IKEA HEMNES vs. MALM: Assembly Difficulty Compared

Two IKEA Classics, Two Very Different Builds

HEMNES and MALM are the two dressers New Yorkers assemble most often. Both look similar in a photo, but they build differently and last differently.

Material Changes Everything

• MALM is foil-wrapped particleboard — light, cheap, and easy to damage. Water swells the edges.
• HEMNES is solid wood over a frame — heavier, more cams, and the joints are stronger.

Assembly Time

• MALM 6-drawer: about 60–75 minutes.
• HEMNES 6-drawer: 90–120 minutes — solid wood drawer fronts need aligning, and the extra weight slows the flip.

Common Errors

• MALM: overtightening cams strips the particleboard; the drawer runners then sit crooked.
• HEMNES: the wooden dowels must be fully seated or the frame racks; tapping them in with a mallet (not a fist) prevents splitting.

Which Lasts Longer in NYC?

HEMNES, by years. It survives moves and humidity. MALM is fine for a first apartment you'll leave in two years.

Bookings and Budget

Either fits in a two-hour minimum. If you're setting up a long-term home, HEMNES is worth the extra assembly time.

Book HEMNES or MALM assembly in NYC — we build both every week.