ᐅ What should you do if the screws on your BILLY unit become loose?

Hello everyone,

I have had a Billy shelving unit from IKEA at home for a while, and I have noticed that the screws holding the shelves and side panels together tend to loosen over time. The shelf is not heavily loaded or frequently moved, yet I can feel a slight wobble and realize that the screws are no longer fully tightened.

My question is: What should I do when the screws in a BILLY unit become loose? Are there any specific techniques or procedures to securely stabilize the shelf again without having to disassemble everything each time?

Are there any known weak points or recommendations for retightening, types of screws, or alternative methods to improve the connection permanently?

I look forward to your feedback and tips!

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

if the screws in the BILLY shelf become loose, the first step is to carefully tighten them with the appropriate tool (usually a Phillips screwdriver or an Allen key, depending on the model). Make sure not to overtighten to avoid damaging the material.

If tightening alone is not enough because the screws no longer hold in the wood, you can insert small wooden dowels or toothpicks into the screw hole, apply wood glue, and then reinsert the screw to provide better grip.

Additionally, using medium-strength threadlocker on particularly sensitive areas can help prevent the screws from loosening again.

Usually, a complete disassembly is not necessary. Good luck.

Tighten the screws, and if there are drill holes, feel free to fill them with wood glue and wood shavings. Done.

That's brilliant, being able to secure the screws simply with wood glue and sawdust! 🙂

I had the same issue with my BILLY shelf, and a colleague showed me exactly this method. Now the shelf is really stable again, and I don't have to keep fiddling with it.

A small tip: After adding the filler, always tighten the screws gently to avoid any damage. Good luck with your shelf! You’ve got this! :-)

todunar schrieb:
That's brilliant if you can simply fix the screws with wood glue and wood shavings! 🙂

Exactly, I use this method as well.

However, if the shelf will be heavily loaded or moved frequently, it is advisable to also check the overall screw connections. It can be useful to replace the screws with slightly longer ones, provided there is enough clearance on the back.

Fitigu schrieb:
It might make sense to replace screws with slightly longer ones

Really? I think you should first pay attention to the material and origin. Especially with BILLY shelves, the screws and drill holes are very specifically matched to the material.

Simply inserting longer screws can damage the wood or even make the shelf unstable. You shouldn’t complicate the construction with unnecessary “upgrades.” Sometimes, simply tightening the screws regularly is all that’s needed; everything else is nonsense.