ᐅ KALLAX Doors Do Not Close Properly on One Side – Factory Setting?

Hello everyone,

I installed the doors that originally come with my IKEA KALLAX shelving unit. However, one side’s door does not close properly. Specifically, one door always remains slightly ajar, even though the magnet or latch system seems fine. The door does not press fully shut; it hangs a bit "loose," so to speak.

Now I wonder: Could this be an issue with the factory setting of the hinges or the door itself? Or is there a specific adjustment that needs to be made to ensure the doors close properly? I have checked the instructions several times but haven’t found any extra adjustment that would fix this.

Has anyone experienced similar issues? If so, what worked best for you? Maybe tips on proper adjustment or tricks to improve this?

Thanks in advance for your help!

gekupi schrieb:
Hello everyone, I installed the doors on my IKEA KALLAX shelf unit, which actually come as a set. Unfortunately, the doors don’t close properly on one side. Specifically, one door always stays slightly ajar, even though the magnet or locking mechanism seems to be working fine.

I know that feeling well – those little frustrating moments when something doesn’t fit perfectly can be really annoying. In my experience, it was usually because the hinges hadn’t fully settled yet and needed some fine adjustment.

Sometimes it helps to slightly lift the door or adjust the hinges just a bit outward or inward for better alignment. Don’t worry, this can usually be fixed with the right screwdriver, and it’s a great relief once everything closes properly.

I think it’s worth being a bit patient with these things and, if necessary, check both doors even if only one seems to have a problem. Good luck! 🙂

gekupi schrieb:
Could this be an issue with the factory settings of the hinges or the door itself? Or is there a specific adjustment needed to ensure the doors close properly?

Kallax doors come with clip-on hinges that allow for multi-step adjustments. The factory setting is only a basic fixation, as it is normal and intended to individually adjust the door alignment.

The following adjustments can be helpful:
- Depth adjustment: to bring the door closer to the cabinet.
- Height adjustment: to align the door parallel.
- Lateral adjustment: to close gaps between the door and the side panel.

The hinges usually have small screws that enable these adjustments. Often, a slight angle or just a one-millimeter (0.04 inch) difference is enough to make the door close correctly.

A door that doesn’t close properly is therefore not a defect but usually a matter of adjustment. Factory settings are not 100% perfect, as IKEA furniture is designed for easy assembly and flexible adjustment.

RENMA schrieb:
Kallax doors come with clip hinges that allow multi-step adjustment.

Exactly, just turn the screws on the side or front, and you can easily fine-tune the door.

I had the same issue, and only by adjusting the screws did the door close perfectly. Usually, it’s just 1-2 turns at most.

If it’s difficult or won’t move at all, check the screws to make sure nothing is stuck or bent.

Adjust the doors by loosening the screws on the hinges, correcting the position, and then tightening the screws. This is usually sufficient for KALLAX.

nojaus schrieb:
Sometimes it also helps to slightly lift the door or to adjust the hinges a little bit outward or inward

Thanks for the tip, I’ll try that out today.

RENMA schrieb:
Factory settings aren’t 100% perfect, since IKEA furniture is designed for simple assembly and flexible adjustment.

That makes sense. I was wondering whether it was a “fault” or just normal to have to adjust it.

I’ll check the hinge screws more carefully. Your posts help me find the right adjustment and understand that the part can actually be adjusted.

How tight should the screws be at first – should I turn them gently or fully tighten them? Just to be sure I don’t break anything.