ᐅ Malm dresser drawer not closing properly – how can I adjust the drawers?

Hello everyone,

I recently bought an IKEA Malm chest of drawers and noticed that at least one of the drawers does not close properly. It gets stuck on the frame or is misaligned, so the front does not sit flush and the drawer does not close fully. This is annoying because dust and small items can easily collect in the gap, which I want to avoid.

I have already checked that all screws are tightened and that the runners are correctly installed, but the problem persists. Has anyone had experience with adjusting the position or alignment of Malm drawers so they close smoothly and without resistance? It would be great to get tips or instructions that are easy to follow for beginners without special tools.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Plokar schrieb:
Does anyone have experience with how to adjust the position or guides on Malm drawers so that they close smoothly and properly without resistance?

Hey Plokar! That’s a classic Malm issue—you’ve taken on quite a task 🙂

Usually, it comes down to adjusting the drawer slides. On Malm models, there are small white plastic levers on the sides of the drawer that let you fine-tune the front panel up, down, left, or right. Important: with a bit of patience and finesse, you can achieve a lot.

If the drawer seems misaligned, just keep adjusting those levers until the front sits perfectly flush. You should also check whether the drawer is fully and straightly seated in the runners—sometimes it looks properly installed but is slightly off.

If you want, you can also slightly adjust the runner itself; there are small screws on the frame that can be moved a little—but be careful, make small changes and test repeatedly.

And don’t worry, this can be done pretty quickly—you just need to keep at it and not get frustrated 🙂 Good luck, and let me know if you want a detailed step-by-step guide!

Simply remove the drawer and adjust the white leveling levers on the sides of the drawer until it fits properly. Then reinsert the drawer and test it.

If that is not sufficient, slightly loosen the screws of the rails on the cabinet body, realign the rail, and tighten the screws again.

Plokar schrieb:
…how can the position or guide of the Malm drawers be adjusted so that they close properly and without resistance again?

Hello Plokar,

to address your problem accurately from a technical perspective, I recommend the following step-by-step method:

1. Remove completely: Pull the drawer out fully and take it off the runners completely. This way, all adjustment options are easier to see.

2. White adjustment lever: As mentioned before, Malm drawers have small plastic levers on the front sides of the drawer runners. These can be adjusted in three axes – most issues usually arise from a slight vertical misalignment (up/down) or a shift to the left/right. Horizontal adjustments are usually smaller.

3. Work with millimeter precision: Adjust the levers very carefully, only one small notch at a time, then insert the drawer again to test the fit.

4. Check the runners: Sometimes the runner itself is not mounted perfectly straight on the cabinet. It’s best to check whether it is parallel to the back panel and installed level. If necessary, loosen the screws, make minimal adjustments, and tighten again.

5. Test smooth operation: Besides alignment, also check the drawer’s locking mechanism and sliding behavior. If the drawer moves with difficulty, the runners might be dry or damaged – silicone spray (not oil) can help here.

6. Final tip: If the drawer distorts under additional load (e.g. from heavy contents), washers at the fixings might help to slightly realign the entire drawer.

Could you please specify whether the problem occurs with only one drawer and if you have already removed the drawer? That way I can provide more precise advice.

Best regards, Laukau5