IKEA PAX Wardrobe — Buying Tips
We build PAX wardrobes every week. These are the mistakes people make before we arrive — and how to avoid them.
Read This Before You Order
We recommend you read our pages on hinged door PAX systems and sliding door PAX systems first. These are very useful for understanding how they work and their limitations — especially when measuring the space you have available.
The tips below are based on what we see going wrong every week. None of them are complicated — but each one can cause a delay, an extra trip to IKEA, or a job that cannot be completed on the day.
The Tips
Always Buy Online — Not In Store
IKEA delivery is £35 regardless of how much you order. For a full PAX system with multiple frames, doors, and KOMPLEMENT fittings, this is exceptional value.
More importantly: if anything is damaged or missing when it arrives, IKEA will sort it out entirely from their website chat. You do not need to go back to the store. If you buy in store and something is wrong, you have to go back — and they may not have everything you need in stock on the day.
Buying online also means you have a complete digital receipt that you can copy and paste directly into our quote form.
Order Your Handles — They Are Always Separate
Handles are always sold separately for PAX hinged doors (except the Vikdel mirrored doors, which include a handle). They will not appear automatically in your shopping cart when you add doors.
Check the door product page carefully for the recommended handle, note the hole spacing, and add them to your order. We drill the holes on the day, but we need the handles to be there.
Check Your Hinges Are In the Delivery
Hinges come with the doors but are always packaged in a separate box. At the IKEA checkout they will not always remind you to pick them up, and in a large order they can easily be missed.
If ordering for delivery, check the delivery manifest carefully to confirm the hinge boxes are listed. If they are missing, contact IKEA immediately — do not wait until assembly day.
Do Not Put Drawers at the Bottom of a Hinged Door System
The bottom hinges on a hinged door PAX occupy holes 3 and 4 from the bottom. You cannot fit a drawer at the bottom of a hinged door wardrobe.
If your IKEA planner shows drawers at the very bottom, it is wrong. The lowest practical drawer position is hole 7. IKEA sell a wire basket specifically designed for the bottom of hinged door wardrobes — this is the correct solution for that space.
Do Not Buy the Plastic Hole Covers
IKEA sell small plastic covers for the unused shelf pin holes inside the wardrobe. You will never notice them. Your wardrobe doors are mostly closed, and your clothes obscure the interior when they are open.
Save the money and the time it takes to fit them.
Think Carefully Before Adding Lights
Internal LED lighting looks great in the IKEA catalogue. In practice, lights add significant time to the job — approximately 15 minutes per light fitting — and therefore add to the cost.
If you have the soft-close device on sliding doors, the LED strip at the top of the wardrobe may also conflict with the soft-close positioning. Consider whether the lights are really worth the additional cost and complexity before you order them.
Your Walls and Floors Are Not Flat
PAX wardrobes are built to precise measurements. Your walls and floors almost certainly are not. There will always be some degree of compromise in how the wardrobe sits against the wall or how level it is on the floor.
We use adjustable feet and packing to compensate, but if your floor is particularly uneven — especially for corner units — there may be a visible gap at the top or bottom. This is normal and is not a fault with the wardrobe or the assembly.
Do Not Assume PAX Can Be Cut Down
PAX frames cannot be easily cut down to fit a smaller space. The frame dimensions are fixed. If your space is slightly too small for the combination you want, you need to choose a different combination — not ask us to cut the frames.
Measure your space carefully before ordering, and use the IKEA PAX planner to check your combination fits.
Do Not Place PAX on a Platform or Raised Base
Placing PAX wardrobes on a raised platform or base can double the assembly work. The frames need to be levelled, the doors need to be aligned, and the ceiling clearance calculations all change.
If you are considering a platform for aesthetic reasons, discuss it with us before assembly day so we can factor it into the quote and plan the job correctly.
Do Not Place PAX in the Centre of a Room
If you are planning a walk-in wardrobe with PAX units placed back-to-back in the centre of a room, be aware that your floor may not take the weight of a full PAX system in that position.
PAX wardrobes are heavy — a full system with KOMPLEMENT fittings can weigh several hundred kilograms. If you have any doubts about floor loading, consult a structural engineer before ordering.
A well-planned PAX system — assembled by Flat Pack Amigos
What to Send Us for a Quote
The easiest way to get a fixed price quote is to send us one of the following:
Your IKEA Shopping Cart
Copy and paste the contents of your IKEA online shopping cart into the quote form. Include every item — frames, doors, handles, hinges, and all KOMPLEMENT fittings.
Your IKEA Receipt
Copy and paste your IKEA order confirmation email, or photograph your receipt and email it to us. You will receive an automatic confirmation email from our quote form — just reply to that with the photo.
Your IKEA Planner Printout
If you have used the IKEA PAX planner, send us the printout. Include a sketch or photo of how it should look so we can check the combination is achievable with your door type.
What Customers Say
"Wish I had read the buying tips before ordering — would have saved me a trip back to IKEA for the handles. Assembly was perfect though, very professional."
— Rachel M., Leeds"Assembler spotted that my IKEA planner had drawers in the wrong position for hinged doors before he started. Sorted it out on the day — saved me a lot of hassle."
— Tom B., Manchester"Bought everything online as advised — delivery was £35 for the whole lot and when one panel was damaged, IKEA replaced it next day. Brilliant tip."
— Susan H., SheffieldFrequently Asked Questions
We recommend allowing at least one day between delivery and assembly. This gives you time to check all boxes are present and undamaged, and to contact IKEA if anything needs replacing before we arrive.
If you ordered online, contact IKEA via their website chat. They are generally very good at sending replacement parts quickly. If you bought in store, you will need to go back — which is one of the main reasons we recommend ordering online.
Yes, but it adds significantly to the assembly time and cost. Please tell us about the platform when you request a quote so we can price the job correctly.
Use the IKEA PAX planner and read our pages on hinged door PAX and sliding door PAX. If you are unsure, send us your list before you order and we will check it for you.
Other PAX Guides
PAX Overview
Frame sizes, KOMPLEMENT fittings, how IKEA sells PAX, and ceiling height requirements.
PAX Sliding Door Wardrobes
Door types, ceiling clearance, four-door systems, soft-close devices, and internal lights.
PAX Hinged Door Wardrobes
Hinge positions, drawer restrictions, corner wardrobe hinges, and handle drilling.
Get a Fixed Price Quote
Tell us what you need assembling and we'll email you a fixed price — no hidden fees, no surprises.