# IKEA Kallax shelf

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/ikea-kallax/

7 people recommended IKEA Kallax shelf in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 12 months, in 4 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

4 of the 7 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Hacking IKEA Furniture”.

**Verdict:** Sturdy, versatile shelving that people keep for years and even use as desks. Critics call it only okay, not ideal.

Summary written by Claude from 12 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Sturdy and holds heavy loads (2 comments in the sample): "Sturdy as heck, can take a lot of weight, extremely versatile and durable." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49499011)) "it's still plenty strong if you are smart about it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49498767))
- Durable, lasts for years (1 comment in the sample): "I have 10 years old bedroom furniture still going strong (Kallax/Malm" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49320038))
- Versatile, works as desk (1 comment in the sample): "My desk at home is a very wide T-shaped desk made of three Kallax" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503778))

## What people warn about

- Only acceptable, not ideal (1 comment in the sample): "I'd love to have the perfect shelves for my game room… but Kallax is ok." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49879264))

## What people recommend instead

- [IKEA Billy bookcase](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ikea-billy-bookcase/): 12 recommend, 5 mixed, 8 criticize

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?q=kallax)

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "IKEA Kallax shelf", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ikea-kallax/ (7 recommend, 1 mixed, 2 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.