Instead of a thin layer of wood veneer, BILLY now has a hard surface of durable paper foil. ”The foil has different printed patterns that look like natural wood and means that less wood is needed to make each BILLY,” says Umut. Using materials only where they are needed is resource-efficient. “And it has meant another positive thing – an even more affordable BILLY.”
BILLY bookcase is a beloved icon that never goes out of style. Thanks to its versatility you can use it in many different ways at home – regardless of whether you store books or everyday items in it.
Article Number805.086.41
Product details
BILLY is a versatile bookcase that works just as good as a storage unit and is suitable to use in many different ways at home.
The shallow and adjustable shelves help you customise your BILLY and allow you to use it as you like – for storing everyday items, memorabilia or other things you collect.
BILLY has a simple and timeless design that is easy to personalise by adding boxes, lighting and your favourite items.
Make it even more personal by adding a door, allowing you to both hide and display things. In this way your BILLY can get new functions and a new look as your style and living situation changes.
A single unit can be enough storage for a limited space – but you can add more bookcases, extension units and shelves to create a larger storage solution if your needs change.
The wooden expression with a tactile wood texture brings a warm and natural feel into your home and adds a beautiful and vibrant look to the room.
The back panel fixes in place with snap fittings – making BILLY easy to assemble and disassemble, so you can bring it when moving instead of buying a new one.
Designer
Gillis Lundgren
Good to know
Min. ceiling height required: 205 cm.
Keep in mind that you need enough space between the top of the furniture and the ceiling to be able to anchor the product to the wall.
1 fixed shelf and 4 adjustable shelves included.
May be completed with BILLY corner fitting to form a stable corner unit.
May be completed with doors; available in different colours and designs.
May be completed with extra shelves to add storage space.
May be completed with BILLY height extension unit in the same width and depth for added vertical storage.
Product is possible to recycle or use for energy recovery, if available in your community.
IKEA of Sweden AB SE-343 81 Älmhult, IKEA.com
Materials and care
Material
- Basematerial/ Side panel:
- Particleboard, Paper foil, Plastic edging
- Plinth front:
- Particleboard, Paper foil
- Back:
- Fibreboard, Paint, Paper foil
Care
Wipe clean with a cloth dampened in a mild cleaner.
Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
Safety and compliance
Must be anchored to the wall. Different wall materials require different types of fixing devices. Use fixing devices suitable for the walls in your home, sold separately.
Assembly and documents
Assembly instructions
BILLY Bookcase805.086.41Advice and care instructions
BILLY Bookcase805.086.41Weight & measurements
- Width: 40 cm
- Depth: 28 cm
- Height: 202 cm
- Max. load/shelf: 14 kg
Package details
BILLY
Article Number805.086.41- Width: 39 cm
- Height: 7 cm
- Length: 207 cm
- Weight: 26.15 kg
- Package(s): 1
Reviews
Easy to assembleAnonymous reviewerThis product is easy to assemble. I now have a new bookcase to replace my old one
GreatAnonymous reviewerSolid and straightforward
RecommendedAnonymous reviewerBought this bookcase along with a wider one to create a library corner. Looks very stylish. Adjustable shelves are handy too. Great value
Overflow for all my booksAnonymous reviewergreat quality and easy to assemble, these look really good with all my extra books in them. Smell a bit odd when they are new but that fades quickly. Really happy with the colour.
Could be slightly better.Anonymous reviewerI had a space in my craft room which measured 50 cms wide. IKEA was my first port of call for a storage solution and I couldn't believe it when I saw this tall narrow BILLY bookcase measuring 40 cms wide. In March 2025 I purchased a white one because in September 2024 I purchased the MELTORP 75 cms table, PAHL table top shelf unit and ADDIS chair (white), so the bookcase had to be white to match. I put it together on my own with no problems, arranged the items and purchased 3 additional shelves (one arrived slightly damaged, as did the replacement). The BILLY is doing a great job in helping to store my craft supplies. I will purchase 2 more for my craft books and a possible 3rd for my hallway. A good find for my purpose.
There is something that annoys me about the unit. The holes for the shelf pins do not go down the full length of both side panels. There is a hole on one panel side but not a corresponding hole opposite. Annoying when trying to get as much space from it as possible.
Butchered My BillyAnonymous reviewerDue to the location where this product was being placed, I had to make some adjustments to the product to allow access to a plug socket. Along with the correct sized boxes for this unit, I created a shoe tidy in my entrance hall so shoes aren't left laying around.
Great shelf unitAnonymous reviewerBought this as extra shelving for my kitchen and it fits in really well. Plenty of storage
Goes well with our Billy with doorsAnonymous reviewerWe bought this to go next to a Billy with doors and it looks great. Easy to assemble and goes well with the other light oak cupboards from another supplier.
Great!Anonymous reviewerSturdy book case. I’ve bought a few. One for books. Others for kitchen storage as they aren’t too deep!
Billy BookcaseAnonymous reviewerGreat storage whilst not taking up much room, that good I went back and bought a second one 👌
Great value, reasonable qualityAnonymous reviewerI was looking at the price of board to build something of my own, but it just wasn't worth it. The Billies were pretty much what I needed anyway for dimension, the work is done for you, the strength and quality is good and it's cheaper than D.I.Y. Assembly was reasonably easy and with minimal tools. I bolted six of them together to make a bigger bookcase and it looks and works well.
Sturdy and practicalAnonymous reviewerExcellent quality, easily assembled and very sturdy
SturdyAnonymous reviewerWas bigger that expected but loving it
Storage unitAnonymous reviewerYou get what you pay for. I only needed help to put a door on it. I'm 64 year old woman.
Shame about the paper foil replacing wood veneerAnonymous reviewerFunctionally I can't fault this. It's a sturdy and versatile bookcase designed to hold the weight of actual books. The appearance, though, is a big disappointment compared to previous versions of BILLY. The old wood veneer really made the bookcase look and feel like genuine wood. Paper foil just feels flimsy and artificial. It's a bookcase wrapped in a picture of a bookcase. I understand the price of wood has increased, but I'd prefer to have the option of paying slightly more for the quality I expect from Ikea.
Walk in closetAnonymous reviewerAmazing little room all from billy bookcase just the job very robust exactly what I needed
BeautifulAnonymous reviewerBeautiful addition to my living room
BookcaseAnonymous reviewerDoes what it says on the tin, Billy bookcase always looks classy.
Perfect solutionAnonymous reviewerPerfect solution for a home with very limited space and no cupboard space
Billy book caseAnonymous reviewerGreat value good book case easy to put together
Customer reviews
4.8Average rating
196Reviews
Accessories for BILLY
Design your own BILLY bookcase
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Story
An updated storage hero
BILLY bookcase has been a steady customer favourite for more than 40 years – but old faithful servants also need to be updated to keep up with the times. We took a closer look at BILLY and came up with some ideas. One of them means more efficient use of materials, and another makes the bookcase easier to assemble and take apart.
“BILLY was introduced in 1979 and has helped millions of people to organize books and other things in the home. But the world has changed a lot since then, and even popular big-sellers need to adapt to new demands and ways of living,” says Umut Ates, one of our co-workers.
Paper means smarter use of raw materials
Easier to assemble and take apart
BILLY fits just as well in the living room as in other areas of the home – the office, dining room or library. It’s easy to expand and combine with other furniture. But one thing that has had potential for improvement is how the bookcase is assembled and taken apart. “Previously, you had to nail about 50 small nails to get the back panel in place, but that’s history now. Instead, you snap on the back panel without any tools,” explains Umut. It also makes it easier to disassemble BILLY without damaging it if you move or want to resell your bookcase. “The improvements have made BILLY more adaptable – it can keep up changing life situations – and it wouldn’t surprise me if this storage hero is as popular in 40 years as it is today.”
Material
An updated storage hero
BILLY bookcase has been a customer favourite for over 40 years – but old faithful servants also need to be updated to keep up with the times. We took a closer look at this storage hero and came up with some ideas. One means more efficient use of materials – another makes the bookcase easier to assemble and take apart. The improvements can be hard to see – except on the price tag – which has become even more pleasant reading.