ᐅ How do you properly remove and reattach doors on Ikea PAX wardrobes?

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased an Ikea PAX wardrobe and would like to replace the doors because I no longer like the design. Now I am facing the problem of how to properly attach the new doors so that they fit securely and don’t wobble.

I am especially interested in how the screws or fasteners should be installed, which tools are ideally needed, and if there are any important points to consider to ensure the doors can be removed again at any time without damaging the mechanism.

Does anyone have experience with this, practical tips, or maybe even a step-by-step guide explaining the best way to replace the Ikea PAX wardrobe doors?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hi timnau,

your question is very well structured, so I want to give you a detailed answer to help you understand it thoroughly.

The Ikea PAX wardrobe typically uses a special hinge system based on clip-on hinges. The doors are attached with so-called "eccentric" screws to the hinge plates, which are mounted on the cabinet frame.

Here’s how to proceed when replacing the doors:

- First, carefully lift the door slightly at the top and bottom and gently pull it away from the cabinet frame to unclip the hinges. Usually, the doors are just hooked in place, so you don’t need to remove additional screws to take the door off.
- To properly attach the new doors, make sure the hinge plates on the cabinet frame are correctly installed. These are usually already in place; otherwise, you would need new ones.
- Then attach the new doors to the hinges by hooking the hinges into the corresponding fittings on the door. Be sure that the eccentric screws (a small adjustment dial on the hinges) are set correctly so you can later align the doors optimally.
- The main tools you’ll need are a small Phillips screwdriver and possibly a hex key, if the hinges require one.
- An important tip: check that all hinges are evenly and securely mounted—otherwise, the doors may not close flush.
- If you want to adjust the doors, you can slightly turn the eccentric screws to adjust the height, depth, or lateral position of the door.

Regarding the possibility of removing the doors again later, this is well-designed in PAX systems because the door is practically "clipped" on, and the hinges themselves are durable as long as you don’t forcefully remove them.

Could you also mention whether your PAX doors have glass panels or solid doors? And if the original hinges are still on your wardrobe? This can affect the exact procedure.

Surela schrieb:
Regarding the procedure for replacing the doors, you should proceed as follows:

Honestly, I think the whole “perfect” alignment and adjustment fuss with the PAX doors is a bit overrated. Usually, if you just put them on somehow, they fit well enough and stay in place.

Many people make the mistake of spending too much time on millimeter-precise adjustments instead of pragmatically checking if the doors close properly and calling it done. In my experience, the real challenge is more about making sure all the screws are properly tightened and nothing is loose.

Surela schrieb:
An important tip: Check that all hinges are evenly and firmly fitted – otherwise, the doors might not close flush.

That point is definitely correct. But honestly, this “cam screw hype” is, in my opinion, not always necessary unless you really want to fine-tune everything.

Just my opinion, but I prefer a “works or doesn’t work” approach with Ikea furniture rather than endless fiddling.

Surela schrieb:
Would you also mention whether your PAX doors are glass or solid? And whether the original hinges are still on your wardrobe?

Thank you for your detailed response!

My doors are solid wood-look doors, and the original hinges are mounted on the wardrobe frame, but I have already removed the doors to replace them.

What I’m still unsure about is whether I should fully tighten the screws on the new hinges or just tighten them by hand to allow some adjustment later. Also, can the cam screws be easily damaged when tightening?

I want to be as careful as possible to avoid stripping screws or damaging the plastic parts on the hinges.

I would appreciate any advice you can give me on this.

timnau schrieb:
Do I need to tighten the screws on the hinges of the new doors firmly, or is it better to just tighten them by hand to allow some adjustment later?

This is an important question because damage often occurs when screws are overtightened.

Here is my advice:

- Initially, tighten the screws that attach the hinges to the doors only by hand.
- The advantage of this is that you can still slightly adjust the door later without loosening the screws.
- The eccentric screws on the hinges themselves can usually be tightened fairly firmly since they are designed for adjustment.
- Be sure not to apply excessive torque, as the hinges and the plastic components inside can break under too much force.
- If you handle the threads carefully, you can also tighten the screws on the hinges during installation of the door on the cabinet body only by hand at first, then gradually tighten them while checking if everything fits and the door closes properly.

timnau schrieb:
And can the eccentric screws be easily damaged when screwing them in?

As long as you use the appropriate tools and moderate torque, these screws are robust enough. Just be cautious when the screwdriver is not aligned properly to avoid stripping the grooves or causing stress.

I hope this helps. If needed, I can also provide a step-by-step guide with detailed pictures, if you wish.