ᐅ IKEA Malm Bed Creaking Despite Reassembly – What Could Be Causing It?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled an IKEA Malm bed (double bed) completely from scratch. Everything fit well and was carefully screwed together according to the instructions. However, the bed creaks with every movement, especially when turning over at night. It’s quite annoying, even though everything should be firmly in place.

I’m interested in understanding exactly what causes this creaking noise. Could it be due to too little or too much tension on the screws? Or what should I focus on when checking it again?

Maybe this is a general issue related to the materials used or the construction? I want to fully understand the cause before attempting a time-consuming disassembly.

Who has experience with the Malm bed and can explain in detail what usually causes the creaking and what can be done specifically to fix it?

The squeaking usually comes from loose screws or friction between the wooden boards.

Check the screws on the slatted frame and the corner joints. Tighten them slightly as a test, without over-tightening.

kuathanasi schrieb:
I definitely want to understand the cause before starting any extensive disassembly.

That is a very sensible approach. The cause of squeaking in the IKEA Malm bed often results from several factors at once. For one, although the wood components are usually made from particleboard, they are not completely dimensionally stable; they respond to pressure and humidity with slight deformation – which allows small movements when lying down.

It is also important to determine exactly where the noise comes from: does it sound directly from the screw connections, or rather from the slatted frame that contacts the bed frame?

If the screws are tightened too much, the material can crack or develop fine fractures, which may reduce squeaking in the long term but weakens stability. On the other hand, if loose, it allows movement and therefore noise.

I recommend a systematic approach: loosen the screws, inspect all wood parts for visible cracks, then tighten all screws evenly using controlled torque – not too tight but firm. Additionally, furniture wax or dry graphite powder can be applied to contact points to reduce wood-on-wood friction.

Are there any wood splinters or pressure marks that might prevent the necessary counterpressure? And have you installed all corner brackets properly, especially those under the side of the bed?

I’m also curious whether you have a metal slatted base or are using the original Malm slatted base, as the support points there can significantly influence noise.

Domau0 schrieb:
I recommend a systematic approach: loosen the screws, inspect all wooden parts for visible cracks, then evenly tighten all screws using a torque wrench

That is really a very good tip. I can add that squeaking often occurs where wood meets metal, for example at the screw contact points.

A simple method that has always helped me is to place a bit of felt or foam rubber under the contact points that tend to rub against each other. This usually prevents the noise and also adds stability.

I also suggest removing the slatted frame to carefully check for any pressure points or deformations, especially with a new assembly. You might not think about it, but sometimes a part isn’t perfectly aligned, causing noise as soon as you move.

If your bed is still relatively new, it might also be the case that the original factory screws are not all tightened evenly. Retightening and adjusting won’t hurt.

Kinbu schrieb:
the squeaking often occurs where wood meets metal

Thank you for the tip, I hadn’t considered that yet. The Malm bed uses metal brackets in several places, so it’s quite possible that slight friction is causing the noise.

Domau0 schrieb:
Could there be wood splinters or pressure marks that prevent proper counterpressure? And have you installed all the corner connectors correctly?

I haven’t found any wood splinters, and I followed the instructions carefully when assembling all the corner fasteners. The slatted frame is the original made of solid wood slats, not a metal construction.

So tomorrow I plan to systematically loosen all the screws and then tighten them gently again. Also, the idea of using furniture wax or dry graphite powder sounds interesting.

If that doesn’t help, would it make sense during reassembly to attach foam rubber or felt pads at the metal contact points? I’m unsure whether that would affect the appearance or the function.

I’m curious if anyone else has practical experience with cleaning and maintaining this type of bed.

kuathanasi schrieb:
would it then make sense to also attach foam rubber or felt at the metal contact points during a reassembly?

Definitely yes. I was able to solve this issue on some metal beds by sticking small felt pads directly onto the metal brackets that rub against the wooden parts. This reduces both noise and wear.

Here is a recommended procedure:
1. Disassemble the bed down to the metal-to-wood contact points.
2. Cut felt or foam rubber into suitable strips or small pieces.
3. Moisten the adhesive side or use a stronger adhesive (e.g., construction adhesive) to ensure long-lasting hold.
4. Carefully reassemble the parts, tightening screws evenly and with moderate pressure.

An important point is not to overtighten the screws – this causes tension that can damage the materials and actually increase squeaking.

If you use furniture wax: please avoid oils or silicone sprays, as they attract dirt and worsen the situation over time.

In conclusion: if everything fits properly, screws are not loose, and glide materials are used, the bed should be noticeably quieter. Good luck! 🙂