IKEA KALLAX alternatives in the UK (and boxes that fit)

IKEA’s KALLAX is the cube unit many UK living rooms already have, or the one you have in mind when you type “cube storage” into a search bar. It is popular for a reason: eight cubes, a huge range of inserts, and a look most people recognise. It is not the only option, and it is not always the right depth, height or shopping trip for a family room.

This guide compares practical KALLAX alternatives you can get in the UK, and how to buy fabric boxes that actually fit. It is desk research from retailer listings, not a hands-on comparison in a warehouse. IKEA links are editorial only. For scored family picks, see best living room cube storage.

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Why people look for a KALLAX alternative

Common reasons, in the language parents actually use:

• IKEA is not nearby, or you do not want to collect a flatpack this weekend.
• You want a lower, sideboard-height unit rather than something that stands like a bookcase.
• You need a shallower unit for a narrow room or an alcove.
• You want the boxes included, rather than buying a frame and inserts separately.
• You would like a cheaper starting point, or a different look than the classic IKEA grid.

None of those means KALLAX is a bad product. The official IKEA KALLAX shelving unit we include on our list is the 77 x 39 x 147 cm eight-cube version (white). Note the depth: 39 cm is deeper than several alternatives below. That extra depth is useful for files and some storage boxes, but it also sticks further into a small living room.

Always measure your wall, skirting, radiators and the space needed to walk past.

Lower and shallower cube units (the usual family choice)

In a family living room, a unit that sits at sideboard height can be easier to live with than a tall bookcase. Toys go in fabric boxes on the lower cubes, books or a lamp sit on top, and the whole thing looks like furniture rather than a playroom wall.

The Vida Designs Durham 3×3 (nine cube) is our number one cube pick. The listing gives 96.5 x 29 x 96.5 cm, so it is under a metre tall and only 29 cm deep, with several colour options. That 29 cm depth is a genuine difference in a tight room compared with a 39 cm KALLAX.

The Home Source nine-shelf cube bookcase is listed at 90 x 30 x 90 cm, also a square nine-cube, and is described as taking 27 cm storage boxes, with 15 mm board. If you already own boxes, compare that 27 cm figure with the outside width of your boxes, not the “33 cm” often printed on a pack.

If you want a slightly taller eight-cube and a high-street option, the Argos Home Squares 8-cube unit is listed at 61.2 x 29.5 x 120.8 cm, with a stated 8 kg per cube, wall fixings included, and room for boxes up to 28.2 cm according to Argos. The Charles Jacobs 8-cube unit comes with eight grey fabric drawers on the listing, so there is nothing extra to buy; measurements are 62.5 x 30.3 x 123.5 cm, and the listing says it can stand upright or on its side, with 10 kg per cube.

A bigger, deeper nine-cube, if you have a wide wall, is Dunelm’s Furniture To Go Mauro, listed at 107 x 33 x 107 cm.

Smaller, narrower and budget alternatives

Not every room wants nine cubes.

The HOMCOM 4-cube unit with two fabric drawers is a small raised unit on wooden legs, with two open cubes and two drawers, and a listed total load of up to 30 kg. It suits a smaller wall or a first foray into hiding toys.

If the gap is an alcove or the sliver beside a TV, depth and width matter more than cube count. The Vida Designs Oxford 4-tier cube bookcase is our smallest-footprint pick: listed at 32 x 24 x 106 cm. At 24 cm deep it will not take a standard 33 cm fabric cube, so do not buy KALLAX-sized boxes for it.

For a budget, reconfigurable frame, the SONGMICS nine-cube modular unit (LPC115S) is our budget pick: plastic panels on a metal frame, listed at 125 x 31 x 125 cm, with an anti-tip kit included according to the listing. It is a different look from wooden cube furniture — more utility, easier to wipe — and you can build a different shape if the room needs it.

Will these fabric boxes fit?

This is the question that catches people out. Packs are often labelled 33 x 33 x 33 cm because that is a common size for KALLAX-style openings, but:

• the inside of your cube may be smaller than the outside of the unit suggests
• a 33 cm box will not fit a 27 or 28 cm opening
• a box can be a tight, ugly squash even when the tape measure says it should go in
• some “cubes” are rectangular

The Amazon Basics collapsible fabric cubes (pack of six, 33 cm) are on our list as a match for 33 cm openings such as a classic KALLAX. Measure the inside width, depth and height of your unit, then compare with the outside dimensions of the box, including any rim or handle. If you are buying for the Argos Squares or Home Source units above, look for boxes closer to 27–28 cm, or check the box listing carefully, rather than assuming a 33 cm pack will slide in.

For toys, fabric boxes with handles are easier for children to pull out than heavy lidded plastic, as long as the load stays light. Keep Lego and other dense pieces in a proper box if the fabric starts to sag; see Lego storage ideas and how to store toys in a small living room.

Safety, weight and looking like a living room

Fix tall or narrow units to the wall, even if they feel heavy once they are full. Use the anti-tip kit. Do not stand a TV on a cube unit unless the manufacturer says that is an intended use; most of these are storage and display, not media stands.

Watch the stated load per cube (where the listing gives one) and remember that books and bricks are much heavier than soft toys. Put the heavy boxes low.

A simple styling rule that keeps a family room looking like a sitting room: boxes or drawers in the lower cubes, some open cubes at eye level for books, and a clear top. If every cube is a different printed bin, the unit will dominate the room.

How to choose, quickly

• Want the insert ecosystem and you can live with 39 cm of depth? KALLAX remains a strong editorial option.
• Want a lower, shallower nine-cube for a family wall? Look at the Durham or Home Source units.
• Want the boxes included? Charles Jacobs (eight fabric drawers) is the straightforward option we compared.
• Want a slim alcove unit? The Oxford, at 24 cm deep, is the one to measure for — and you will need smaller boxes.
• Want to spend less and build a shape? The SONGMICS modular frame.

Check today’s price and stock on the retailer page; both change, and we do not copy them here.

FAQs

What is the best KALLAX alternative in the UK?

It depends on the wall. For a family living room, a shallower nine-cube such as the Vida Designs Durham is the alternative we ranked highest. If you specifically want eight cubes and official-style inserts, KALLAX itself may still be the better fit.

Are cheap cube units as sturdy as IKEA KALLAX?

Not always, and we have not load-tested them. Compare board thickness, stated weight limits and whether wall fixings are included, and go gently with heavy books. A well-fixed mid-price unit is better than an overloaded bargain one.

What size boxes fit KALLAX?

Many fabric cubes sold as 33 cm are intended for KALLAX openings, but you should still measure the inside of your unit. Do not assume the same boxes will fit Argos, Vida or Home Source cubes.

Can I use cube storage for toys in the living room?

Yes. That is one of the best uses of a low cube unit. Put toys in boxes on the lower row so the room can look tidy in the evening, and keep a couple of cubes open so it still looks like a bookcase.

Is there a narrow cube unit for an alcove?

Yes. On our list the Vida Oxford is only 32 cm wide and 24 cm deep. Measure the alcove, including skirting and any radiator pipework, before you buy.