Hello everyone,
I am considering integrating a larger printer (about 50-60cm (20-24 inches) wide, weighing 20-25kg (44-55 lbs)) into my IKEA KALLAX shelving unit. My question is whether this setup is suitable for long-term use or if the shelf will eventually sag or become unstable. I mainly use the shelving unit as a workspace and storage, but the printer is intended to remain on top permanently in the medium term.
Does anyone have experience with heavy equipment on KALLAX shelves? How reliable is the load capacity in reality, and how does the material respond to such continuous use?
Looking forward to your insights!
I am considering integrating a larger printer (about 50-60cm (20-24 inches) wide, weighing 20-25kg (44-55 lbs)) into my IKEA KALLAX shelving unit. My question is whether this setup is suitable for long-term use or if the shelf will eventually sag or become unstable. I mainly use the shelving unit as a workspace and storage, but the printer is intended to remain on top permanently in the medium term.
Does anyone have experience with heavy equipment on KALLAX shelves? How reliable is the load capacity in reality, and how does the material respond to such continuous use?
Looking forward to your insights!
The KALLAX is officially rated for a load of 13 kg (29 lbs) per compartment, which is significantly less than the weight of your printer.
This almost inevitably leads to deformation, depending on which compartment the printer is placed in. Have you secured the shelf to the wall? That could improve stability, but it hardly changes the load-bearing capacity.
What exact construction does your shelf have? And are you really at the maximum load capacity, or is the weight distributed?
This almost inevitably leads to deformation, depending on which compartment the printer is placed in. Have you secured the shelf to the wall? That could improve stability, but it hardly changes the load-bearing capacity.
What exact construction does your shelf have? And are you really at the maximum load capacity, or is the weight distributed?
G
GUSTAVO5626 May 2020 10:05Basically, I recommend caution when using KALLAX shelves with heavy and unevenly distributed loads such as large printers. The maximum load capacity of about 13 kg (28.7 lbs) per compartment is not just a number from the manual, but a realistic guideline for long-term use.
The construction of KALLAX is based on panels made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) with a melamine coating, placed on cubic frames made of FSC-certified wood. The stability is primarily limited by the thickness of the material.
Now, the consequences: With a permanent load of 20-25 kg (44.1-55.1 lbs), the shelf will at least sag over time—especially if the printer is placed on a single shelf.
If you still want to use the shelf, I recommend:
- Reinforcement with additional supports (e.g., plywood panel)
- Distributing the load across multiple compartments, if possible
- Securing the shelf to the wall
How exactly is your printer set up? Is it positioned in the center of one compartment or spanning two?
Also: Are there any weight peaks caused by movement or vibrations? That significantly increases the sagging effect.
The construction of KALLAX is based on panels made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) with a melamine coating, placed on cubic frames made of FSC-certified wood. The stability is primarily limited by the thickness of the material.
Now, the consequences: With a permanent load of 20-25 kg (44.1-55.1 lbs), the shelf will at least sag over time—especially if the printer is placed on a single shelf.
If you still want to use the shelf, I recommend:
- Reinforcement with additional supports (e.g., plywood panel)
- Distributing the load across multiple compartments, if possible
- Securing the shelf to the wall
How exactly is your printer set up? Is it positioned in the center of one compartment or spanning two?
Also: Are there any weight peaks caused by movement or vibrations? That significantly increases the sagging effect.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to provide a little extra support. With a small, nice wooden board on top and possibly some rubber feet to give the printer stability while also protecting the surface, the KALLAX should easily handle it – of course, depending on how much weight is placed on it.
And hey, if the unit does settle a bit, it might actually make things feel even cozier 🙂 You just have to account for a little bit of gravity in everyday life!
And hey, if the unit does settle a bit, it might actually make things feel even cozier 🙂 You just have to account for a little bit of gravity in everyday life!
Let's be honest, the KALLAX shelf is not designed for heavy loads! If you place a 25kg (55 lbs) item on it and expect it to remain stable over time, you're living in a fantasy.
Exactly! Why do you think IKEA keeps the load rating deliberately low? I mean, the unit would start to sag badly after a short time.
If you want long-term stability, use either a metal shelf or a heavy-duty shelving unit.
You can take a romantic view on it, like @Katan, but the reality is different.
Natan schrieb:
The KALLAX is officially rated for 13kg (29 lbs) per shelf
Exactly! Why do you think IKEA keeps the load rating deliberately low? I mean, the unit would start to sag badly after a short time.
If you want long-term stability, use either a metal shelf or a heavy-duty shelving unit.
You can take a romantic view on it, like @Katan, but the reality is different.
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