IKEA ALEX Drawer Unit Dimensions: Will It Fit Your Room?
The ALEX 9-drawer unit's size, the space to open the drawers and a quick way to try one in your room.
The standard IKEA ALEX 5-drawer unit is 14 1/8 in wide, 22 7/8 in deep and 27 1/2 in high (36 × 58 × 70 cm). The 9-drawer unit is the same width, 18 7/8 in (48 cm) deep and 45 5/8 in (116 cm) high. Each drawer is about 20 1/2 in (52 cm) long, so leave 24 in (60 cm) in front for a drawer to come out and for you to stand. 18 in (45 cm) is the least.
ALEX Versions and Sizes
IKEA sells several ALEX drawer units. These are the most popular, with the sizes from IKEA's US listings.
- 5 drawers: 14 1/8 × 22 7/8 × 27 1/2 in (36 × 58 × 70 cm). Width, depth and height. The usual under-desk drawer unit. The drawers are 11 3/4 in (30 cm) wide and 20 1/2 in (52 cm) long.
- 9 drawers: 14 1/8 × 18 7/8 × 45 5/8 in (36 × 48 × 116 cm). Width, depth and height. Tall and narrow.
- 5 drawers on casters: 14 1/8 × 22 7/8 × 29 7/8 in (36 × 58 × 76 cm). Width, depth and height. The same unit on wheels, so it rolls out from under a desk.
- Wide, on casters: 26 3/8 × 26 in (67 × 66 cm). Width and height. Wider and lower, and it rolls.
- Drop file storage: 14 1/8 × 27 1/2 in (36 × 70 cm). Width and height. The bottom drawer holds hanging files.
- Depth: 22 7/8 in (58 cm) for the 5-drawer units and 18 7/8 in (48 cm) for the 9-drawer. Check the listing for the depth of the others.
Space You Need Around It
A drawer opens about as far as the unit is deep, so the floor an ALEX takes is almost all in front of it. A drawer is 20 1/2 in (52 cm) long, so an open drawer reaches about that far out.
- In front, comfortable: 24 in (60 cm). Room for a drawer to come out and for you to stand at it.
- In front, tight: 18 in (45 cm). The drawer comes out, but you stand to one side.
- Room depth on a wall, 5-drawer: about 47 in (119 cm). The 22 7/8 in (58 cm) unit plus 24 in (60 cm) in front.
- Room depth on a wall, 9-drawer: about 43 in (109 cm). The 18 7/8 in (48 cm) unit plus 24 in (60 cm) in front.
- Next to a desk or a bed: leave 24 in (60 cm) beside it if you need to walk past the open drawer.
Where It Fits
The narrow ALEX units fit a gap of about 15 in (38 cm), such as beside a desk, in an alcove or at the end of a wardrobe. The 9-drawer is tall for a drawer unit, so check what stands above it. The units on casters can roll out of the way, but they need their full depth when a drawer is open.
Where These Sizes Come From
IKEA's US product pages, checked on 22 October 2026. IKEA changes its range, so confirm the size on the listing before you buy.
MALM, ALEX, HEMNES, MICKE and LACK are trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Nooked is not affiliated with IKEA.
Common questions
- How big is an IKEA ALEX drawer unit?
- The 5-drawer unit is 14 1/8 in wide, 22 7/8 in deep and 27 1/2 in high (36 × 58 × 70 cm). The 9-drawer is 14 1/8 in wide, 18 7/8 in deep and 45 5/8 in high (36 × 48 × 116 cm). The 5-drawer on casters is 29 7/8 in (76 cm) high.
- How much space do you need in front of an ALEX drawer unit?
- About 24 in (60 cm) is comfortable. A drawer is 20 1/2 in (52 cm) long, so it needs that much room to come out. 18 in (45 cm) is the least.
- How deep is an ALEX drawer unit?
- The 5-drawer units are 22 7/8 in (58 cm) deep and the 9-drawer is 18 7/8 in (48 cm). Check the listing for other ALEX units.
- Does the ALEX drawer unit come in other sizes?
- Yes. There is a wide unit on casters, 26 3/8 in (67 cm) wide, and ALEX desks and chests in other sizes. Check the listing for the one you want.
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