IKEA PAX Wardrobe Doors: Hinging, Alignment, and Common Gaps

PAX Doors Are All About Alignment

A PAX wardrobe frame goes up in an hour; the doors eat the next two. Uneven gaps, rubbing doors, and a frame that won't stay square are the three complaints we see most.

Square the Frame First

Before hanging any door, confirm the PAX frame is square. Measure corner to corner — the two diagonals should match within 1/8 inch. If they don't, the frame is racked and no amount of hinge adjustment will fix the doors.

Hang Doors From the Top Down

Slide the top hinge into its plate first, then lower the door onto the bottom hinge. The hinges click when seated. A hinge that isn't fully seated makes the door drop and rub.

The Two Adjustment Screws

Each PAX hinge has two screws:

• Side screw: moves the door left/right to even the gap between doors.
• Depth screw: moves the door in/out so the door sits flush with the frame.

Adjust the side first, then the depth. Small turns — a quarter turn shifts the door noticeably.

Fixing the Rub

If two doors rub in the middle, the gap is too tight. Back off the side screws on both doors to widen the gap, then re-check the depth so the doors don't catch on the frame.

Sliding Doors Are Different

PAX sliding doors run on a top and bottom track. The track must be perfectly level or the doors bind. A pro levels the track with shims before hanging the doors — the most-skipped step.

Book PAX wardrobe assembly in NYC — squared, hinged, and gapped right.