Dimensions / Furniture / Bookshelves / 5-shelf
A 5-shelf bookcase has five levels for books, the base and four shelves, and is about 181–183 cm (71–72 in) tall and 29–35 cm (11.6–13.6 in) deep. IKEA’s tall BILLY, 80 × 28 × 202 cm (31.5 × 11 × 79.5 in), adds a level, and like any tall bookcase it must be fixed to the wall.
| Height | Depth | Tall BILLY |
|---|---|---|
| 181–183cm71–72 in | 29–35cm11.6–13.6 in | 202cm79.5 in |
Sources: Target (Room Essentials 5-shelf), Target (Carson 5-shelf), IKEA (BILLY 80 × 202). Checked October 2026.
Enter the bookcase, your room and your biggest book. Each check uses the numbers in the tables on this page.
All in centimetres. 1 in = 2.54 cm.
As you raise it from the floor, the top corner reaches 186.3 cm. Your ceiling is 240 cm, so there is 53.7 cm to spare.
If you build it lying down, its top corner sweeps higher than its height as you stand it up.
Carried long side first, it needs an opening of 35 × 78 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 28 cm high and 31 cm deep.
Measure your tallest book standing up, and its width from the spine to the front edge.
Fitting tall shelves into an alcove? Photograph it, mark the width and ceiling 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Target Room Essentials 5-shelfBase and 4 shelves; anti-tip hardware included | 62 × 29 × 181 cm24.5 × 11.6 × 71 in | 14 kg30 lb |
| Target Carson 5-shelf28 cm (11.2 in) between shelves; shelves 31 cm (12.2 in) deep | 78 × 35 × 183 cm30.6 × 13.6 × 72 in | 29 kg65 lb |
| IKEA BILLY 80 × 202Base, 1 fixed and 4 adjustable shelves | 80 × 28 × 202 cm31.5 × 11 × 79.5 in | 30 kg66 lb |
| IKEA BILLY 40 × 202IKEA’s pick for very heavy books | 40 × 28 × 202 cm15.75 × 11 × 79.5 in | 14 kg31 lb |
| IKEA HEMNES 90 × 197 | 90 × 37 × 197 cm35.4 × 14.6 × 77.6 in | 30 kg |
Sources: Target (Room Essentials 5-shelf) · Target (Carson 5-shelf) · IKEA (BILLY 80 × 202) · IKEA (BILLY) · IKEA (HEMNES)
| Measurement | Size |
|---|---|
| Lowest ceiling for a 202 cm BILLYListed for the 40 cm wide one | 205 cm80.75 in |
| BILLY height extension unit | 80 × 28 × 35 cm31.5 × 11 × 13.75 in |
| BILLY with the extension | 237 cm93.25 in |
| Lowest ceiling with the extension | 240 cm94.5 in |
Sources: IKEA (BILLY 40 × 202) · IKEA (height extension) · IKEA (BILLY)
Estimated emergency-room injuries a year involving shelving units and bookcases.
| Group | Injuries a year |
|---|---|
| All ages, 2020–202222% of furniture tip-over injuries | 3,100 |
| Children | 1,000 |
Sources: CPSC (tip-over report)
About 181–183 cm (71–72 in): Target’s Room Essentials is 181 cm and its Carson 183 cm. IKEA’s BILLY, with a fixed and four adjustable shelves above its base, is taller at 202 cm (79.5 in).
IKEA lists 205 cm (80.75 in) for a 202 cm BILLY and 240 cm (94.5 in) once the 35 cm height extension is on, leaving room above it to fix it to the wall.
Yes. CPSC asks families to anchor bookcases to the wall and keep heavier things on the lower shelves, and IKEA’s BILLY comes with a warning that it must be securely anchored.
CPSC estimates about 3,100 emergency-room injuries a year in the US involving shelving units and bookcases (2020–2022), 1,000 of them to children: 22% of all furniture tip-over injuries.
Narrow. For very heavy books IKEA recommends the 40 cm (15.75 in) BILLY over the 80 cm one, even though each of its shelves is rated for 14 kg (31 lb) rather than 30 kg (66 lb).
Buyers of tall bookcases ask about the height, the wall fixing and the load per shelf. Mark the height, width and depth on your own product photo in SizeMarker, as in the picture at the top, and send one product card for WhatsApp or WeChat.
