Quick answer
What are the dimensions of an IKEA BILLY bookcase?
Assembled, the standard IKEA BILLY frame is 31½ inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 79½ inches tall (80 × 28 × 202 cm). Flat-packed, that same frame ships in a separate 81¼ × 11¾ × 5 inch package. Do not use the assembled width and depth as package dimensions.
Size reference
All BILLY sizes and dimensions.
Assembled W, D, and H describe the finished frame. Package size is the separate flat pack you carry through a door or load into a vehicle. These current US standalone frames were checked against IKEA on September 1, 2026.
| Model | Assembled W | Assembled D | Assembled H | Package Size | Package Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BILLY Standard Tall205.220.46 | 31.5" 80cm | 11" 28cm | 79.5" 202cm | 81¼" L × 11¾" W × 5" H | 88 lb 1 oz |
| BILLY Narrow Tall505.220.40 | 15.75" 40cm | 11" 28cm | 79.5" 202cm | 81¼" L × 15½" W × 2½" H | 55 lb 12 oz |
| BILLY Standard Short905.220.43 | 31.5" 80cm | 11" 28cm | 41.75" 106cm | 43½" L × 12¼" W × 6" H | 50 lb 1 oz |
In context
BILLY size examples.
BILLY bookcase dimensions
The standard IKEA BILLY bookcase is 80 cm wide, 28 cm deep, and 202 cm tall, or about 31.5 x 11 x 79.5 inches. That 79.5 inch height is the number to watch at doors because many US interior doors are about 80 inches tall before trim and flooring reduce the usable clear height.
BILLY bookshelf dimensions for door and car checks
Flat-packed, the standard BILLY package is 81¼ x 11¾ x 5 inches. It is thin enough for a normal door, but its length may exceed a car’s straight cargo path even with the rear seats folded. Measure the full loading route and any diagonal turn.
Run a check
Will your BILLY fit?
Measure smart
What to measure.
Four numbers decide nearly every fit check. Get these right and the rest follows.
- 01The assembled width, depth, and height at the widest points, including feet, handles, and any headboard or back panel.
- 02The flat-pack box dimensions, which is what you actually carry up the stairs and load into the car, not the built piece.
- 03The item's smallest dimension, which decides whether tilting or turning it on edge gets it through a tight opening.
- 04The clear opening of every space on the route, measured to the gap and not the frame, plus diagonal clearance at any turn.
Don't make these
Common mistakes.
Most “it didn't fit” stories trace back to one of these oversights.
- ⚠Measuring the assembled piece when the flat-pack box is what has to clear the door and the trunk.
- ⚠Forgetting that a tall unit close to 80 inches is right at standard door height before trim and flooring eat into it.
- ⚠Assuming a long box fits a sedan trunk when it really needs folded seats or an SUV cargo bay.
- ⚠Planning the doorway but ignoring the turn at the top of the stairs or the landing pivot.
Go deeper
Calculators and other IKEA products.
Frequently asked
Questions we keep getting.
What are the BILLY bookcase flat-pack box dimensions?
The current standard tall BILLY frame (205.220.46) ships in one package measuring 81¼ inches long, 11¾ inches wide, and 5 inches high; IKEA lists its package weight as 88 lb 1 oz. These are package dimensions, not the assembled 31½ × 11 × 79½ inch frame.
01Which BILLY sizes are compared here?
This table compares three current standalone US frames verified against IKEA: standard tall (80 × 28 × 202 cm), narrow tall (40 × 28 × 202 cm), and standard short (80 × 28 × 106 cm). Combination, door, and height-extension packages have different component dimensions and are not represented as a single frame.
02Can I stack two BILLY bookcases?
Yes — IKEA sells the BILLY height extension unit that sits on top of the standard BILLY, bringing total height to about 93.25" (237 cm). Secure stacked units to the wall with the included tip-over restraint.
03Does a BILLY need to be anchored?
Yes. IKEA warns that the BILLY must be securely anchored because of tip-over risk. Use screws and plugs suitable for your wall; ask a qualified professional if you are unsure which hardware is appropriate.
04How deep is an IKEA BILLY bookcase?
Each standalone BILLY frame compared on this page is 28 cm (11 inches) deep when assembled. Door combinations and other accessories can change the finished depth, so check the specific IKEA combination rather than applying the bare-frame dimension to it.
05How much weight can a BILLY shelf hold?
IKEA lists a 66 lb maximum load per shelf for the 31½-inch-wide standard frames and 31 lb per shelf for the 15¾-inch-wide narrow frame. Secure the bookcase to the wall using suitable anchoring hardware and do not transfer the wide-frame rating to the narrow frame.
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