IKEA ALEX desk: spare parts, common problems and repairs

The ALEX cabinet is one of the most copied and least understood IKEA furniture pieces. On Reddit r/battlestations, it appears in thousands of gaming and home office setups, tucked under a LINNMON tabletop, clean and discreet. This success hides a more nuanced reality: its plastic wheel runners wear out, its drawers come off the rails, and its locking key is lost with disconcerting regularity. This guide covers everything you need to know – the models, design flaws, and how to fix them.

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Which ALEX model do you have?

The ALEX range is not homogeneous. Several formats coexist, with mechanisms and drawer dimensions that are not interchangeable.

Model	Dimensions	Drawers	Specific Feature
Compact fixed cabinet	36 x 58 cm	5 drawers	The most common, no wheels
Large fixed cabinet	36 x 70 cm	6 drawers + 1 key-locked drawer	Lockable drawer at the bottom
Cabinet on wheels	36 x 76 cm	6 drawers + 1 key-locked drawer	Swivel wheels with brake
Compact cabinet on wheels	36 x 50 cm	5 drawers	Reduced format, maximum mobility
Large cabinet on wheels	67 x 66 cm	Several wide drawers	Different format, under desk or standalone

The available finishes are white, dark grey, brown-black and, more recently, a white stained finish with oak pattern. Structurally, the melamine panels are identical from one color to another. However, versions with and without wheels have different dimensions and mechanisms – a runner from the fixed model does not adapt to the wheeled model.

To order a replacement part, the only reliable identifier is the article number printed on the label glued under the cabinet or inside a drawer. Do not rely on the color or the supposed purchase date.

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Anatomy of the ALEX cabinet

The ALEX is built on a structure of melamine particleboard – a material resistant to moderate humidity but sensitive to impacts on the edges. The back is made of light HDF panel, sufficient to maintain overall rigidity, but without the solidity of a solid wood back. In isolated use, this thin back can slightly warp if the cabinet is subjected to repeated vibrations (gaming desk, for example).

The drawers slide on plastic wheel rails. This is not a metallic ball-bearing slide – this is IKEA's deliberate choice to keep the price low. As a result, the plastic wheels wear out faster under heavy load or prolonged daily use. The extension of the drawers is partial: in the maximum open position, the last 6.5 centimeters of the bottom remain inaccessible. This is not a mounting defect – it is the mechanical limit of the system.

The key-locked drawer (present on the 36 x 70 cm models and the wheeled versions) is locked by an IKEA proprietary cylinder. The key is not a universal standard and cannot be replaced at ordinary hardware stores.

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Common problems with the ALEX cabinet

Drawers coming off the rails

This is the number one problem reported on forums. The plastic guide wheels come slightly off their rails, and the drawer goes crooked at the first abrupt movement.

Two possible causes. First cause: the runners were installed crooked during assembly – a frequent defect, even in the factory, according to several testimonies. Second cause: the plastic wheels have deformed after months of intensive use, especially if the drawers are loaded with heavy material (headphones, cables, electronic equipment).

The basic solution is to remove the drawer, check that the runner is parallel to the side panel, and realign it before tightening the screws. An ALEX drawer is removed by lifting it slightly upwards while pulling – it unclips without tools.

For intensive gaming use, experienced users recommend replacing the original runners with full-extension metal runners. The dimensions to respect: 45 cm deep for the 36 x 70 cm models. Standard runners available at hardware stores or on Amazon fit this format without modification of the cabinet.

Runners installed crooked at the factory

Several users have documented this problem on the IKEA and Reddit forums: some cabinets arrive with one or more runners fixed at an angle of a few degrees to the vertical. Result: the drawer rubs on one side from the first use.

Detection is simple. Remove the drawer concerned and place it on a flat surface. Look at the guide wheels in profile – they must be perfectly perpendicular to the base of the drawer. If one is tilted, loosen its fixing screw, correct the angle, tighten.

Absolute rule during initial assembly: do not tighten any runner definitively before testing the sliding of the drawer in a vacuum. A complete back and forth without friction, then tighten.

Wheels that lock up (wheeled version)

The ALEX cabinet on wheels is particularly appreciated for its mobility – until the wheels get stuck on a hard floor after a few months. The phenomenon is related to the accumulation of dust and fibers in the axes of the swivel wheels.

The solution is mechanical and quick. Turn the cabinet over, clean the axes with tweezers or a toothpick, then lubricate with a dry silicone spray. Avoid greasy lubricants (WD-40, machine oil) that attract more dust. The wheels themselves are replaceable – IKEA offers spare parts via its online spare parts service.

Lost key for the lockable drawer

This is probably the most frustrating – and most preventable – problem. The ALEX key is a proprietary cylinder. It cannot be replaced at hardware stores.

Three options exist. First option: order a pair of replacement keys directly from the IKEA spare parts service, specifying the article number of the cabinet and the code engraved on the lock cylinder. Second option: specialized services like Easykeys.com allow you to find a compatible key from the lock code. Third option: force the lock and replace the cylinder – a radical solution but documented by users who have definitively lost their key.

Preventive advice: photograph the key and note the cylinder code as soon as you assemble it. Keep a duplicate in a location separate from the cabinet.

Drawer supports missing on older models

Recent versions of the ALEX include drawer supports referenced #123833 (four pieces, fixed with screws #105344, eight in total). These supports stabilize the drawer in its runner and reduce lateral play under load.

Older models are not equipped with them. If your drawers have a slight transverse play and you do not see any supports inside the cabinet, it is possible to order these parts separately. The addition is retrocompatible with older chassis.

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The ALEX in combination with LINNMON: what to check

The combination two ALEX cabinets + LINNMON tabletop is the most widespread DIY desk in gaming and home office setups. It offers a large work surface (160 to 200 cm depending on the chosen tabletop) for a contained budget.

A few technical points to check before finalizing this configuration.

The standard height of an ALEX cabinet (without wheels) is 70 cm, which places the tabletop at about 72-73 cm once the tabletop is placed – within the norm for an adult desk. The wheeled model slightly exceeds this height (76 cm cabinet), which can generate an uncomfortable typing position on the keyboard. Check your measurements before purchasing.

The ALEX cabinet has no integrated fixing device for the LINNMON tabletop. The plastic bumpers provided protect the surface but do not anchor the tabletop. If you use the desk on parquet or tile flooring, the tabletop may slide during lateral movements. Anti-slip strips placed on top of the cabinets solve this problem without drilling anything.

Finally, the structure without a rigid back of the cabinet means that the overall stability rests on the tabletop. A long tabletop placed on two well-spaced cabinets forms a naturally rigid triangulated structure. Do not try to use a single ALEX cabinet as a single support for a 200 cm tabletop – the result will wobble.

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Ordering the correct ALEX spare part

The ALEX has been in production since the early 2010s without any major structural redesign. Compatibility between generations is generally good for simple parts (wheels, screws, drawer supports), but complete runners are sized by model. A runner from the 36 x 58 cm does not have the same length as that of the 36 x 70 cm.

Before ordering, have three pieces of information: the article number of the cabinet, the exact dimensions of the model (36 x 58, 36 x 70, or on wheels), and if possible the part number visible on the label of the defective runner. This data allows you to obtain the correct part the first time via the IKEA online or in-store spare parts service.

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FAQ

My drawers only open halfway: is this a manufacturing defect?
No. The partial extension is inherent in the plastic wheel mechanism of the ALEX. The last 6 to 7 centimeters of the bottom of the drawer remain inaccessible in the open position. If you need full access to the bottom of the drawer, the only solution is to replace the original runners with full-extension metal runners.

The cabinet wobbles when I place a tabletop on it: is this normal?
An isolated ALEX cabinet naturally has some play in its structure – the light HDF back does not offer the rigidity of a solid panel. Once the LINNMON tabletop is placed on it and a second cabinet is used as a second support, the assembly stabilizes. If the wobble persists, check that the floor is level and that the two cabinets are at the same height.

Can I replace the plastic runners with metal runners without modifying the cabinet?
Yes, in most cases. The fixing grooves in the cabinet accept standard trade runners, provided you respect the depth (45 cm for the 36 x 70 cm model) and the spacing between rails. Several users have documented this modification on specialized forums. No cutting or drilling is generally necessary.

Are the ALEX drawers compatible between the different models in the range?
No. The drawers of the 36 x 58 cm model are shorter than those of the 36 x 70 cm. They are not interchangeable. The internal width is identical (about 32 cm), but the depth differs. Always check the dimensions before ordering a replacement drawer.

My cabinet on wheels slides on the parquet and does not stay in place: what to do?
The ALEX wheels are equipped with a lever brake. Check that the brake is properly engaged on at least two wheels (ideally the two rear wheels). If the brake is engaged but the cabinet slides when you open the drawers, it is because the load in the drawers creates a moment of force sufficient to overcome the plastic brake. The durable solution is to add an anti-slip mat under the cabinet.