ᐅ How do I secure IKEA BESTA doors with magnetic catches?

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased the Ikea Besta system and would like to know the best way to secure the doors that come with magnetic catches. Specifically, I want the doors to stay firmly closed and not pop open from slight bumps or accidental touches.

I understand that the magnetic catches are designed to hold the doors closed, but in my case, the magnetic hold seems a bit weak—sometimes the doors open when, for example, the cabinet is bumped or something leans against it.

Has anyone had experience with strengthening the door closure or otherwise securing the doors so they stay reliably closed without affecting the appearance or damaging the mechanism?

I would also appreciate tips on suitable additional hardware or installation advice. Looking forward to your suggestions!

Hello vinro,

I am familiar with your issue regarding the Ikea BESTA doors and the magnetic catches, as the standard magnet sometimes does not hold securely enough, especially if the door is a bit heavier or larger.

What you can try:
- First, check if the magnets are correctly positioned and clean – dust or paint residues can reduce their holding power.
- In many cases, using stronger neodymium magnets helps; these can be installed instead of or in addition to the existing ones. They are small, very powerful, and discreet.
- Another option is to install so-called push-to-open mechanisms, which not only hold the door closed but also allow it to open with light pressure.
- If you are handy, you can also add small catches or latches as additional locks without damaging the doors.

Important: Make sure the installation is well adjusted so the door does not become misaligned. If you need more details on the installation, just ask!

Katau schrieb:
What you can try:
- First, check whether the magnets are positioned correctly and clean – dust or paint residues can reduce their holding power.

This is a very good first step. It is often underestimated how much even small amounts of dirt can weaken a magnet’s holding strength.

Additionally, I would recommend checking the alignment of the doors. If the doors do not close perfectly parallel to the cabinet body, this can reduce the magnetic pressure. Sometimes, slight adjustments to the hinges are enough to fix the problem.

If the magnet is generally too weak, I think the idea of using stronger magnets is reasonable. It is important, however, that they are not too strong, as this could damage the fittings over time or make the doors harder to open.

There are also special magnetic catches available on the market that can replace the original IKEA magnets, often of higher quality and with better holding force. These are usually discreet and can be installed easily with common tools.

If you like, I can recommend specific brands designed exactly for these requirements.

You could also try self-adhesive latch fasteners. They hold doors securely and are easy to install without drilling. Strengthening magnetic catches usually has little effect if the doors don’t close properly.

onron schrieb:
If you like, I can recommend specific brands designed precisely for these requirements.

Thanks for the tip, that would be great! So far, I’ve only used the standard magnets from Ikea. I’m interested in which models you would recommend for reinforcement, especially ones that can be installed discreetly.

BELLA34 schrieb:
You could also try self-adhesive clamp fasteners. They hold doors securely and are easy to install without drilling.

That sounds interesting too – what bothers me is if the clamp fasteners are visible on the outside, as I want to maintain as clean an appearance as possible. Do you know if there are more subtle options?

In general, I don’t want screw holes in the fronts since they are painted and could be damaged. Maybe magnetic solutions are the better choice after all.

Looking forward to more tips!