ᐅ Retrofitting KALLAX Doors – Is Special Tooling Required?

Hello everyone, I am planning to install doors on my IKEA KALLAX shelf unit. My question is: Do you need any special tools for retrofitting the KALLAX doors beyond standard tools like screwdrivers and a drill?

I already have some experience with furniture assembly but want to make sure I have everything necessary on hand before I start to avoid any issues. I am especially interested in whether the included mounting hardware is sufficient on its own or if special drill bits, wrenches, or positioning aids are recommended.

Perhaps someone has already installed doors on a KALLAX and can share their experience regarding which tools are truly essential and which additional aids might be helpful for a precise and secure installation.

You generally don’t need any special tools. A Phillips screwdriver and, if available, a cordless drill are usually sufficient. No special drill bit is necessary.

Hello Caleb, generally no special tools are required for retrofitting the KALLAX doors. IKEA usually provides all necessary screws and hinges. A Phillips screwdriver or a cordless drill with an appropriately sized bit is sufficient.

If the shelving unit is already assembled, a small spirit level can be helpful to align the doors properly. A tape measure also makes positioning easier.

Many people manage with just the supplied items. If the wood is pre-drilled, you won’t need an additional drill. A drill is only necessary if you want to make further adjustments to the shelving unit.

Jukin schrieb:
A Phillips screwdriver or a cordless drill with a suitably small bit is sufficient.

That’s true, but I’d like to add a few points: If you want to retrofit the doors neatly, I strongly recommend having a small set of precision drill bits and positioning guides.

The reason is this: The hinge holes for the KALLAX are precisely specified, often with a 35 mm (1.4 inch) diameter for the so-called cup holes. Depending on whether you use doors from IKEA’s own range or from third-party suppliers, the drilling points can vary slightly. So, using a correctly sized Forstner bit (35 mm) and a drilling jig allows for much more accurate work, especially if you want to mount doors on shelf sides that don’t come with pre-drilled holes.

If the doors already have finished hinge cup holes and you only need to drill the shelf sides, then a Forstner bit is definitely worthwhile. Without it, screwing and drilling with standard handheld drills won’t be precise enough—the hole needs to be exact, otherwise the door might jam or hang crooked.

If you are just screwing the hinge mounting plates onto already pre-drilled KALLAX shelf parts, then a screwdriver or cordless drill is sufficient.

One final question for you: Are you planning to mount the doors as full doors or as flap doors? And are you using the original IKEA hinges or others?

Thanks for the answers so far!

@Nathanaelk: I want to install the doors as simple hinged doors, preferably using the original IKEA hinges for the KALLAX (so no third-party parts). As far as I know, the shelving unit itself doesn’t have pre-drilled hinge holes, only the shelves do.

Your tips about the Forstner bit sound interesting. Could you also say if it’s really necessary? I thought a regular cordless drill with a Phillips bit would be enough, as @fiman suggests.

Is there a high risk that the doors won’t fit properly without this special drilling, or am I just being overly cautious?

Caleb schrieb:
I would have thought that a standard cordless drill and a Phillips bit would be enough

That can work, but a Forstner bit makes the job easier and more precise. If you don’t want doors that wobble, the 35mm (1.4 inches) bit is almost always recommended.