It is estimated that every five seconds, one BILLY bookcase is sold somewhere in the world. Pretty impressive considering we launched BILLY in 1979. It’s the booklovers choice that never goes out of style.
Article Number505.220.40
Product details
Narrow shelves help you use small wall spaces effectively by accommodating small items in a minimum of space.
Adjustable shelves can be arranged according to your needs.
A simple unit can be enough storage for a limited space or the foundation for a larger storage solution if your needs change.
Designer
Gillis Lundgren
Measurements
- Width: 40 cm (15 3/4 ")
- Depth: 28 cm (11 ")
- Height: 202 cm (79 1/2 ")
- Max load/shelf: 14 kg (31 lb)
Ratings and reviews
Billy BookcaseTasmaI have always liked the Billy Bookcases. I have quite a few in my house. They seem to fit that perfect little space for anything!!!
Great basic storageShelleyAs shown
Quality has drastically decreasedAdrianaJust ordered this bookshelf to add on to my existing Billy bookshelves. The quality is significantly different than just a few years ago. The shelves don’t even look the same. Product also arrived with a lot of dings and bubbling.
Easy to put together MichelleEasy to build abs perfect size.
New and improvedAshleeI have been a long time fan of the Billy Bookcase. Price point is perfect and so is the quality. I was always frustrated by securing the backing rather than panel with the tiny nails. No matter how precise I tried to be one always managed to miss and go through the shelf. They have illuminated this frustrating task and changed it to pre-drilled holes where you instal a plastic plug and then a securing plastic nail. This is so much more efficient and less frustrating!
I bought two of these and the second one is missing an insert shelf and I was given an install shelf (plugs and screws). I messaged customer service and they aren’t able to send me a new one even though there is a separate shelf on the website. I’m over 4 hours drive from an ikea so this is an issue.
Sturdy and visually appealingEvgeniiThe shelf is holding its shape well and feels stable—not wobbly at all. The appearance is great and exactly to my liking.
Awesome Joao CarlosPerfect fit for what I needed. Easy to put together. A little heavy though. Highly recommend the shelves.
The walnut contact paper sucks! Please bring back veneerMichelleThe Billy is a classic, easy to assemble and love that it is modular and comes with an option to add an extension to the top, unlike the other IKEA bookcases. But PLEASE PLEASE get rid of the walnut contact paper and bring back the walnut veneer. The top layer of this bookcase is now PAPER so it damages and looks worn incredibly easily. This takes the lifespan of the bookcase down to 1-2 years rather than 10+ with a decent wood veneer on top. IKEA, I know that your marketing department calls it the environmentally friendly approach to use paper rather than wood veneer, and it keeps costs down, but consider the shortened lifespan of the product and how much WORSE and more expensive this choice now is. Instead of one bookcase lasting many years and being able tolerate moves, it now looks like trash after a very short time which leads to worst environmental outcomes as people need to buy more to replace (which perhaps is on purpose - planned obsolescence?)
VersatileHeatherWe have Billy bookcases for books, CDs and DVDs. Plus, we have a small kitchen, so we are using one to house our many spices and seasonings.
We are hoping to get a couple of additional shelves to organize further.
Narrow fits!AlisonIn an older house the Billy bookcases are perfect because two double-wides are too big, but three singles are a perfect fit!
Billy book shelfAgnieszkaExactly what I needed
Billy delivers an easy solutionTeriNeeded shelving in a utility closet. Billy bookcases provided the perfect quick, affordable solution.
It’s okayHeatherIt’s kind of lopsided. The instructions were vague when putting it together. The shelves are the only sturdy item. The actual unit is flimsy.
Corner solutionsChristineDead spots in a library are awkward. Do I really need to leave a space between bookcases that is wide enough to vacuum? Not any more! Corner bookcases have solved that problem. Once I found out that a little bracket from a hardware store meant I didn't need to have a 45-degree corner, I could increase shelf-space and get all my books out of boxes. I bought 7 small Billy bookcases to solve all my spacing problems around the bigger Billys. Results? Impressive!
Good valueAllanReasonably easy to assemble and look good. Two were damaged during manufacturing and I was given a credit
Looks great but QA is really missing with this oneJoshuaThe shelf itself looks amazing but the quality control really leaves something to be desired… the bottom panel that’s supposed to go near the floor had holes drilled about half a cm off on one side making it nearly impossible to assemble. The only way to get this one panel in was to remove one of the pegs and hammer the other one in. It seems to be more of an aesthetic part so hopefully that won’t compromise the structural integrity. You can literally see (and measure) the difference in placement of the holes on both sides of the part. A bit disappointing but I guess it’s to be expected at this price point.
Billy book cadeDavidEasy assembly, attractive design, wish we could get the extensions.
Skinny billyMikeThe bookshelf of great. But I can’t get the extension for the life of me.
Walnut finish is a beastSerhiiPurchased 80cm and 40cm wide bookcases, very pleased with their appearance. Only wondering why there were no holes on the bottom part of the side panels, and no plastic legs as all Billy bookcases show in the pictures.
Customer reviews
4.7Average rating
2062Reviews
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