ᐅ KALLAX no longer stable after moving – is it advisable to disassemble it?

Hello everyone,

I am facing the following issue: My IKEA KALLAX shelving unit, which I have used without any problems for years, now feels noticeably less stable after my recent move. There is frequent wobbling, and the joints no longer seem as tight – even when nothing is placed on it.

I imagine that during transport and multiple relocations, the connections between the individual parts may have loosened or even slightly warped. Before I start reaching for tools and disassemble the unit to reassemble it properly, I wonder: Is it really advisable to completely take apart and rebuild the KALLAX shelving unit after moving to restore its stability? Or could the problem be caused by something else, such as incorrectly adjusted fasteners or damage during transport?

Any tips on how to proceed would be very welcome – I definitely don’t want to make any mistakes and risk unnecessary damage to the unit. Thanks in advance for your insights and experiences!

Best regards

If the shelf is wobbling, it is usually better to take it completely apart and tighten all the connectors again. This generally restores stability. Disassemble it, check all screws and connectors, and then carefully reassemble.

Nogope schrieb:
I can imagine that during transport [...] the connections between the individual parts might have become somewhat “loosened”

This is a fairly common issue, especially with furniture like the KALLAX, which gains its stability mainly from the precise interaction of the metal fittings and the clearly defined wooden structure. When the shelving unit has been moved several times, lever and tensile forces act on the joints, which are not always immediately visible to the naked eye.

I would recommend the following: carefully disassemble the shelving unit completely, taking care not to damage any screws or connecting parts. Then inspect all fittings, dowels, and the precisely fitted edges for damage — even tiny cracks in the wood can affect stability and should be identified.

After that, reassemble the parts step by step using the proper torque – not too loose, but not too tight, to avoid damaging the particleboard. It is important that the fittings are positioned exactly correctly, as otherwise they will not optimally stabilize the connection lines of the shelving unit.

Can you clarify whether the unit only wobbles at the top or throughout the entire structure? Were there any visible damages to the wood or were some of the plastic connectors perhaps already brittle? If so, it would be better to replace the damaged parts.

This process may sound time-consuming, but after moving, it is often the only way to restore the furniture’s full, original stability.

Nigope schrieb:
I definitely don’t want to do anything wrong and damage the shelf unnecessarily

I completely understand—that’s how I sometimes feel with my furniture after moving. Especially with KALLAX, it’s easy to feel uncertain because it looks simple at first, but after a move, stability issues can appear.

I once had a similar problem and ended up taking the shelf completely apart, spending extra time to carefully check all the parts. I lost track of how many times I tightened the screws again—it was worth it! Today, it stands more stable than ever before.

Sometimes patience helps, too—rebuilding the shelf calmly can make a difference. Maybe it’s also a good opportunity to make small improvements, like adding a thin wooden board as a back panel, if it’s not already there.

So go ahead, your shelf will thank you. 🙂