IKEA BEKANT: Complete Guide to the Sit-Stand Desk (Breakdowns, Reset and Spare Parts)

The BEKANT is the desk that has converted thousands of workers to the concept of a sit-stand workstation without emptying their bank account. Launched by IKEA in 2014, it has become the reference for the home office and the small-budget open space. A spacious top, an electric frame, two buttons. Simple. Almost too simple, until the day the top refuses to move. This guide is for that day — and also for choosing the right model, understanding its components and making it last.

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Anatomy of the BEKANT: what hides under the top

The BEKANT is divided into two large independent parts: the top and the frame. IKEA sells these elements separately, which is good news for repair: you can change one without touching the other.

The top is made of particleboard covered with a melamine surface, easy to clean and resistant to light scratches. Its edge is made of ABS plastic. It is not solid wood — do not be mistaken — but it is a proven material that lasts for years with normal use.

The electric frame is the heart of the system. It includes:

• Two telescopic columns made of steel, each equipped with an integrated electric motor. This motor generates the lifting force.
• A central controller (the black box screwed under the top) which receives the orders from the buttons and distributes the energy to the motors.
• An external transformer (the "power supply") which converts the 230V from the mains into direct current usable by the motors. This is the part that breaks down most often.
• The control panel: two buttons, up and down. Simple, functional, without position memory on the standard version.

The height of the top is adjustable from 65 cm to 125 cm. This is a serious ergonomic range, suitable for people between 1m55 and 1m95 approximately in a standing position.

The recommended maximum load is 70 kg distributed over the entire surface. This is not a limit to test: overloading the desk accelerates wear on the motors and can cause blockages.

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BEKANT variants: finding the right model

The BEKANT range is modular. You can buy a complete desk or assemble your own workstation by combining top and frame according to your needs.

The tops: shapes and dimensions

Rectangular tops — the most common configuration:

• 120 x 80 cm: compact format, ideal for small spaces or secondary workstations. Sufficient for a 27-inch screen and a keyboard.
• 140 x 80 cm: the intermediate format, less often mentioned but available in some markets.
• 160 x 80 cm: the reference format. 160 cm in length is the minimum comfortable for a dual screen or a setup with a wide screen + physical documents.

Corner tops (L-shaped configuration) — to maximize the work surface:

• 160 x 110 cm, left version: the extension goes to the left when facing the desk.
• 160 x 110 cm, right version: symmetrical, extension to the right.

The corner top provides a significantly larger work surface and allows you to mentally separate areas: main screen on one side, reading or tablet on the other. For intensive teleworking, this is often the right choice.

Available colors revolve around a few standard finishes: white, black, and variations in black stained beech veneer for a warmer look. White and black tops combine with matching frames, allowing for some aesthetic coherence.

The frames: fixed or electric?

Fixed frame: height adjustable manually during design, but not during use. You lock the height once with the adjustment feet. Solution adapted if you always work in the same position or if the budget is tight.

Electric frame (sit/stand): this is the version that justifies the existence of the BEKANT. You press a button, the top rises or lowers in seconds. The electric version is available in several frame colors (white or black).

The combination of top + electric frame constitutes the BEKANT "sit/stand" desk sold as a package on the IKEA website. References vary by country, but the logic is the same everywhere.

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Choosing your BEKANT: questions to ask yourself

How much space do I have? A 160 x 80 cm top requires about 2 meters of wall length to be installed properly with some lateral space. The corner top requires a corner or an L-shaped space of at least 200 x 120 cm.

What is the use? For pure writing or web browsing, 120 cm is sufficient. For graphic work, video, or a multi-screen setup, aim for 160 cm or the corner top.

Fixed or electric version? If you have chronic back pain or posture problems, electric is not a luxury — it's a health investment. The alternating seated/standing position significantly reduces lumbar tension during an 8-hour workday. If you have a limited budget and you never change position anyway, the fixed one is honest.

The motor workload. The BEKANT is not designed to be raised and lowered twenty times a day. Reasonable use — 3 to 6 position changes per day — will preserve the electrical components much longer.

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The problem everyone encounters: motor failure

Let's be direct. The weak point of the electric BEKANT is its transformer. After a few years of use, the external power supply breaks down. Characteristic symptom: the desk rises a few millimeters, stops, refuses to go further. Or it does not respond at all.

This is not a secret. The repair community has documented it in detail — notably on Hackaday.io and epanorama.net. The transformer is undersized compared to actual use. It heats up, degrades, and eventually fails to deliver enough voltage to power the motors.

The good news: it's a replaceable part. The BEKANT transformer has the IKEA reference 138688. The original model is manufactured by Rol Ergo (reference EA11022-350 / 68003761). It can be ordered as a spare part — which is exactly the purpose of this page.

Before ordering anything, do the reset. In the vast majority of blocking cases, a complete reset puts the desk back in working order without having to touch the hardware.

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BEKANT reset: the complete procedure according to your controller

The BEKANT has two reset procedures depending on the controller version. You need to identify your model before acting.

Procedure 1 — Reset by the buttons (controller without pinhole)

This is the most common method on the first models:

1. Unplug the desk from the mains. Wait 30 seconds.
2. Plug it back in.
3. Press simultaneously the Up and Down buttons for 10 seconds. The table may make a small movement, this is normal.
4. Release. Now, only the Down button works.
5. Press and hold Down until the top reaches its lowest position and stops completely. Be patient: the descent is slow.
6. The desk then performs an automatic micro-rise of a few millimeters. This is a sign that the calibration is complete.
7. The desk works normally again.

Procedure 2 — Reset by pinhole (controller with reset hole)

On newer versions or on some markets, the controller has a small hole on its underside:

1. Insert a pin or paperclip into the reset hole of the controller.
2. Hold down the pressure. The orange light should turn on continuously: this confirms that reset mode is active.
3. Press and hold the Down button until the top descends to its lowest position.
4. The desk rises automatically by 4 mm. The orange light goes out. Reset complete.

If neither procedure works after verifying the connections of all cables, the problem most likely comes from the transformer. It's time to look for the spare part.

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Parts that break: what you need to know

The BEKANT's electrical system is proprietary. Controller and motors work together according to a closed protocol — you cannot replace a motor with a generic motor without adapting the controller. This is a real limitation.

In practice, breakdowns focus on three points:

The transformer is by far the most frequent failure. It wears out from heat and cycles. The replacement procedure is simple: unplug the old one, plug in the new one, do the reset. No soldering, no special tools.

Motor cables — the cables connecting the controller to the telescopic columns — can be damaged if the desk has been moved several times without precaution. Pulling on these cables or pinching them during a move weakens them at the connectors. The symptom: one side goes up, the other does not. Or the controller displays an error.

Foot pads and adjustments — on the fixed version — wear out or get lost during moves. These are small hardware parts, but without them the desk oscillates and the work surface is no longer level.

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The particular case: the BEKANT that only rises one centimeter

This symptom — the table rises 1 cm and stops, again and again, never reaching the desired position — is specific to a power supply at the end of its life that still delivers a little current but not enough to maintain the effort. Some users report that a compatible printer power adapter in voltage can temporarily alleviate the breakdown, but this is a troubleshooting solution and not a durable repair.

The correct solution remains the replacement of the transformer with the original reference.

Practical tip: if your BEKANT is still in service but the transformer starts to heat up abnormally after use, unplug it when you are not adjusting the height. This simple reflex can extend the life of the component for several years.

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BEKANT vs MITTZON: understanding the transition

IKEA has begun to introduce the MITTZON as a partial successor to the BEKANT in some markets. The MITTZON takes up the same sit-stand concept but with a slightly revised control system. If you are looking for parts for a desk purchased recently, be sure to check the identification plate under the top: the part references are not interchangeable between BEKANT and MITTZON.

For all desks purchased before 2023 on the French market, you almost certainly have a BEKANT.

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FAQ — Frequently asked questions

My BEKANT no longer rises at all after a power outage. What to do?
First, perform the reset procedure (Procedure 1 above). A power outage often desynchronizes the controller without damaging anything. The reset resets the counters to zero.

Can the BEKANT be reprogrammed to have position memories?
Yes, but this is an advanced DIY project. The community has developed alternative controllers like the Megadesk which replace the original controller and add programmable position memories. This is not a standard repair but a modification.

How long does a BEKANT last with normal use?
The top and the mechanical frame can last a very long time — ten years and more. The transformer is the most fragile element and generally lasts between 4 and 8 years depending on the intensity of use. By replacing it when it fails, you can easily make the desk last fifteen years.

Is the BEKANT frame compatible with other tops?
BEKANT frames have a specific fixing system for IKEA tops in the range. They can theoretically adapt to other tops with custom fixings, but this is not planned and IKEA does not guarantee it.

I don't know if my desk is a BEKANT or another IKEA model.
Look for the identification plate glued under the top or on the controller. It indicates the product name and date of manufacture. You can also refer to the serial number to find the product sheet on the IKEA website.

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Sources:
- BEKANT sit/stand desk 160x80 cm — IKEA France
- My BEKANT sit/stand desk has stopped going up/down — IKEA UK
- IKEA BEKANT repair — Hackaday.io
- IKEA Bekant adjustable table repair and hacking — epanorama.net
- How to Replace the Power Supply on the IKEA Bekant — David Merrick
- Reviews of IKEA sit-stand desks — mon-bureau-assis-debout.fr