Ikea original parts, it usually works best because these are perfectly matched to the PAX system.
You basically only need a screwdriver (preferably a Phillips head) and possibly a drill if there are no holes or if you want to position the set individually.
The time required per door is usually between 20 and 40 minutes if you have the right instructions. There are also plenty of tutorials on YouTube that show this nicely.
One last question for you: Do you have standard PAX doors with wooden or glass fronts? This can affect the retrofitting options.
I hope this helps you already!
Hello plokamal,
I would like to provide a more structured guide in case you want to retrofit the soft-close function on PAX doors yourself.
1. Gather Materials
- IKEA soft-close hinge dampers (or compatible sets from other manufacturers specifically stated as PAX retrofit-compatible)
- Phillips screwdriver
- If necessary, a drill with a small wood bit
2. Preparation
- Remove the door: For PAX, simply lift it upward from the bottom, and the door can be taken off.
- Inspect the hinges: Note the type (standard or glass, T30/T50, etc.) and the distance to your damper mounting point.
3. Installation Steps
- Remove any old dampers if present.
- Screw the new soft-close dampers onto the inside of the hinge side. Usually, there are pre-drilled holes or at least markings. If no holes are present, carefully pre-drill.
- Pay attention to the damper position to avoid interfering with the door stop or allowing the dampers to shift.
4. Assembly and Test
- Reinstall the door and check the opening/closing behavior.
- Minor adjustments are sometimes necessary until the soft-close function works smoothly.
Typical Mistakes:
- Incorrect positioning causing doors to close too quickly or only partially damped.
- Over-tightening screws, which can block the mechanism.
Summary: Retrofitting is definitely doable and greatly improves usability. It requires some careful handling during installation and adjustment.
If you have a glass front, make sure to check whether the damper can be installed at all, as the drilling patterns are different.
Good luck with your retrofit!
I would like to provide a more structured guide in case you want to retrofit the soft-close function on PAX doors yourself.
1. Gather Materials
- IKEA soft-close hinge dampers (or compatible sets from other manufacturers specifically stated as PAX retrofit-compatible)
- Phillips screwdriver
- If necessary, a drill with a small wood bit
2. Preparation
- Remove the door: For PAX, simply lift it upward from the bottom, and the door can be taken off.
- Inspect the hinges: Note the type (standard or glass, T30/T50, etc.) and the distance to your damper mounting point.
3. Installation Steps
- Remove any old dampers if present.
- Screw the new soft-close dampers onto the inside of the hinge side. Usually, there are pre-drilled holes or at least markings. If no holes are present, carefully pre-drill.
- Pay attention to the damper position to avoid interfering with the door stop or allowing the dampers to shift.
4. Assembly and Test
- Reinstall the door and check the opening/closing behavior.
- Minor adjustments are sometimes necessary until the soft-close function works smoothly.
Typical Mistakes:
- Incorrect positioning causing doors to close too quickly or only partially damped.
- Over-tightening screws, which can block the mechanism.
Summary: Retrofitting is definitely doable and greatly improves usability. It requires some careful handling during installation and adjustment.
If you have a glass front, make sure to check whether the damper can be installed at all, as the drilling patterns are different.
Good luck with your retrofit!
bapar schrieb:
Most PAX doors are between 18 and 21 mm (0.7 and 0.8 inches) thick. For thicker or thinner doors, the corresponding kit must fit; otherwise, the function won't work properly or installation will be difficult.I consider this a crucial point because PAX systems are often customized to individual preferences. In fact, I frequently see users underestimate this variation and end up ordering the wrong soft-close system, which then leads to frustration.
Furthermore, I would like to point out that the load capacity of the hinges after retrofitting also matters. Has anyone measured whether the stability is affected? Because with heavy doors, there could be differences.
Important for plokamal: Can you confirm how thick your doors are and whether you prefer properly tested original accessories or a cheaper third-party kit? I think it’s sensible to also look at long-term tests, as not all retrofit kits are durable.
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