Buying a second-hand IKEA PAX wardrobe

Turn the listing into a parts list

Start with a photograph of the complete assembled wardrobe, then ask for the size of each frame. Write down width, depth and height separately. A listing described as a “two-metre PAX” may contain several frames; the overall width does not tell you which shelves or drawers will fit.

• Frames: quantity, individual dimensions, article numbers and photographs of the back construction.
• Doors: hinged or sliding, individual sizes, all hinges or complete rail and running hardware.
• Interiors: shelves, rails, drawers, baskets and their supports or runners, grouped by frame.
• Assembly and securing parts: the fasteners and attachment components required by the exact instructions.

Ask the seller to distinguish included parts from accessories shown in an old photograph. A shelf without its supports and a drawer without its runners are incomplete items, even when the woodwork looks sound.

Do old and new PAX parts fit together?

IKEA Netherlands says new doors can go on older PAX frames with replacement hinges, while old doors on new frames use the old hinges. This is useful guidance about those door arrangements; it is not a promise that any box of PAX fittings will work together.^[1]

Keep photographs and article numbers together when asking IKEA to confirm a mixed set. Sliding doors need their own check: identify the door pair, frame combination, upper and lower rails, running components and stops. A hinged-door answer does not settle a sliding-door question.

For interiors, compare the intended frame size and mounting positions with the relevant assembly instructions. Note where hinges sit in relation to drawers or pull-out baskets. The shelf width is only one part of the fit.

If you need a missing fitting, obtain its exact identification and check supply before paying. A seller saying “IKEA has spare screws” does not establish availability of a particular rail, bracket or older component.

See it assembled if you can

Open and close the doors and drawers in ordinary use. Look at alignment, the back panel, corners and the lower edges near the floor. Ask about previous moves, water exposure and modifications. Some scuffs inside a wardrobe are easy to live with; a damaged corner carrying an assembly fitting is a different decision.

For a dismantled set, request close views of the fixing holes, cam fittings, panel edges and back attachment points. Swollen board, torn-out holes or a broken panel need more than a replacement screw. Do not assume extra glue or a larger screw will restore the intended connection.

Have the parts photographed and labelled by frame before collection. Keep door fittings and interior hardware with their matching components. Avoid marking visible finishes with tape; use labelled bags and a written inventory.

The ceiling must suit the assembly, too

IKEA Netherlands distinguishes the current generation, introduced there in April 2024, from older frames. Its ceiling guidance varies with generation, frame height, doors and assembly method. The date is specific to that market: identify the actual frame rather than relying on the seller’s estimated purchase year.^[2]

Measure at the intended position, including any lower part of a sloping ceiling, beam or floor variation. Then use the exact frame and door instructions to check assembly clearance. Height once assembled and space needed during assembly are different measurements.

Also allow for the door swing, a nearby ceiling light and the wall attachment arrangement. Follow the model’s securing instructions and obtain suitable fixings for your wall. If you cannot provide the required attachment, resolve that before choosing the wardrobe.

Compare the complete installation cost

Imagine two listings: one includes the doors, interiors and documented hardware; another is cheaper but needs a sliding rail and replacement drawer runners. Compare the second only after those parts have been identified and priced. Collection, dismantling and assembly can matter more than a small difference in asking price.

Agree who dismantles it, what condition is documented beforehand and how long panels and doors will be supported in transit. If the seller must dismantle before you can view it, ask for the assembled photographs and operation video first.

Ask for the evidence in one message

A clear inventory turns a pile of panels into a purchase you can assess. Commit when the configuration, condition, replacement parts and installation space all add up.