Assembly

IKEA PAX wardrobe assembly: timing, tips and common mistakes

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The IKEA PAX is the most popular wardrobe in Estonian homes — and the one people most often start themselves and then call me to rescue. Here is what to know.

How long it takes

One 200×236 cm section without pull-out drawers takes 1.5–2 hours. Two sections — 3–4 hours. Internal pull-out drawers add roughly 30 minutes per section. A full wall of sliding-door PAX with interior fittings is a half-day job.

Wall-fixing is not optional

A PAX is tall and relatively light, which means it can tip. IKEA ships an anti-tip bracket for a reason. I always anchor it to the wall — into a stud or with the correct anchor for your wall type (concrete, brick or gypsum behave very differently). Skipping this is the single most dangerous shortcut.

Sliding vs hinged doors

Hinged doors are forgiving. Sliding doors are not — if the frame is even slightly out of level, the doors will not glide and will eventually jump the track. Levelling the cabinet first is 80% of a good sliding-door result.

Common mistakes

  • Building on an uneven floor without adjusting the feet
  • Over-tightening cam locks and stripping the particleboard
  • Mounting interior rails before squaring the frame
  • Forgetting the back panel order (it keeps everything square)

If your PAX already “drifted”, it is often faster to take it apart and rebuild it correctly than to patch it. Send a photo and I will tell you which.

Need a hand? Send a photo on WhatsApp (+372 5191 9241) and I’ll reply with an exact price during business hours (Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00). See the IKEA PAX & wardrobes page for process, prices and FAQ, or send a request.