ᐅ Which screw sets are suitable for repairing Ikea BESTA units?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to repair some of my Ikea Besta furniture because the screws and joints tend to loosen or get damaged with frequent use. I am therefore looking for recommendations for screw sets that work particularly well for repairs on Besta. It is important to me that the screws and required tools are as compatible as possible with the original fasteners, meaning suitable sizes, materials, and good quality workmanship.

Does anyone have experience with screw sets that work especially well for Ikea Besta? Or are there general tips on what to consider when buying? Maybe also advice on what to avoid, for example due to poor fit or weak material.

I appreciate your tips and assessments, as I want to enjoy the furniture for as long as possible and avoid having to replace the entire piece each time.

Thanks in advance!

For repairing Ikea BESTA furniture, I recommend using screw sets that correspond to metric sizes. Ikea often uses connections with 4mm or 5mm (0.16 or 0.20 inch) hex keys. Make sure the set is well organized and includes not only various screws but also suitable Allen wrenches in different sizes.

Materials should be galvanized or stainless steel to prevent corrosion. Nylon or plastic anchors are usually not ideal for this furniture; it’s better to choose metal anchors. Avoid cheap black screws, as they are often brittle and have poor threading.

A good set should also include wood screws, particle board screws, and possibly thin machine screws, since BESTA frequently uses different types of fastening points. Quality is more important than quantity here.

Hello Skylertu2,

I regularly repair furniture, including BESTA, and can confirm that having the right screw sets makes the work much easier. One thing often overlooked: it’s worth paying close attention to screws with the correct length and thread type. Some sets are inexpensive but contain many screws in standard lengths that don’t fit well in the designated holes.

I usually use sets that include a mix of:
- 4 mm (0.16 inch) hexagon socket wood screws in lengths of 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 inches)
- Chipboard screws with a diameter of 4.5 mm (0.18 inch) and a length of 35 mm (1.4 inches)
- Small machine screws and cam lock screws, in case replacements are needed

If you repair furniture regularly, it’s also useful to have various hex keys or bits. A bit set with a magnetic coupling makes the job easier.

If you’re completely new to this topic, I can also explain which screws are typically used for different parts of the BESTA.

Hey, this topic is really important! I used to have major problems because I used the cheapest screw sets. Repairing Ikea furniture is no fun at all with those!

My advice: get a high-quality Allen key set along with a screw assortment that includes galvanized or stainless steel wood screws, specifically for chipboard. This way, you can avoid a lot of issues.

Sometimes it’s even better to invest in a slightly more expensive set that includes the exact sizes Ikea uses. Then everything stays firmly in place, and you don’t have to constantly tighten or realign.

I’ve had great experiences with branded screws—they’re a bit more expensive but really durable. Good luck with your repairs! 🙂

For BESTA furniture, metric internal hex screws with a diameter of 4 mm (0.16 inches) work best. Use galvanized screws to prevent rusting. A set with various lengths (30-50 mm / 1.2-2 inches) is recommended. You should have Allen keys of the appropriate sizes as well. That will be sufficient.

Donar34 schrieb:
Materials should be galvanized or stainless steel to prevent corrosion.

That’s correct. In my repair, using galvanized screws was key to ensuring the connections remained stable and didn’t loosen quickly. It’s also important that the screws fit exactly into the original holes, otherwise stability will be compromised.

Additionally, I recommend a set that includes the typical cam locks or dowels used for BESTA, in case any of these parts are damaged during assembly.