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IKEA ALEX Assembly Time — Drawer Unit & Desk
3 min read · Based on real buyer data
The IKEA ALEX is a home office staple — a sleek drawer unit that slides under desks or stands alone. It's one of IKEA's easier builds, but the drawers require careful alignment. Here's what to expect.
45–60m
drawer unit
60–90m
desk with drawers
Easy
difficulty
Tools you'll need
Electric screwdriver — lots of drawer slide screwsAmazon →Rubber mallet — for body assemblyAmazon →Hex key set — metric allen wrenchesAmazon →Small Phillips screwdriver — drawer slides need precisionAmazon →
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Tips for ALEX assembly
Build the carcass first, drawers second
Get the main body assembled and standing before touching the drawers. The drawer slides need to go into a stable unit.
Install drawer slides carefully
ALEX drawer slides are adjustable but finicky. Screw them in loosely, insert the drawer, check alignment, then tighten fully.
Test each drawer before moving on
Install one drawer, open and close it 5 times, check that it's level. Fix it now rather than after all drawers are in.
The lock cylinder goes in last
If your ALEX has a lock, install it after all drawers are in and aligned — much easier than doing it mid-build.
Look up your exact ALEX model
Check real assembly times for every ALEX configuration: