Planning Your IKEA PAX Wardrobe in the UK: Everything You Need to Know
If you've ever stood in the wardrobe section of an IKEA store with a tape measure in one hand and a catalogue in the other, you'll know exactly how overwhelming it can be. The IKEA PAX system is one of the most popular wardrobe solutions in the UK, and for good reason — it's modular, affordable, and endlessly customisable. But getting the planning right before you buy is absolutely essential, and that's where a good room planner becomes your best friend.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about using the IKEA PAX Planner UK tool, what its limitations are, and how a free browser-based floor planner like freeroomplanner.com can help you visualise your entire bedroom layout — not just the wardrobes — before spending a single penny.
What Is the IKEA PAX System?
The PAX wardrobe system from IKEA is a range of modular wardrobe frames and interiors that can be combined to create a fully bespoke storage solution. Whether you need a single wardrobe in a box room or a full wall of fitted storage in a master bedroom, the PAX range has a configuration to suit almost every UK home.
Key Features of the PAX System
- Frame sizes: PAX frames come in widths of 50cm, 75cm, and 100cm, and heights of 201cm and 236cm
- Depths: Standard depth is 58cm, with a 35cm depth option for smaller spaces
- Doors: Choose from hinged, sliding, or open configurations
- Interiors: Mix and match shelves, drawers, trouser rails, shoe racks, and more
- Finishes: Available in white, black-brown, oak effect, and other finishes
Because the system is modular, the planning stage is crucial. Getting the measurements wrong — even by a few centimetres — can mean your PAX frames don't fit the wall, or worse, you end up with an awkward gap that looks untidy and wastes space.
Using the IKEA PAX Planner UK Tool
IKEA offers its own online planning tool on its UK website, which is specifically designed for the PAX system. The IKEA PAX Planner UK lets you enter your room dimensions, choose your frame sizes, select door styles, and even pick interior fittings. It's a genuinely useful starting point and gives you a 3D preview of your chosen configuration.
How to Use the Official IKEA PAX Planner
- Go to the IKEA UK website and navigate to the PAX wardrobe planner section
- Enter the width and height of the wall where your wardrobe will sit
- Choose your frame widths to fill the space (a combination of 50cm, 75cm, and 100cm units)
- Select a door style — sliding doors require a minimum of two frames side by side
- Customise the interior with shelves, drawers, and rails using the IKEA KOMPLEMENT range
- Save or export your design and add the items directly to your IKEA shopping list
Limitations of the IKEA PAX Planner
While the official tool is excellent for configuring the wardrobes themselves, it does have some notable limitations — particularly for homeowners who are planning a full bedroom renovation:
- It only shows the wardrobes, not the wider room context
- You can't see how the wardrobes will interact with the bed, dressing table, or other furniture
- It doesn't account for door swing clearance or walking space around the bed
- It won't show you whether sliding doors will be obstructed by a radiator or window
- There's no way to plan multiple rooms or export a full floor plan
This is where a dedicated floor planner becomes invaluable — and why thousands of UK homeowners use freeroomplanner.com alongside the IKEA PAX Planner UK to get a complete picture of their bedroom layout.
Why You Need a Full Room Planner Alongside the PAX Planner
Imagine you've carefully configured your PAX wardrobes to fill an entire wall. You've chosen sliding doors to save space. You've planned your KOMPLEMENT interiors down to the last drawer. Then the wardrobes arrive, you assemble them, and you realise the sliding doors run directly in front of the light switch. Or that the wardrobe depth means you can't fully open the bedroom door. Or that the bed you ordered is simply too large to fit comfortably in the remaining space.
These are real scenarios that happen to real homeowners every week — and they're entirely avoidable with proper room planning. The IKEA PAX Planner UK tool is excellent for what it does, but it needs to be used as part of a wider planning process that considers the whole room.
What a Full Room Floor Planner Adds to Your Workflow
- Draw the exact shape of your bedroom, including alcoves, chimney breasts, and angled walls
- Position your wardrobes, bed, chest of drawers, dressing table, and other furniture all in one view
- Check walking space and door clearances before you buy anything
- See live measurements in metres, centimetres, or feet as you plan
- Export your finished floor plan as a PNG to share with a joiner, bedroom fitter, or family member
Freeroomplanner.com is a completely free, browser-based tool that lets you do all of this — with no sign-up, no email address required, and nothing to download. Just open it in your browser and start planning.
Step-by-Step: Planning Your PAX Wardrobe Using Freeroomplanner.com
Here's how to get the most out of the free room planner when you're planning a PAX wardrobe installation:
- Draw your room: Use the wall drawing tool to outline your bedroom. The snap-to-grid feature works in 10cm increments, so you can be precise. Include any alcoves, bay windows, or chimney breasts.
- Add doors and windows: Mark the position of your door swing and windows. This is critical for understanding where wardrobes can and can't go.
- Place your wardrobe: Use the furniture tool to add a wardrobe item and resize it to match your planned PAX configuration. For example, if you're combining a 100cm, 75cm, and 75cm frame, set the wardrobe width to 250cm.
- Add your other bedroom furniture: Drop in a bed, bedside tables, chest of drawers, and any other pieces you're planning. Resize them to match the actual dimensions of furniture you're considering.
- Check the measurements: Use the live measurement display to confirm walking space, door clearances, and the distance between the end of the bed and the wardrobe doors.
- Export your plan: When you're happy with the layout, export it as a PNG. You can share this with a bedroom fitter, contractor, or even upload it when ordering from IKEA to confirm the space available.
The bedroom planner on freeroomplanner.com is specifically designed for this kind of layout work, with furniture items including beds, wardrobes, dressers, and more from the 30+ item library.
Tips for Getting Your PAX Wardrobe Measurement Right
Before you start planning — whether using the IKEA PAX Planner UK or a floor plan tool — accurate measurements are everything. Here are some essential tips:
Measure Twice, Buy Once
- Measure the wall width at floor level, at mid-height, and at ceiling level — walls in older UK homes are often not perfectly straight
- Note any skirting boards that might affect the base of the wardrobe
- Check the ceiling height carefully — the 236cm PAX frames are designed for rooms with higher ceilings
- Measure the depth available, especially if the wardrobe will be near a radiator or light switch
Account for the Ceiling
If you want your PAX wardrobes to go all the way to the ceiling for a built-in look, you'll need to add a PAX filler piece to bridge the gap between the top of the frame and the ceiling. Factor this into your planning and measure the gap carefully.
Consider the Floor
PAX frames are designed to sit directly on the floor. If you have thick carpet, this can affect stability and the appearance of the finished unit. Some fitters recommend removing carpet beneath the frames, or using adjustable feet — worth discussing with your fitter before you begin.
Who Uses the IKEA PAX Planner UK?
The combination of the official IKEA planning tool and a free room planner like freeroomplanner.com is used by a wide range of people across the UK:
- Homeowners renovating a master bedroom, guest room, or children's bedroom
- Renters looking for a storage solution they can take with them when they move
- Bedroom fitters and joiners who receive client plans and need to understand the space before quoting
- Interior designers helping clients visualise different layout options
- New build buyers planning their fitted wardrobes before moving in
If you're a contractor or fitter working with a client who has already started planning their PAX wardrobe, asking them to share a floor plan from freeroomplanner.com can save enormous amounts of time on-site. Clients can draw up their own room, place the wardrobes, and share the PNG before the first visit — meaning you arrive with a clear picture of the space and the client's intentions.
Alternatives to PAX: When to Consider a Custom Build
PAX wardrobes are a fantastic solution for most UK bedrooms, but they're not always the right choice. Here are some situations where a custom-built wardrobe might serve you better:
- Rooms with sloped ceilings or unusual angles (loft conversions, for example)
- Alcoves that aren't a standard PAX width — no combination of 50cm, 75cm, and 100cm frames fits perfectly
- Very deep alcoves where the standard 58cm depth doesn't make the most of the space
- Period properties where the aesthetics of a flat-pack wardrobe don't suit the room's character
Even if you decide to go custom, a free room planner is still an essential first step. Use freeroomplanner.com to draw up your bedroom and plan the wardrobe footprint, then share that floor plan with a joiner to get accurate quotes. A clear floor plan with measurements can significantly reduce the back-and-forth and help your tradesperson quote with confidence.
Planning Other Rooms Alongside Your Bedroom
If you're renovating more than just the bedroom, freeroomplanner.com has you covered. The site includes dedicated tools for planning every room in the home:
- Kitchen planner — design your kitchen layout with units, appliances, and worktops
- Bathroom planner — position your bath, shower, toilet, and basin before your fitter arrives
- Living room planner — arrange sofas, TV units, and coffee tables for the perfect layout
- Multi-room floor plan maker — plan an entire home or flat in one document
All tools are completely free, require no account or email address, and work directly in your browser. Measurements are available in metres, centimetres, or feet — so whether you're working in metric or prefer the old imperial system, the tool adapts to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IKEA PAX Planner available in the UK?
Yes, IKEA offers an online PAX wardrobe planner on its UK website. It allows you to design a PAX wardrobe configuration by entering your wall dimensions and choosing from the available frame sizes, door styles, and interior fittings. It's a great starting point, but we recommend also using a full room planner to see how the wardrobes will fit into your broader bedroom layout.
What sizes do IKEA PAX wardrobes come in?
PAX frames are available in widths of 50cm, 75cm, and 100cm. The standard depth is 58cm, with a 35cm option for shallower spaces. Heights available are 201cm and 236cm. By combining multiple frames, you can fill almost any wall width — though you may need filler panels for an exact fit.
Can I use freeroomplanner.com instead of the IKEA PAX Planner UK?
The two tools serve different purposes and work best together. The IKEA PAX Planner UK is specifically designed to help you configure the interior of your wardrobes and generate a shopping list. Freeroomplanner.com is a full bedroom floor planner that lets you see how those wardrobes fit into the entire room, alongside your bed, furniture, and other features. Using both gives you a complete planning picture.
Do I need to create an account to use freeroomplanner.com?
No. Freeroomplanner.com is completely free to use with no sign-up, no email address, and nothing to download. Simply open the website in your browser and start planning. When you're ready, you can export your floor plan as a PNG image to save or share.
How accurate are the measurements in freeroomplanner.com?
The tool uses a snap-to-grid system with 10cm increments, which is more than precise enough for wardrobe and furniture planning. Live measurements are displayed in metres, centimetres, or feet as you draw and place items. For professional-grade accuracy, always double-check your measurements on-site before ordering furniture or booking fitters.
Final Thoughts: Plan Smart Before You Buy
The IKEA PAX Planner UK is a genuinely excellent tool for designing your wardrobe configuration — but wardrobe planning doesn't happen in isolation. Your wardrobe needs to work with the rest of the bedroom: the bed position, the door swing, the radiator, the window, and the way you actually move around the space each day.
By combining the IKEA PAX Planner with a free, browser-based room planner like freeroomplanner.com, you get the best of both worlds. You can design the perfect wardrobe interior with IKEA's own tool, then drop it into a full bedroom floor plan to make sure everything fits — before you spend a penny or book a single day of a fitter's time.
Start planning your bedroom today at freeroomplanner.com — no account needed, no download required, completely free