ᐅ Installing Doors Later in KALLAX Units – Is Additional Drilling Necessary?

Hello everyone,

I recently decided to add doors to my IKEA KALLAX shelving unit to make the storage space look more organized and tidy. My main question is: Do you have to drill new holes in the KALLAX unit to do this, or are there mechanical mounting options that don’t require additional drilling?

I ask because I’m reluctant to compromise the stability of the shelving or worry that drilling new holes might weaken the material over time. Has anyone had experience with whether additional drilling is really necessary, what the pros and cons are, or if there are special door mounts that can be attached using only the existing holes?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

BENNEO59 schrieb:
Do you absolutely have to drill new holes in the KALLAX shelf, or are there mechanical fastening options that do not require additional drilling?

Usually, you need to drill new holes because the doors are attached with hinges that must be installed precisely onto the material. It is rarely possible without additional drilling.

BENNEO59 schrieb:
Do you absolutely have to drill new holes in the KALLAX shelf, or are there mechanical mounting options...

The KALLAX system is not originally designed for door installation with hinges. The doors offered by IKEA come with mounting hardware that usually requires drilling new holes. The shelf material is structurally strong enough for this, provided you drill precisely and use good quality hinges.

Drilling new holes is generally unavoidable unless you use special clamping or magnetic systems, which often involve compromises in appearance and functionality. Another option is clip-on doors, but these are rarely sturdy enough for heavy loads.

My advice: use a drilling template guide and a drill with a small diameter carefully, to avoid weakening the material.

I would like to add that many users in forums report that the KALLAX doors from IKEA are actually designed to be re-drilled.

Renegi schrieb:
Without re-drilling, it rarely works.

I can confirm this, as the door hinges usually require brackets that need to firmly grip the shelving material. There are small clamp or magnetic brackets that sometimes work, but they are not comparable to properly screwed doors in terms of stability and durability.

From my experience, I recommend drilling carefully, preferably with a sharp wood drill bit and pre-drilling, so that the KALLAX material (particleboard with melamine coating) does not splinter. A tip: pre-drill a pilot hole of 2-3 mm (0.08-0.12 inches), then drill the appropriate screw hole to ensure stability.

Gregory schrieb:
So, re-drilling is usually unavoidable...

I agree and would like to add that while re-drilling is often necessary, it does not necessarily compromise the stability of the shelf. The MDF/particle board material used in the KALLAX is sufficiently sturdy if the screws are placed in the designated areas and the holes are not drilled too large.

Alternatively, I have also used door hinges that fit into the pre-drilled holes from the IKEA door sets, making only minimal modifications to the sides of the shelf.

Nadine schrieb:
Drill a pilot hole of 2–3mm (0.08–0.12 inches) first, then the appropriate screw hole to ensure stability.

This advice is very important because without pre-drilling, the material can easily split.