Good evening everyone, I recently purchased a standard-sized Ikea PAX wardrobe (width 100cm (39 inches), depth 58cm (23 inches), height 236cm (93 inches)) and am now planning the interior fittings. My specific question is: How many shelves can realistically fit into such a standard PAX wardrobe if I only want to use shelves (no drawers, clothes rails, or other inserts)? I am also interested in how thick the shelves can be and whether there are recommended spacing limits between the shelves to ensure stability. In short: How many shelves can be sensibly integrated into a standard Ikea PAX to maximize storage space while maintaining a sturdy construction? Many thanks in advance for your experience and advice!
Hi, in the standard PAX depth, you can usually fit up to 10 shelves if you use all the fixing points. The shelves are about 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick. The maximum load capacity per shelf is around 15 kg (33 lbs), so the spacing is mostly limited by the height of the items you want to store. Just set the shelves at 25 cm (10 inches) intervals; this is a good compromise between storage space and stability.
For additional information: The Ikea PAX standard in the size mentioned by klalo36 allows shelf adjustment every 32 mm (1.3 inches) using the pre-drilled holes in the side panels. Since the total height is approximately 236 cm (93 inches) and the shelves are about 1.8 cm (0.7 inches) thick each, the maximum number of shelves per cabinet is theoretically around 10 to 11. However, it is advisable to keep the spacing between shelves at least 30 cm (12 inches) if you plan to store larger items, to ensure practical usability. According to Ikea, the load capacity of the shelves is 13 to 15 kg (29 to 33 lbs) per shelf, depending on how the weight is distributed. This means that while a very high number of shelves is theoretically possible, in practice it is usually limited to 8 to 10 shelves due to functionality and stability considerations.
Alina67 schrieb:
However, it is advisable to keep a minimum distance of 30cm (12 inches) between the shelves if you want to store larger items, to ensure sufficient usability.I see this a bit differently. In terms of space alone, you could certainly create more storage by placing the shelves closer together. The question is what you value more: the maximum number of shelves or the practical usability of the PAX wardrobe.
I would also question whether Ikea’s stated load capacities might be somewhat conservative. Based on experience, you can often carry slightly more weight if it is evenly distributed. The limitation on the number of shelves is more likely determined by the pre-drilled holes and the range of adjustment options.
To return to the original question: theoretically, a 236cm (93 inch) tall PAX wardrobe can fit between 11 and 13 shelves if you space them closely (about 16-20cm / 6-8 inches apart). However, whether this is practical is another matter. I would be concerned that having so many levels would significantly reduce the actual usefulness, since there would be little room for taller items.
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