ᐅ What do you do if the drilling holes on the Ikea HEMNES furniture don’t line up exactly?

Hello everyone, I am currently assembling an IKEA Hemnes wardrobe and have the following issue: The pre-drilled holes on the wooden parts do not align precisely. Especially when it comes to connecting the side panels and the back panel, the measurements or positions seem to be slightly off. The holes are either slightly misaligned, or the screws cannot be inserted cleanly without causing some splitting of the wood or making the structure appear crooked.

I have already checked whether I might have marked something incorrectly or mixed up the parts, but that does not seem to be the case. My question to you is: What do you do in such a situation? Are there any special tricks you can use to make the drill holes fit without damaging the wardrobe or compromising its stability?

I am looking forward to your tips and experiences, especially if you have encountered the same problem with a HEMNES before.

Quentinke schrieb:
The pre-drilled holes on the wooden parts don’t align exactly for me.

Hello Quentinke, I’m familiar with your issue—sometimes with furniture from IKEA, there can be slight manufacturing tolerances that make screwing parts together more difficult. Here are a few tips to help you complete the assembly successfully:

- First, carefully check the parts to ensure they are positioned exactly where they should be. Occasionally, mix-ups or slight misalignments are the cause.
- If necessary, use a fine file or a rotary tool like a Dremel to slightly enlarge the hole. But only a little, so the stability isn’t compromised.
- Instead of using screws that are too large in diameter, it’s better to use exactly the ones included in the assembly kit. If they don’t turn easily, try loosening the joint slightly before slowly screwing them in.
- A wood drill bit with a slightly smaller diameter than the screw can help to carefully pre-drill or widen the hole.
- Important: Avoid splitting the wood by inserting the screws straight in without applying excessive force.

If the hole is too far off and causes the cabinet to stand unevenly, you can fill the holes with wood filler and re-drill them. I hope this helps!

Hello Quentinke,

to help you more specifically, could you please clarify which connection points you mean exactly? The side panels to the carcass, the back panel attachment, or other component joints?

Since these fittings from IKEA are generally quite precise, misalignments usually occur due to incorrect positioning or inaccurate preliminary work. Here is more detailed advice if the drill holes on your HEMNES do not align perfectly:

- First, check with a protractor or square whether the components are positioned at right angles to each other. The holes can appear offset if the parts are misaligned.
- A piece of paper or a thin wooden shim can help compensate for small gaps.
- For pre-drilled holes that are slightly offset, it sometimes helps to tighten the screws loosely at first, then adjust the component slightly, and finally tighten the screws fully.
- If a hole is clearly off position, use a reamer or fine round file to carefully enlarge the diameter with maximum control. Be cautious here, as this can reduce stability!
- Make sure the screws you are using are correct and undamaged. Sometimes replacement screws do not fit exactly, which affects the joint.

If your wood is splitting, the indoor humidity and temperature are also important factors, since dry material tends to be more brittle.

Let me know exactly how the components fit together—then I can give you more specific advice.

Quentinke schrieb:
What do you do in a case like this? Are there any special tricks I can use to make the drill holes fit properly without damaging the cabinet or making it unstable?

I have to ask somewhat provocatively: Are you really expecting the kind of absolute precision from IKEA furniture that you would from mechanical engineering? These are affordable pieces, so you can’t expect zero tolerance for errors.

If the drill holes don’t line up perfectly, small inconsistencies like that have to be accepted. The question is: Does the furniture become unstable or crooked because of it? If yes, then I would mark the existing holes, pre-drill, and make slight adjustments with minimal extra effort.

Sure, that doesn’t sound like the most refined solution, but furniture like the HEMNES isn’t designed for precision joinery. The entire construction relies on a simple, sturdy design.

My advice: Stop stressing over unpredictable small deviations and take a practical approach. If the wood splits, maybe you applied too much pressure or the wood is just brittle. In that case, adjust the holes slowly and gradually. Sometimes a small nail can help widen the hole.

Don’t worry too much, this kind of thing just happens and is part of assembling IKEA furniture. Of course, not everyone is willing to make these compromises – but if you want to have the cabinet in the end, there’s no way around it.