Dimensions / Furniture / Bookshelves / 3-shelf
A 3-shelf bookcase has three levels for books, the base and two shelves, and is usually 91–122 cm (36–48 in) tall. IKEA’s BILLY in this height is 80 × 28 × 106 cm (31.5 × 11 × 41.75 in), with two adjustable shelves rated for 30 kg (66 lb) each.
| Height | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 91–122cm36–48 in | 62–80cm24.5–31.5 in | 24–35cm9.5–13.6 in |
Sources: IKEA (BILLY 80 × 106), Target (Room Essentials 3-shelf), Target (Carson 3-shelf). Checked October 2026.
Enter the bookcase, the window it goes under and your biggest book. Each check uses the numbers in the tables on this page.
All in centimetres. 1 in = 2.54 cm.
At 106 cm tall it stands under your 110 cm windowsill with 4 cm to spare.
Measure from the floor to the top of the windowsill.
Carried long side first, it needs an opening of 28 × 80 cm. Your doorway is 76 × 198 cm.
For a bookcase that is already built; flat-packed, it goes through as boxes.
A 23 cm tall, 15 cm wide book stands upright in an opening 29 cm high and 26 cm deep.
Measure your tallest book standing up, and its width from the spine to the front edge.
Putting shelves under a window? Photograph the wall, mark the sill height in SizeMarker and check the bookcase before you order.
Mark a photoWidth × depth × height, and how much each shelf holds.
| Bookcase | Size | Load per shelf |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA BILLY 80 × 106Base and 2 adjustable shelves | 80 × 28 × 106 cm31.5 × 11 × 41.75 in | 30 kg66 lb |
| IKEA BILLY 40 × 106 | 40 × 28 × 106 cm15.75 × 11 × 41.75 in | 14 kg31 lb |
| Target Room Essentials 3-shelfAnti-tip hardware included | 62 × 24 × 91 cm24.5 × 9.5 × 36 in | 14 kg30 lb |
| Target Carson 3-shelf29 cm (11.3 in) between shelves | 78 × 35 × 122 cm30.6 × 13.6 × 48 in | 29 kg65 lb |
Sources: IKEA (BILLY 80 × 106) · IKEA (BILLY) · Target (Room Essentials 3-shelf) · Target (Carson 3-shelf)
| Measurement | Size |
|---|---|
| IKEA fixes furniture to the wall above | 72 cm28.3 in |
| Sold as a low bookcaseLiving Spaces height filter | under 137 cmunder 54 in |
Sources: IKEA (tip-over) · Living Spaces
Usually 91–122 cm (36–48 in): Target’s Room Essentials is 91 cm and its Carson 122 cm. IKEA’s BILLY with a base and two shelves is 106 cm (41.75 in).
Yes. IKEA recommends fixing anything taller than 72 cm (28.3 in) to the wall, and its 106 cm BILLY carries the same tipping warning as the tall ones.
Living Spaces suggests low bookcases for small spaces and under windows. In a home with small children, though, CPSC advises keeping furniture away from windows so children cannot climb up to them.
It depends on the bookcase: 30 kg (66 lb) on an 80 cm BILLY, 14 kg (31 lb) on the 40 cm one, 29 kg (65 lb) on Target’s Carson and 14 kg (30 lb) on its Room Essentials.
IKEA warns never to put a TV on furniture that is not intended for one. Use a TV unit instead, or one the maker says can take a TV.
Low bookcases are bought for a particular spot, under a window or beside a sofa, so buyers check the height first and then the load per shelf. Mark the real size on your own product photo in SizeMarker, as in the picture at the top, and send one product card for WhatsApp or WeChat.
