ᐅ Is there a way to retrofit IKEA BESTA doors with soft-close mechanisms?

Hello everyone,

I want to retrofit soft-close functionality to my IKEA Besta cabinet doors but am unsure if and how this is possible. The doors I have are the standard Besta models with the usual hinge fittings that do not include a soft-closing system.

Are there any special soft-close retrofit kits that are compatible? Or can the function be achieved with other furniture fittings, for example by replacing the hinges with a soft-close version?

It is important to me that the appearance remains unchanged and that no overly complicated modifications are necessary. I want to avoid having to remove the entire front or install new doors.

Does anyone have experience retrofitting soft-close to IKEA Besta doors and could share tips on how to do this in a practical and relatively straightforward way?

Hello Lapitu,

I can definitely help you with that. Basically, there are two ways to retrofit a soft-close feature for IKEA BESTA doors:

- Replacing the existing hinges with special soft-close hinges, which are often sold directly by IKEA or third-party suppliers. These usually fit without major modifications.
- If you want to keep the original hinges, some manufacturers offer small soft-close dampers that can be mounted next to the hinges to add the function.

Keep in mind that when installing such retrofit solutions, the doors still need to be properly adjusted to ensure they close smoothly and quietly.

A tip: IKEA itself also offers soft-close hinges for BESTA, which can be replaced with some effort, but you need to pay attention to the exact hinge and door type, as different versions exist.

If you like, I can also provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to do the replacement.

Lapitu schrieb:
Are there any special retrofit soft-close kits that are compatible? Or can the function be achieved with other furniture fittings, for example by replacing the hinges with a soft-close version?

Yes, soft-close hinges compatible with BESTA are available. The simplest solution is to replace the existing hinges with IKEA soft-close models.

Just remove the old ones, install the new ones, adjust, and you're done.

tarju41 schrieb:
The simplest solution is to replace the hinges with IKEA soft-close models.

Whether it is really that simple is debatable. I doubt that everyone can manage the removal and reinstallation without problems – especially if you want to maintain a flawless appearance.

Furthermore, it seems worth considering whether it might be better to upgrade the entire system or even look into other doors that come with soft-close functionality by default. After all, the conversion also involves material and time costs, and often readjusting the appearance is almost unavoidable.

Not to forget: IKEA has used different hinge generations over the years. Not all of them are compatible with the IKEA soft-close replacements.

So, I would recommend carefully checking which hinges are installed before buying, otherwise you might end up with useless parts. Just because “soft-close” sounds appealing doesn’t mean it can be retrofitted as easily as many think.