Ikea Billy Bookshelf – Quality, Assembly, and Load Capacity

Hello everyone I have been thinking for a while about getting a Billy bookshelf from Ikea because I simply need more space for my books. But now I am wondering how sturdy the shelf really is, especially if you want to store many heavy books. Can the Billy handle that or should I rather go for another shelf? Also: How easy is it to assemble the shelf – can you manage it easily on your own or is it much easier with two people? And what about buying additional shelves later? I would really appreciate your experiences!

Hello, the setup is simple. I have two Billys in my office. It's okay for books. I have one shelf with heavy Leitz binders, the board is now slightly sagging. But this is only noticeable upon close inspection. Everything else with the books is perfect. Best regards Aloha

An 80s shelf insert (78cm) can be loaded with 30kg.

Hello,

your questions about Billy hit exactly the points that make the shelf either iconic or eternally controversial. Basically, the Billy is designed to easily handle normal amounts of paperbacks, standard literature, and other household items. However, if the books tend toward hefty tomes, encyclopedias, or even large coffee-table book calibers, caution is advised. The shelves tend to bow under continuous load, especially if they are not placed exactly or the small pins are not optimally processed everywhere. There are people who, for this reason, replace the boards after some time or use additional supports.

Shelves are generally available for reorder as long as the series in the chosen color or version is available – which at IKEA is not an absolute guarantee but is usually possible for a surprisingly long time, either directly in the store or by reordering. Those who approach it systematically buy a set of extra shelves at the time of purchase. However, the exactly matching height intervals are limited by the predefined rows of holes.

Those who simply understand Billy as a shelf and less as a heavy-duty piece will rarely be disappointed. With some care when setting it up and an occasional check on the shelf boards, it is a budget-friendly solution with plenty of space.

Schnackischnak

Hello,

the Billy shelf is solid enough for the majority of typical books – such as paperbacks, novels, non-fiction books. With very heavy books or many thick binders, it reaches its limits; the shelves then bend after some time. It is particularly important to assemble it carefully and to securely attach the back panel, as it provides much of the stability.

The assembly is kept simple. One person can manage it with patience, two make it more relaxed, especially when finally standing it up and aligning it properly. Additional shelves can usually be obtained without problems, as long as the shelf model and the matching color are still available. However, the arrangement is predetermined by the holes – there are no flexible heights like with custom-made options.

As a shelf for a normal amount of books, the Billy is a proven solution. For heavy specialist literature, atlases, or art books, one should either reduce the load, consider additional supports, or look at other furniture series. As long as these limits are respected, the shelf reliably serves its purpose.

The Billy shelf has undergone several changes throughout its history, including those affecting stability. I got along great with the Billys from the early 2000s – they were very stable. The Billys my mother bought around 2021 were noticeably "lighter" and less reassuring. If I am correctly informed, there was a structural change the year before last. Therefore, it makes sense for you to ask about experiences with shelves purchased after 2024. Unfortunately, I cannot contribute anything from my own experience regarding these current models.