ᐅ Ikea BESTA: How can additional shelves be installed?

Hello everyone,

I own an Ikea Besta shelving unit and would like to add extra shelves to make the storage space more flexible. My specific question is: How can additional shelves be installed in an Ikea Besta unit? What materials and fixing methods are best suited for this, and are there any particular technical or safety considerations to keep in mind? I have already located the standard holes for the shelves but am unsure whether it is possible to drill multiple new holes there or if there are better alternatives.

I would appreciate it if someone could share their experience or tips on how to safely and neatly install additional shelves.

Hello mersimken,

your question is very well formulated, and based on my experience, I can give you some structured advice on how to install additional shelves in the Ikea BESTA system:

- First of all: BESTA units come with factory-drilled holes arranged in a 32 mm (1.26 inches) grid pattern, designed for additional shelves and height adjustments. Use these holes whenever possible to insert metal or plastic shelf supports.
- If you plan to drill new holes, be sure to drill on the inside to keep the holes hidden from the visible side. Keep a distance of at least 3 cm (1.2 inches) from the edge to avoid tearing out the material.
- For shelves, you can use wooden boards with a thickness of 16 to 22 mm (0.63 to 0.87 inches), cut to the exact size you need. Hardware stores or custom carpentry services are recommended for this.
- The metal or plastic shelf supports can then simply be pressed into the existing or newly drilled holes.
- It is important to measure carefully to install the shelves perfectly level—using a spirit level is best.

Finally, pay attention to the load limits of the shelves; in BESTA systems, they are usually around 15 to 20 kg (33 to 44 lbs) per shelf.

In summary, it’s best to use the factory-drilled holes or, if necessary, carefully drill your own holes with suitable drill bits and use sturdy shelf supports.

If you need more shelves, use the existing drill holes and special shelf pins from Ikea. You should only drill additional holes if you have experience, otherwise there is a risk of chipping or damage.

I understand that installing additional shelves in the BESTA system can be a bit confusing. The important thing is not to rush – safety comes first. I once tried to make extra drill holes myself, and unfortunately, the side panel cracked at that spot. Since then, I prefer to use the standard row of holes and the corresponding brackets; that works great and looks neat.

Your idea to pay attention to materials and fasteners is definitely the right approach. Ultimately, you want a sturdy shelf that can hold some weight. If you’re unsure whether the board is too thin or the brackets aren’t strong enough, I would recommend investing a bit more in sturdy brackets – they often provide better support than cheaper options from a hardware store.

If you like, I can gladly share more about my experiences with different brackets I have tried.

JEREMIAH38 schrieb:
I once tried to make additional drillings myself, and unfortunately, the side panel cracked at that spot.

Thanks for the warning, the risk wasn’t entirely clear to me either. Could you tell me which type of brackets worked best for you? I’m especially interested in whether it’s better to place many of them side by side to reinforce the floor, or if fewer, but stronger points would be more effective.

Basically, it is better to use multiple shelf supports per side to evenly distribute heavier loads. For Ikea BESTA, I recommend the original metal shelf supports, as they fit very well and are stable. They are designed to work with the 32 mm (1.25 inch) peg hole system.

If you need more load capacity and the holes are not sufficient, additional brackets can be installed directly under the shelf board for extra support—essentially a form of reinforcement from underneath.

However, avoid drilling on your own without sufficient experience, as this can easily cause the material to tear out. If necessary, adjust the panels and have the cut made precisely to the required dimensions.