IKEA KOPPANG: spare parts and repair of the 5-drawer chest

The KOPPANG is an entry-level chest of drawers. Five drawers, a matte white finish, 90 x 50 x 114 cm. It has equipped thousands of children's bedrooms. Its weak point: plastic runners that wear out and a back panel made of HDF that detaches in humid conditions.

This guide covers the two most frequent breakdowns and possible repairs.

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What you need to know about the KOPPANG

The KOPPANG exists in only one version. White, 5 drawers, 90 x 50 x 114 cm. No size variations, no color variations. If you are looking for an IKEA KOPPANG spare part, there are no references to cross-check.

The carcass is made of melamine particleboard. The back panel is made of low-thickness HDF, stapled to the frame. These two material choices directly explain the two points of fragility of the furniture.

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The 2 parts that break down first

1. The drawer runners

This is the most requested part on the KOPPANG.

The MALM and HEMNES use metal ball bearing runners. The KOPPANG uses plastic wheel runners. This system is quiet, but it wears out under repeated load. The typical symptom: a drawer that catches, leans to one side, or comes out of its slide.

The main cause of wear is not the weight. It is the lack of level. A chest of drawers placed on a slightly inclined floor forces the wheels asymmetrically with each opening. Over 500 passes, the plastic deforms or cracks.

Before ordering a KOPPANG runner: place a spirit level on the top surface. Shim the feet if the chest of drawers is not horizontal. Do this before loading the drawers.

2. The drawer handles and knobs

The KOPPANG handles are fixed by a central bolt passing through the front panel of the drawer. They unscrew, get lost or break. This is common in children's bedrooms.

These are consumables. The original part is available at IKEA. You can also replace it with any handle with a spacing of 32 mm — the market standard.

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The back panel that detaches

The HDF back panel of the KOPPANG is stapled, not screwed. It does not withstand humidity. In a poorly ventilated room or basement, it warps, detaches in the corners, and loses its stiffening function. Result: the drawers no longer slide in alignment.

Repair: re-glue with PVA glue, hold with clamps or masking tape while drying, then re-staple. If the panel is too warped, replace it with a 4 mm plywood offcut cut to size.

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Why drawers get stuck for no apparent reason

The answer is almost always the same: the chest of drawers is not level.

A tiled floor, a slightly curved parquet floor, a few millimeters are enough. The plastic runners of the KOPPANG have tight tolerances. They are designed to operate on a strictly horizontal plane.

The procedure in 4 steps:

1. Empty all drawers and remove them.
2. Place a spirit level in both axes (width and depth).
3. Shim the feet with pads of varying thickness until the bubble is centered.
4. Replace the drawers one by one and test the sliding.

In 80% of cases, this single action solves the blockage without changing any parts.

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KOPPANG FAQ

Are KOPPANG drawers interchangeable with those of another IKEA chest of drawers?
No. The internal dimensions and runner supports are specific to the KOPPANG. A BRIMNES or MALM drawer will not fit.

Can the plastic runners be replaced with metal ball bearing runners?
Technically yes, but this requires modifying the side notches of the carcass. If the original runners are too worn, replacing them with identical plastic parts remains the most direct solution.

Is the KOPPANG still available at IKEA?
The KOPPANG dates back to the 2010s. Check availability on the IKEA France website — stock varies depending on the store.