You have assembled all the IKEA METOD cabinets and clicked the MAXIMERA drawers into the rails. You step back to admire the result... and see that the lines of your kitchen resemble a rollercoaster. The drawer fronts hang crookedly, the gaps between the drawers are uneven, and some fronts stick out further than others.
A kitchen with poorly aligned drawer fronts looks cheap and unfinished, even if you bought the most expensive doors. Fortunately, the IKEA MAXIMERA drawers (made by Blum) are fully adjustable.
With a simple Phillips screwdriver and these three tips, you'll get your kitchen perfectly sleek again.
Overview of Adjustments
| Adjustment | Direction | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Height | Up / down | Front hangs lower on one side, uneven gaps |
| Lateral | Left / right | Front too far left or right, uneven vertical gaps |
| Depth | Tilt / flush | Front sticks out at top or bottom |
Tip 1: Height Adjustment (Up and Down)
This is the most common adjustment. If a drawer front hangs lower on the left than on the right, or the gap between two drawers is too small, you need to adjust the height.
- Open the drawer slightly.
- On the inside of the drawer, right behind the front, you will see a small plastic cover on both the left and right sides (sometimes with the IKEA logo on it). Pop this cover off.
- Behind the cover, you will see a mechanism with screws.
- Find the height adjustment screw. (Check the manual for the exact screw, usually it's the one you turn to physically move the front up or down on the bracket).
- Turn the screw left or right to raise or lower that specific side of the front. Do this on both sides until the front is perfectly horizontal and parallel to the drawer above or below it.
Tip 2: Lateral Adjustment (Left and Right)
Are the lines between the cabinets not running straight? For example, the drawer front is too far to the left, causing it to almost touch the adjacent cabinet, while there is a huge gap on the right?
- Remove the plastic covers again.
- Find the lateral adjustment screw.
- By turning this screw, the entire drawer front moves a few millimeters to the left or to the right.
- Adjust this until the vertical gaps between all cabinets are exactly equal (usually about 2 to 3 millimeters).
Tip 3: Depth Adjustment (Tilt / Flush with the Cabinet)
Sometimes a drawer front seems perfectly straight, but when you look from the side, the top of the front sticks out a few millimeters, while the bottom is flush with the cabinet. The drawer is 'tilted'.
To fix this, you need to tilt the front forwards or backwards.
- Look at the metal side rails of the MAXIMERA drawer.
- For high drawers (with a gallery rail or glass sides), the adjustment is often located at the rail itself. By turning the rail (or the mechanism where the rail attaches to the front), you can tilt the top of the front inwards or outwards.
- Ensure the front is exactly 90 degrees straight and falls perfectly flush (in one line) with the adjacent doors or panels.
The Foundation is the Most Important!
No matter how well you adjust the drawers, if the base cabinets themselves are not 100% level and square, your drawers will never fit perfectly. If a cabinet leans slightly forward or to the side, the drawers will always fall open or hang crookedly in the opening. Therefore, always make sure the kitchen legs are perfectly adjusted with a long spirit level before you even start with the drawers!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I adjust the height of an IKEA MAXIMERA drawer front?
Open the drawer slightly, pop off the small plastic cover on the inside right behind the front, and find the height adjustment screw. Turn it left or right to raise or lower that specific side of the front. Do this on both sides until the front is perfectly horizontal.
Why do my drawer fronts hang crookedly even after adjusting?
If the base cabinets themselves are not 100% level and square, your drawers will never fit perfectly. Always make sure the kitchen legs are perfectly adjusted with a long spirit level before you start with the drawers.
How much gap should there be between drawer fronts?
The vertical gaps between all cabinets should be exactly equal, usually about 2 to 3 millimeters. Use the lateral adjustment screw to move the drawer front a few millimeters left or right until the gaps are even.
Leave It to the Professionals?
Aligning a kitchen with 20 drawers is a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating precision job. It requires patience and a good eye for detail.
Want to be sure your new IKEA kitchen gets that sleek, luxurious showroom look? The fitters at Montage Vandaag have years of experience and align every drawer down to the millimeter. Request a free quote today for a perfectly finished kitchen.