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Ralfmar398 Oct 2023 09:17Hello everyone,
I am currently planning to rearrange my apartment a bit and want to equip my Ikea Pax dresser with some additional shelves. I have a question: How much weight can the shelves of the Ikea Pax series actually support?
I am mainly interested in the maximum load capacity per shelf because I plan to store both clothing in boxes as well as some books and kitchen utensils on them.
I have already found some information on the Ikea website, but the load capacities seem to vary depending on the width and type of shelf. Maybe someone has practical experience with these shelves or knows exactly how many kilograms (pounds) I can safely stack on a single shelf without it bending or breaking.
I would appreciate your opinions and advice!
I am currently planning to rearrange my apartment a bit and want to equip my Ikea Pax dresser with some additional shelves. I have a question: How much weight can the shelves of the Ikea Pax series actually support?
I am mainly interested in the maximum load capacity per shelf because I plan to store both clothing in boxes as well as some books and kitchen utensils on them.
I have already found some information on the Ikea website, but the load capacities seem to vary depending on the width and type of shelf. Maybe someone has practical experience with these shelves or knows exactly how many kilograms (pounds) I can safely stack on a single shelf without it bending or breaking.
I would appreciate your opinions and advice!
Hello Ralfmar39,
to give you an accurate answer, several factors really matter: for example, the material of the shelves (often MDF boards with a melamine coating), their width, depth, and how they are fixed inside the cabinet.
Ikea typically states a load capacity of about 15 to 25 kilograms (33 to 55 lbs) per shelf for the Pax system, depending on the width (e.g., 50 cm (20 inches) or 75 cm (30 inches)). Wider shelves tend to carry less weight because the board is more likely to bend.
Also important is the type of support — whether the shelves are simply supported by small dowels or if additional support rails are used. The load capacity increases significantly when the ends are properly supported.
If you plan to store heavy items like books, which can quickly reach around 20 kilograms (44 lbs) per shelf, I would recommend reinforcing the shelves with an additional center support or choosing narrower widths.
Could you provide the exact width and depth of the shelves? And maybe estimate the planned weight per shelf? Then I can give you more specific advice.
to give you an accurate answer, several factors really matter: for example, the material of the shelves (often MDF boards with a melamine coating), their width, depth, and how they are fixed inside the cabinet.
Ikea typically states a load capacity of about 15 to 25 kilograms (33 to 55 lbs) per shelf for the Pax system, depending on the width (e.g., 50 cm (20 inches) or 75 cm (30 inches)). Wider shelves tend to carry less weight because the board is more likely to bend.
Also important is the type of support — whether the shelves are simply supported by small dowels or if additional support rails are used. The load capacity increases significantly when the ends are properly supported.
If you plan to store heavy items like books, which can quickly reach around 20 kilograms (44 lbs) per shelf, I would recommend reinforcing the shelves with an additional center support or choosing narrower widths.
Could you provide the exact width and depth of the shelves? And maybe estimate the planned weight per shelf? Then I can give you more specific advice.
I think it’s important to critically question the load limits that Ikea itself specifies – these are usually around 15-20 kg per shelf. However, these values are often based on ideal manufacturing conditions and assume that the weight is evenly distributed.
This means that if you place 10 kg on a small spot, the likelihood of the shelf panel being damaged earlier increases.
It is also questionable whether the recommended load limits are sufficient when stacking many heavy books, for example.
In everyday experience, I often see that people overestimate these values.
Therefore, I would definitely not simply accept the maximum values from the description without scrutiny, but rather approach them with a safety margin.
This means that if you place 10 kg on a small spot, the likelihood of the shelf panel being damaged earlier increases.
It is also questionable whether the recommended load limits are sufficient when stacking many heavy books, for example.
In everyday experience, I often see that people overestimate these values.
Therefore, I would definitely not simply accept the maximum values from the description without scrutiny, but rather approach them with a safety margin.
To summarize:
- Ikea Pax shelves typically support between 15 and 25 kilograms (33 and 55 pounds), depending on the width and type of fixing.
- The load capacity is based on an even distribution of weight.
- Shelves with a depth of 50 cm (20 inches) generally allow for more weight than wider shelves (e.g., 75 cm / 30 inches) due to differences in bending behavior.
- To increase load capacity, center supports, sturdy support rails, or other reinforcements should be used.
- For heavy loads over 20 kg (44 pounds) per shelf, individual securing is recommended to prevent structural damage.
I also recommend estimating the actual load with real measurements and, if necessary, not overloading the shelves to ensure long-term safety.
- Ikea Pax shelves typically support between 15 and 25 kilograms (33 and 55 pounds), depending on the width and type of fixing.
- The load capacity is based on an even distribution of weight.
- Shelves with a depth of 50 cm (20 inches) generally allow for more weight than wider shelves (e.g., 75 cm / 30 inches) due to differences in bending behavior.
- To increase load capacity, center supports, sturdy support rails, or other reinforcements should be used.
- For heavy loads over 20 kg (44 pounds) per shelf, individual securing is recommended to prevent structural damage.
I also recommend estimating the actual load with real measurements and, if necessary, not overloading the shelves to ensure long-term safety.
Surela schrieb:
If you plan to store heavy items like books, which can quickly add up to 20 kg (44 lbs) per shelf, I would recommend reinforcing the shelves with an additional center support or choosing narrower shelf widths.That's exactly what I mean: Most users underestimate the force that a constant load exerts on the shelves. An additional center support can work wonders and significantly improve the lifespan.
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