IKEA PAX: Stock Shortages and Buying Hacks Revealed
As a DIYer who adores all things IKEA, I understand the frustration of designing a beautiful wardrobe for your closet, only to find it out of stock. But fear not! I’m here to share my own experiences and expertise on this topic and help you navigate the mystery of IKEA PAX stock shortages.
In this post, I’ll dive into the reasons why IKEA PAX has been frequently out of stock in the past couple years. I’ll also share practical tips and strategies I used to snag my desired PAX units despite the stock challenges. And, let’s not forget about the rumors of PAX being discontinued – I’ll address that too!
So, if you’ve been itching to get your hands on an IKEA PAX wardrobe but have been facing stock shortages, this post is for you. Let’s dive in and uncover the truth about IKEA PAX availability and what you can do to secure your dream wardrobe!

Why is IKEA PAX Out of Stock?
So, let’s get to the heart of the matter – why is IKEA PAX constantly out of stock? Based on my observations and research, there are a few reasons behind this issue.
Firstly, the high demand for IKEA PAX wardrobes, known for their versatility and functionality, often leads to stock shortages. During the Covid lockdown, we spent a lot more time at home and as a result, many of us started on home improvement projects.
Moreover, the availability of specific PAX units may vary, as you might have noticed as you are adding PAX products to your shopping cart. While some units may be regularly restocked, others may always seem to be out of stock.
Additionally, global supply chain challenges, production delays, and shipping disruptions can also impact the availability of PAX units.
How to Buy IKEA PAX While They Are Always Out of Stock
Now, you may be wondering, ‘How can I get my hands on an IKEA PAX wardrobe despite the stock challenges?’ As someone who has recently gone through this situation, I’m happy to report that I have collected over 90% of my IKEA PAX shopping list, and I want to share my tips with you.
Here are the strategies you can employ to increase your chances of buying IKEA PAX even when it’s hard to find.

1. Buy while they are in stock.
When I first started planning my PAX collection, I noticed that 50% of the items were out of stock. So I decided to wait and collect everything I wanted when they were back in stock.
But guess what? They never got restocked at the same time. In fact, as I waited longer, the situation got worse. So I decided to jump on whatever was in stock as much as I could, and collect what was remaining slowly.
However, this strategy works only if you are sure that you want to use IKEA PAX for your wardrobe. If you’re unsure, having a half-stocked IKEA unit may not be the best scenario if you later decide to go with a different brand.
It’s worth noting that IKEA offers a 365-day return policy, so you can always return items within a year.
2. Get restock information from closet department
Talk to sales assistants in the closet department where they sell IKEA PAX products. They are easy to spot, you’ll see them around the computer station where customers can design their PAX wardrobe on those computers.
They have internal records on restocking schedules, so they can check when they restock certain parts and how many.
I personally found this super helpful as I could plan my efforts accordingly. From my observation, they do replenish IKEA PAX parts ranging from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the product.

3. Get notified and reserve your order ASAP
Sign up for email or text notifications on their website. Be sure to sign up for notifications for the specific product you want to buy. When they are back in stock or will be back in stock soon, you’ll get notified.
Once it’s back in stock, I recommend choosing the ‘pick up in store’ option first before heading out, to reserve it. Sometimes they only restock a very small amount, so it’s essential to not waste a trip and reserve it first.
Alternatively, when you choose pick up, you can select ‘local pickup location’. For my region, there are Fedex and Walgreens stores, some of which are only a few mins drive away. This option costs $4, but it can save you gas and time.
When you check out with that option, they’ll ship the products to your local store, and you’ll have 5 days to pick it up. I have used this option several times.

4. Exploring alternative purchasing options
Check the IKEA As-Is section in-store, usually located on the first floor next to the check-out station. I have spotted several PAX units there, such as wardrobe frames and drawer organizers.
Check Facebook Marketplace for second-hand PAX units. I have seen many IKEA PAX units for sale at a huge discount. However, it’s a good idea to have your design ready so you know which parts of the PAX wardrobe you need.
I personally have explored this strategy but didn’t end up buying anything there. That’s because I’m very fixated with my wardrobe design and look for specific width and depth which can be harder to find second hand. If you are flexible with your design, this option can save you a lot of money.
I hope these strategies are helpful, and one additional thing to mention is to manage your expectations.
While these strategies can increase your chances of finding and purchasing IKEA PAX despite stock challenges, it may still take some time to collect all the items you need.
In my experience, I was able to check off the majority of items within a few months, while still waiting for a couple of more things, such as drawers and jewelry organizers.

Is IKEA Discontinuing PAX?
With rumors swirling around about IKEA potentially discontinuing PAX, I know it can be concerning. However, based on my research, this is a misunderstanding.
IKEA is not discontinuing the entire PAX system, but instead, they are discontinuing alternate color options such as grey and brown.
Heres’ IKEA’s official response on Twitter: “To clarify, we are discontinuing the alternate colors and not the entire PAX system. The PAX in white variations will still be made and sold.”
I personally see this as an efficiency strategy, as managing stock for all color variations of the PAX series can be labor-intensive and require significant space. The rumor may have gained traction due to frustration over stock shortages, but I’m glad to know that IKEA will continue to supply the PAX series in white!
Summary for Buying IKEA PAX in the Face of Shortages
There you have it! While it can be frustrating when any products in the IKEA PAX series are constantly out of stock, there are ways to increase your chances of acquiring them
I hope these insights and tips have been helpful in navigating the challenges of purchasing IKEA PAX wardrobes.
Happy shopping and good luck to us all building our dream IKEA PAX wardrobe!
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I had $6K+ in PAX parts stacked in my master bedroom for nearly a year, waiting for the last few items and was about to return it all when a few items finally came in, plus I changed my design a few times and ultimately made a few cabinets myself using “Closet Maid” products from Home Depot to fill in some spaces. I was able to make some that connected to the PAX corner add-ons which are pretty good, and always in stock since they don’t sell many. Next time, I will make my own frames and only buy the interior items. This will allow me to make the cabinets a bit wider so I can use “normal” dimensioned doors and drawer fronts and just use some spacers inside. The Oddball metric sizes don’t work well in the US, and many of the new products (in the US, at least) like Sekiton and Enhet are US standard measurements, which allow cross-mixing of doors and drawer fronts. The biggest complaint I have over the availability is the elimination of the drawers that cover the entire frame are discontinued and were replaced with the new shoddy drawers that have huge gaps and show the rails. They could at least have made the front panels as wide as the interior of the frame.
I also wish they have wider drawers to cover the gap! Mixing doors with other IKEA lines is a great idea.
I’m so excited to get a PAX wardrobe in my closet! I love using the PAX Planner, but I can’t figure out how to design a U-shaped walk-in closet like shown in your screenshot. It only gives me the option between a single wall or corner, but I have three walls I’d like to push the wardrobes up against. I realize I can do them separately, but it would be more helpful to accomplish this in one design to make sure I can open drawers without an adjacent unit blocking it. Any tips? Thank you!
The problem is Pax is being phased out in its current form. It’s being reformulated where it will be si.ilar to besta. No nailing in the backboard just sliding it into a grooved channel. I’m worried about the strength as a backboard nailed to the frame is much better than a grooved channel.
I think they probably will use the same thickness of the backboard, but yeah the construction may make it weaker. I have also seen people using 1/4″ plywood and nail it to the back of Pax instead of their backboard – this might be a way to solve it.