ᐅ How do I fix issues with uneven floors when installing BILLY shelves?

Simply stick small plastic or rubber pads under the feet. IKEA also offers adjustable feet for BILLY. These can compensate for unevenness of up to about 2 cm (0.8 inches). More effort is usually not worthwhile.

JEANLA schrieb:
My specific question is: What practical methods do you know to level or fix uneven floors for BILLY shelves so that the shelves stand stable and straight?

Hello JEANLA, I’m happy to provide a more detailed response:

In my experience, three types of solutions work particularly well:

- Adjustable feet: These are ideal for quickly and precisely compensating small to medium floor unevenness. For BILLY shelves, such feet are often available as accessories.

- Shim materials: Felt pads, rubber, or plastic wedges help with minor discrepancies, are inexpensive, and easy to install.

- Leveling plates: Sometimes it’s worth investing in a thin wooden board or plywood sheet to place under the shelf to compensate for larger unevenness and distribute the load.

It is always important to use a spirit level to align the shelves so they stand straight. Regular adjustment, especially on older floors, can also be useful.

I hope this helps you!

lochen schrieb:
Adjustable feet: These are ideal for quickly and precisely compensating small to medium floor unevenness.\

Exactly, this is the best way. Just turn the feet until the shelf stands stable. No expensive modifications needed.

Lielchen schrieb:
Most of the time, it’s about finding a quick and practical solution with simple means.

I agree, but often people underestimate how much such temporary fixes can strain the furniture frame in the long run. BILLY shelves aren’t exactly sturdy if they’re constantly forced into an uneven position.

In my opinion, especially for more expensive or larger shelves, it’s worth investing a bit more effort into finding suitable leveling feet or even professional floor leveling products. Otherwise, you might enjoy a quick fix but later face problems with stability and wall fixing.

Liduta schrieb:
In summary, the problem can be solved quite easily with a systematic approach

Thank you for the very clear instructions! I find the tip to first measure the unevenness precisely and only then choose the appropriate methods really helpful.

Question: Does anyone have recommendations on which models of adjustable feet are actually compatible with BILLY shelves? You also hear about retrofitting or modifications, which can sometimes be problematic.

And one more thing: How reliable is it to use shims? I am a bit concerned that they might shift or get compressed over time, making the shelf unstable again.