Ikea Billy Bookshelf – Quality, Assembly, and Load Capacity

The differences in the Billy shelves actually result from several revisions in construction and material thickness over the years. Yes, that's the case. The more recent series rely on lighter particle boards and occasionally more economical material usage, which is also reflected in load capacity and the feeling of quality. The question of stability has actually become very model- and batch-dependent, as Ikea repeatedly adjusts manufacturing details – for example, with the back panels or the way the shelves are fastened.

The basic principle remains unchanged: sufficient for standard book loads, as long as the shelf is not overloaded and wall mounting as well as careful assembly are taken seriously. It remains noticeable that shelves tend to bend more quickly under point-heavy, heavy loads than older versions. Replacement shelves and accessories are still available, but color differences between old and new batches cannot be ruled out.

Those who place a lot of value on load capacity or have special requirements for the furniture will more often have to turn to alternatives with the current series. The pricing policy now fairly accurately reflects the level of material used. Billy remains the classic for standard applications, but not a heavy-duty shelf.