IKEA Hardware Spare Parts: The Guide to Repairing Your Furniture

A sharp noise, a sagging drawer, and everything collapses. Often, a single broken small metal part is enough to weaken an entire piece of furniture. There is no need to buy everything again: IKEA hardware is designed to be replaced individually.

Why does your IKEA furniture use the System 32?

The majority of Swedish furniture is based on "System 32". It is a global standard. It defines the spacing of pre-drilled holes on the panels.

The holes are 5 mm in diameter. The distance between two centers is exactly 32 mm. This standardization makes your furniture modular. It allows for the addition of accessories even to older structures.

IKEA also uses the "Wedge Dowel" system. This mechanism is gradually replacing screws and cams. It allows for quick assembly by simple clicking.

Which component to replace when furniture wobbles?

A panel that detaches often indicates the failure of the eccentric housing (ref. 110519). This circular part locks the metal rod into the panel.

The housing breaks during over-tightening. Sometimes, the wood threading crumbles. The furniture then loses its rigidity.

To repair, replace the housing. The lock arrow must point toward the entry hole. Turn a maximum of half a turn. Forcing the mechanism risks splitting the chipboard.

How to straighten a leaning cabinet door?

A sagging door generally results from the hinge (ref. 101354). The internal spring wears out. More often, the fixing screws pull out of the panel.

Chipboard is fragile. Once the hole is enlarged, the screw spins in place. The hinge no longer holds.

The tip: fill the hole. Insert two wooden toothpicks with a dot of white glue. Cut the excess flush. Then screw your hinge back in. The new wood recreates a solid grip.

What to do if a drawer jams or comes off its rail?

A jamming drawer often indicates a broken roller (ref. 101351). The plastic cracks under weight or after an impact. The rail becomes deformed.

The drawer then comes out of its guide. Never force the re-insertion. You risk permanently bending the metal.

Replace the worn roller. Check the alignment of the slides. A bit of silicone lubricant restores smoothness to the assembly.

How to reopen a cabinet if the key is lost?

Lockable office cabinets are common. Before forcing the lock, inspect the cylinder.

A numeric code is engraved on the metal cylinder. This number identifies the exact model of your key.

Use this code to order a replacement key. If the cylinder is defective, disassemble it from the inside. Remove the fixing clip to insert a new cylinder.

Can soft-close be added to older furniture?

Hardware allows you to improve your furniture. The METOD or PAX ranges accept the addition of dampers.

These are plastic clips with a piston. They are installed on the cabinet without drilling. The mechanism slows the door before impact. The closing becomes silent.

For handle-less furniture, install "Push-to-open" pushers. Pressure on the front releases a spring and opens the door.

Which tools to use to avoid damaging the hardware?

The wrong tool destroys screws. IKEA uses Pozidriv (PZ) screws, not Phillips (PH). A PH screwdriver rounds off the screw heads.

Use a PZ2 screwdriver. You will gain more torque. For power screwdrivers, set the torque to the minimum. Chipboard cannot withstand brute force.

The choice of wall plugs is also crucial. IKEA does not provide wall fixings.

Wall type	Recommended plug	Necessary tool
Drywall / BA13	Molly bolt	Setting tool
Concrete / Brick	Expansion nylon plug	Hammer drill
Wood	Direct wood screw	Power screwdriver

For dowels, use a rubber mallet. If the dowel is too tight, lightly sand the end to avoid splitting the panel.

How to obtain your spare parts for free?

IKEA offers a free spare parts service. Each screw has a unique identification number in the manual.

Locate the 6-digit code next to the drawing of the part. Enter this code on the brand's online ordering portal.

This is the most reliable solution. You avoid buying screws that are too long, which would go through your panels.

Below you will find the assembly instructions and precise references to order your components.