IKEA KALLAX Dimensions: Will It Fit Your Room?
The sizes of the common KALLAX units, the space in front they need and a quick way to try one in your room.
Every KALLAX is 15 3/8 in (39 cm) deep. The 2×2 is 30 1/8 × 30 1/8 in (77 × 77 cm) and the 4×4 is 57 5/8 × 15 3/8 × 57 5/8 in (147 × 39 × 147 cm). Keep 24 in (60 cm) clear in front so drawers and boxes can come out. The 4×4 shown here, with that space, needs a wall about 57 5/8 in wide and a room about 39 in (99 cm) deep.
KALLAX Sizes
Each cube is about 13 in (33 cm) inside, and every size is a multiple of the 2×2. Width and height are listed below; the depth is the same for all of them.
- 2×2: 30 1/8 × 15 3/8 × 30 1/8 in (77 × 39 × 77 cm). Four cubes, roughly table height.
- 2×4 (standing) or 4×2 (on its side): 30 1/8 × 57 5/8 in (77 × 147 cm), or 57 5/8 × 30 1/8 in. The same unit, turned. IKEA lists these as separate sizes.
- 4×4: 57 5/8 × 15 3/8 × 57 5/8 in (147 × 39 × 147 cm). Sixteen cubes. It works as a room divider.
- Depth: 15 3/8 in (39 cm) for every size. An insert with a door or a drawer adds a little more once it is open.
Space You Need Around a KALLAX
Nooked uses the same gaps as for any storage: 24 in (60 cm) in front is comfortable, and 18 in (45 cm) is the least that works. A box or drawer pulled out needs that space too.
- In front, comfortable: 24 in (60 cm). Room for a drawer or a bin to come out and for you to stand.
- In front, tight: 18 in (45 cm). Fine for open cubes you only reach into.
- As a room divider: 24 in (60 cm) on the walking side. Leave enough for people to pass, and leave the back looking finished, because it will be seen.
- 4×4 against a wall: about 57 5/8 in (147 cm) of wall and 39 in (99 cm) of depth with 24 in (60 cm) in front.
Where It Fits
A 2×2 is the size for a small spot: under a window, beside a sofa or at the end of a bed. A 4×4 needs a clear wall of about 5 ft (1.5 m), and in a small room it takes over, so test the room first.
KALLAX can stand upright or lie on its side. On its side it is lower and wider and can work under a window, but check the sill height, which is often around 30 in (76 cm) or more.
Where These Sizes Come From
Sizes are from IKEA's US product listings, checked on 20 October 2026. IKEA changes its range, so confirm the size on the listing before you buy.
KALLAX, BILLY and PAX are trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Nooked is not affiliated with IKEA.
Common questions
- How big is a KALLAX shelf?
- A KALLAX is 15 3/8 in (39 cm) deep. The 2×2 is 30 1/8 × 30 1/8 in (77 × 77 cm), the 2×4 is 30 1/8 × 57 5/8 in (77 × 147 cm) and the 4×4 is 57 5/8 × 57 5/8 in (147 × 147 cm).
- How much space do you need in front of a KALLAX?
- About 24 in (60 cm) is comfortable, so drawers and boxes can come out. 18 in (45 cm) is the least that works.
- Can you lay a KALLAX on its side?
- Yes. A 2×4 on its side becomes a 4×2, 57 5/8 in (147 cm) wide and 30 1/8 in (77 cm) high, which is lower and suits under a window.
- Does the KALLAX depth change between sizes?
- No. Every size is 15 3/8 in (39 cm) deep.
Check it in Nooked
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