ᐅ What should you do if BILLY shelves make rattling noises when moved?

Hello everyone,

I have several IKEA Billy bookcases at home that I move around quite often, for example when cleaning or reorganizing. However, I noticed that the shelves make an annoying rattling noise when moved, which is quite bothersome. The noise probably comes from the connections or possibly from the locking of the shelves.

My questions are:

- What can be done specifically to avoid or reduce the rattling noise?
- Do the shelves need to be reassembled, different fasteners used, or are there any special tricks?
- Is this a known issue with Billy bookcases, and are there any replacement parts that might help?

I would appreciate concrete suggestions and any experiences with this noise issue. Thank you!

Rattling in BILLY shelves often results from loose dowels or improperly installed shelf supports.

The first step is to check all connections, especially the metal pins that hold the shelves. If they move easily or don’t fit exactly, rattling can occur.

If necessary, sanding the shelves slightly or adding felt pads between the shelf and the side panel can help reduce noise. Tightening all screws and, if needed, applying wood glue into the dowel holes can also improve stability.

Replacement parts are available from IKEA but will only fit if the shelf unit is completely intact and there are no warped parts.

Oh yes, I know that well! 🙂 A tip that really helped me: just stick small self-adhesive felt pads on the contact points. It greatly reduces the rattling and is super easy!

Give it a try! Also, using a bit of threadlocker (the blue kind) helps prevent anything from coming loose. Good luck trying it out, you’ve got this! 🙂

Check the shelves, tighten the screws, and if necessary, apply wood glue into the dowel holes. This usually works.

That sounds really frustrating, especially if you need to rearrange often. I had the same issue with my BILLY shelf and experimented a bit. It helped to patiently reinsert the shelves, making sure they fit precisely—not just pushing them in, but ensuring they don’t wobble. If you notice that some of the holes have become a bit worn out, inserting small pieces of paper or felt strips can improve the fit.

Don’t worry, it’s usually something you can fix quite easily!

There can be several causes for the rattling noise:

1. Worn dowel holes in the MDF panel that no longer provide a secure hold.
2. Uneven fitting of the shelves due to material expansion and contraction from temperature and humidity changes.
3. Loose screws on the sides of the shelves.

I recommend systematically checking all fastening points and, if necessary, inserting small wedges or washers on screws that no longer tighten properly. Alternatively, you can use specific plastic brackets from IKEA or third-party suppliers that help reduce play.