ᐅ KALLAX compartments tear when stacking – how to prevent this?

Hello everyone,

I have a specific issue with my KALLAX shelves from IKEA: the individual compartments keep breaking out when I stack multiple KALLAX units on top of each other. This usually happens at the connection points or the shelves. The typical load seems to exceed the material’s capacity, although I’m not actually placing particularly heavy items inside.

I’m curious if anyone has experience with how to prevent the compartments from breaking out when stacking? Are there special stacking techniques, additional reinforcements, or specific fastening methods that can help avoid this damage in the long term?

I want to use the shelves as stably and durably as possible and would appreciate any tips or advice on how to protect the material while still securely stacking several KALLAX units.

Thank you in advance!

Sophia42 schrieb:
I’m curious if anyone has experience with preventing the compartments from tearing out when stacking?

Hello Sophia42,

your issue is quite common among KALLAX users. These shelves aren’t really designed for high stacking because the connection points on the material and the shelves themselves aren’t made to withstand heavy vertical loads.

To prevent tearing, I recommend securing the shelves firmly against both the wall and the floor. This stops movement that can stress the material and cause cracks. Additionally, you can reinforce the connection between multiple KALLAX units with metal brackets, which helps distribute the load more evenly.

Try to keep the weight in the upper compartments as low as possible to reduce pressure on the lower ones. Also, avoid using loose shelves that can shift under the load.

Sometimes adding special wood panels or thin plywood reinforcements on the back can improve overall stability.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further questions!

Matthewt48 schrieb:
Your topic is actually quite well known among KALLAX users.

Exactly, I’m familiar with that issue as well. The material inside the KALLAX units is quite thin, and when you stack several on top of each other, the loads don’t distribute optimally—especially in compartments with small shelves.

A simple method is to secure the shelves together using appropriate connectors (e.g., connector screws) so the units don’t work against each other and the material is not stressed at weak points.

Additionally, you can find tips online suggesting to replace the shelves with sturdy substitute boards or to reinforce the connection points with mounting brackets. Adding a strong back panel can also help hold the shelves together and reduce load peaks.

A small tip: filling the shelves only with light or soft items (books, for example, can be quite heavy) makes a big difference in preventing damage.

Good luck with reinforcing!

Sophia42 schrieb:
I want to use the shelves as stably and durably as possible and would appreciate tips or advice on how to protect the material while safely stacking multiple KALLAX units.

I understand your concern well – it’s frustrating when furniture gets damaged quickly despite careful use. Especially with IKEA furniture like KALLAX, it often feels a bit challenging because they’re designed for flexible use, but they do have their limits.

What has always helped me is combining mechanical reinforcement (corner brackets, screws) with ensuring even load distribution. The more evenly the weight is spread, the fewer stress points there are.

Sometimes damage seems to result from small movements or shifts in the stack—so I find it important to secure the shelves to the wall and floor, or to connect them to each other if possible. This prevents shear forces that can tear the material.

Avoid stacking the shelves in a shaky way—better to take your time and reinforce them with screws or brackets.

I wish you the best of luck and hope your project goes well! 🙂