ᐅ Disassembling a BILLY Shelf for Moving – Tips for Taking It Apart

Hello everyone, I am planning to move soon and want to carefully disassemble my IKEA Billy bookcase to avoid any damage during transport and ensure it can be reassembled easily later. Does anyone have tips or a proven method for taking apart the Billy bookcase? I am particularly interested in which screws or connectors should be removed first, whether it’s best to take out all the shelves beforehand, and if any special tools are needed to safely remove the shelves and side panels. I would also appreciate advice on how to securely store small parts to avoid losing anything during reassembly. Thanks in advance for your experiences!

Hey Flo54, I know that all too well. Taking apart BILLY shelves before moving can be tricky, but with a bit of organization, it works great 😊. I’ll quote your most important tip:

Flo54 schrieb:
I’m especially interested in which screws or connectors should be removed first

The most important thing is to remove all the shelves first. They are usually just slotted in or held with small dowels and can be taken out easily before removing the side panels or back panel. Then detach the back panel—it’s usually just stapled or fixed with small nails. Don’t forget to loosen the screws on the side panels, but be careful not to split the wood. It’s best to use a cordless screwdriver with the appropriate bit. For small parts, use a small container or bag—I always use a freezer bag and tape it with painter’s tape to the inside of a shelf panel, so nothing gets lost 🙂

Interesting question and some great tips, thanks for starting the discussion! However, it’s important not to focus solely on the mechanical sequence. The stability of the BILLY shelf unit usually depends on the back panel, which, as mentioned, should be removed at the end. What I mean is: by removing the back panel too early, does one lose stability and risk damaging the frame more easily? Also, I wonder if it is advisable to secure all the plug-in connections in advance with some masking tape or something similar to prevent unnecessary shifting during disassembly. Perhaps someone here has practical experience or a background in carpentry that could shed some light on this?

Josefane schrieb:
Does removing the back panel too quickly compromise stability and could it more easily damage the cabinet structure?

Thank you, that’s a good point. I was thinking of removing the shelves first, then the screws, and finally the back panel. If the back panel serves as a structural support, it definitely makes sense to keep it on as long as possible.

Josefane schrieb:
whether it’s advisable to secure all plug-in connections in advance with some masking tape or similar

That’s a tip I hadn’t heard before – it certainly makes sense to prevent damaging the wood or losing parts when loosening screws and dowels. Thanks for the helpful input!

Josefane schrieb:
Does removing the back panel too quickly compromise stability?

That’s true, so I would recommend:

1. Remove the shelves first
2. Take off the back panel only at the very end
3. Then unscrew the screws on the side panels

As for tools: a cordless screwdriver with a Phillips bit and a small hammer help to remove the nails holding the back panel.

Also: If you don’t want to leave holes in the shelving unit, you can take photos beforehand to better remember how everything was assembled 🙂

Remove the shelves first, then the back panel last, loosening the screws. Tools needed: cordless screwdriver, hammer. Wall plugs can often be carefully loosened with a flathead screwdriver.