Hello everyone,
I have the following issue: I own a KALLAX shelving unit that I fitted with casters to make it easier to move when needed. The problem is that with the casters, the shelf unit is now too tall for my niche in the apartment. The niche measures about 180 cm (71 inches) in height, while the KALLAX with casters is approximately 190 cm (75 inches) tall. So, the shelf does not fit.
However, I don’t want to give up the mobility provided by the casters or replace the shelf with a different one. Therefore, my main question is: Are there practical ways to lower the height of the KALLAX with casters a bit without significantly compromising stability or functionality?
Possible approaches could include using different casters, modifying the casters themselves, or perhaps cutting or adjusting the shelving structure. What are proven solutions in practice? Are there any tips or recommendations on what to watch out for?
I look forward to your advice and experiences!
I have the following issue: I own a KALLAX shelving unit that I fitted with casters to make it easier to move when needed. The problem is that with the casters, the shelf unit is now too tall for my niche in the apartment. The niche measures about 180 cm (71 inches) in height, while the KALLAX with casters is approximately 190 cm (75 inches) tall. So, the shelf does not fit.
However, I don’t want to give up the mobility provided by the casters or replace the shelf with a different one. Therefore, my main question is: Are there practical ways to lower the height of the KALLAX with casters a bit without significantly compromising stability or functionality?
Possible approaches could include using different casters, modifying the casters themselves, or perhaps cutting or adjusting the shelving structure. What are proven solutions in practice? Are there any tips or recommendations on what to watch out for?
I look forward to your advice and experiences!
I would like to delve deeper into this topic, as I have made several modifications to KALLAX shelves myself.
1. Casters vs. furniture glides: Furniture glides are flatter and bring the shelf closer to the floor. The advantage is the reduced overall height, while the disadvantage is the lack of mobility. When deciding, you should weigh the total weight and the frequency of use.
2. Caster height: The classic IKEA casters have a build height of about 9.5 cm (3.7 inches). There are low-profile casters starting from around 4 cm (1.6 inches). You can find these at hardware stores or specialized shops. Be sure to check the load capacity per wheel (at least 20–25 kg (44–55 lbs) per caster).
3. Foot section: KALLAX is fundamentally designed as a standing shelf with four feet. The casters are attached to the bottom. Cutting off the feet reduces stability and may increase the risk of tipping. However, for a well-secured shelf, the feet can be slightly shortened, but you should carefully inspect the wood material beforehand (gluing, wood thickness).
4. Alternative: Modular modification. Some users cut the shelf into two parts and rebuild it to fit the niche. After modification, the lower parts can be placed on low-profile casters, while the upper section remains mounted separately.
5. Fastening & safety: It is important that no load-bearing elements are damaged during modification or shortening and that the shelf is secured to the wall to prevent tipping hazards.
What exactly are the dimensions of your niche (width, depth, possibly ventilation clearance), and what is the maximum height really acceptable? The details will help provide better suggestions.
1. Casters vs. furniture glides: Furniture glides are flatter and bring the shelf closer to the floor. The advantage is the reduced overall height, while the disadvantage is the lack of mobility. When deciding, you should weigh the total weight and the frequency of use.
2. Caster height: The classic IKEA casters have a build height of about 9.5 cm (3.7 inches). There are low-profile casters starting from around 4 cm (1.6 inches). You can find these at hardware stores or specialized shops. Be sure to check the load capacity per wheel (at least 20–25 kg (44–55 lbs) per caster).
3. Foot section: KALLAX is fundamentally designed as a standing shelf with four feet. The casters are attached to the bottom. Cutting off the feet reduces stability and may increase the risk of tipping. However, for a well-secured shelf, the feet can be slightly shortened, but you should carefully inspect the wood material beforehand (gluing, wood thickness).
4. Alternative: Modular modification. Some users cut the shelf into two parts and rebuild it to fit the niche. After modification, the lower parts can be placed on low-profile casters, while the upper section remains mounted separately.
5. Fastening & safety: It is important that no load-bearing elements are damaged during modification or shortening and that the shelf is secured to the wall to prevent tipping hazards.
What exactly are the dimensions of your niche (width, depth, possibly ventilation clearance), and what is the maximum height really acceptable? The details will help provide better suggestions.
Thank you, Filippo, that is exactly the depth I was looking for.
My niche is 181 cm (71 inches) high, 88 cm (35 inches) wide, and 40 cm (16 inches) deep. The back panel of the KALLAX is directly against the wall, so there is no gap at the back.
The maximum height I can use is exactly 180 cm (71 inches), which would leave 1 cm (0.4 inches) of clearance. Currently, the KALLAX with casters is 190 cm (75 inches) tall.
Mobility is important to me because I like to rearrange the room frequently. That’s why furniture sliders or similar options seem less ideal, but maybe still a compromise.
Shortening the legs seems possible as long as it doesn’t significantly compromise stability. Are there specific techniques or tools to safely stabilize the shelf when shortening the legs? Attaching it to the wall is definitely planned.
My niche is 181 cm (71 inches) high, 88 cm (35 inches) wide, and 40 cm (16 inches) deep. The back panel of the KALLAX is directly against the wall, so there is no gap at the back.
The maximum height I can use is exactly 180 cm (71 inches), which would leave 1 cm (0.4 inches) of clearance. Currently, the KALLAX with casters is 190 cm (75 inches) tall.
Mobility is important to me because I like to rearrange the room frequently. That’s why furniture sliders or similar options seem less ideal, but maybe still a compromise.
Shortening the legs seems possible as long as it doesn’t significantly compromise stability. Are there specific techniques or tools to safely stabilize the shelf when shortening the legs? Attaching it to the wall is definitely planned.
Bimarion schrieb:
Shortening the legs seems possible to me, as long as I don’t significantly compromise stability. Are there particular techniques or tools to safely stabilize the shelf while shortening it?Yes, here are a few tips:
1. Use a sturdy workbench and a saw with a good guide (e.g., a miter saw or chop saw) to cut the legs cleanly and straight.
2. Remove the casters first, then the legs if possible. This makes the work easier.
3. After cutting, you can reinforce the legs using wood glue and small wooden dowels to improve stability.
4. I recommend using non-slip furniture pads underneath the shelf to combine stability with minimal residual movement.
5. Wall mounting is always a safety plus, especially if you want to maintain mobility.
6. If possible, you can also replace the casters with lower-profile, sturdy wheels to reduce the overall height.
With these methods, you should be able to largely maintain stability.
I am familiar with the issue of height for KALLAX units on casters.
Another option is to completely remove the casters and instead use flat felt pads under the feet. This can save you about 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) in height and reduce the risk of wobbling.
If mobility is a must: there are also special casters with a height of only 3-4 cm (1-1.5 inches) that you can order online. These would allow you to mount the KALLAX a bit lower.
Additionally, I recommend being very careful when shortening the feet—take small steps. You might want to test how the material behaves first using a piece of spare wood.
Another option is to completely remove the casters and instead use flat felt pads under the feet. This can save you about 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) in height and reduce the risk of wobbling.
If mobility is a must: there are also special casters with a height of only 3-4 cm (1-1.5 inches) that you can order online. These would allow you to mount the KALLAX a bit lower.
Additionally, I recommend being very careful when shortening the feet—take small steps. You might want to test how the material behaves first using a piece of spare wood.
One additional idea: depending on how flexible the shelving unit needs to be, you can place the KALLAX on a sturdy base plate (e.g., a thin plywood board) that is significantly lower than the caster wheels and attach low-profile castors or furniture sliders underneath. This way, you can adjust the height visually and functionally while also achieving better load distribution.
In other words, instead of attaching the caster wheels directly to the shelving unit, you create a kind of shallow platform with low-profile castors. This setup can reduce the height by a few centimeters (inches) without compromising the stability of the unit.
In other words, instead of attaching the caster wheels directly to the shelving unit, you create a kind of shallow platform with low-profile castors. This setup can reduce the height by a few centimeters (inches) without compromising the stability of the unit.
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