Why Planning Your IKEA PAX Wardrobe Matters
An IKEA PAX wardrobe is one of the most popular storage solutions in UK homes. Versatile, affordable, and customisable, the PAX system can transform a bedroom — but only if you plan it correctly. Rush the layout and you could end up with awkward gaps, mismatched internal fittings, or a wardrobe that simply doesn't work for your space.
That's why using an IKEA PAX planner UK tool before you buy a single frame is so important. Whether you're measuring a tricky alcove, working around a sloped ceiling, or trying to squeeze in a double wardrobe alongside a bed, having a visual plan saves time, money, and frustration.
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about planning a PAX wardrobe — from taking accurate measurements to using free online floor planning tools to see how your wardrobe fits within the wider bedroom layout.
Understanding the IKEA PAX System
Before diving into planning tools, it helps to understand how the PAX system works. PAX wardrobes are modular, meaning they're made up of individual frame units that slot together. You choose the frames, add doors, and then fill the inside with shelves, drawers, rails, and organisers from the KOMPLEMENT range.
Standard PAX Frame Sizes
In the UK, PAX frames come in a range of standard widths and heights:
- Widths: 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm
- Heights: 201 cm and 236 cm
- Depth: 35 cm or 58 cm
By combining different frame widths, you can create a wardrobe that fits almost any wall. For example, two 100 cm frames plus one 75 cm frame gives you a 275 cm run — useful for many standard UK bedroom walls.
Why Precise Measurements Are Essential
Unlike fitted wardrobes, PAX units don't trim down to size. You need to work with the standard dimensions and find a combination that fits your available space. A gap of even a few centimetres between the wardrobe and the wall can look untidy or prevent doors from opening properly.
This is where digital planning tools become invaluable. Instead of sketching on graph paper and hoping for the best, you can map out your bedroom accurately and experiment with different frame combinations before spending a penny.
Using the IKEA PAX Planner UK Tool
IKEA offers its own wardrobe planner on its UK website, which lets you configure frames, doors, and internal fittings digitally. It's a useful starting point, particularly for visualising how different door styles and interior configurations look together.
However, the IKEA PAX planner UK tool focuses specifically on the wardrobe itself — it doesn't show you how the wardrobe fits into your actual bedroom. For that, you need a full room planner.
What the IKEA Planner Does Well
- Lets you mix and match frame sizes to hit a target width
- Shows door style options (sliding, hinged, mirrored)
- Helps you visualise internal KOMPLEMENT configurations
- Generates a shopping list automatically
Where It Falls Short
- Doesn't show the rest of your bedroom layout
- Can't account for windows, doors, radiators, or sockets
- Doesn't help you check clearance space for swing doors
- No option to plan adjacent furniture like beds or dressing tables
This is exactly why using a dedicated room planning tool alongside the IKEA planner gives you a much more complete picture.
Planning Your Full Bedroom Layout First
Before you finalise any wardrobe configuration, it's worth stepping back and planning your entire bedroom layout. This helps you answer questions like:
- Which wall is the best fit for the PAX run?
- Will hinged doors have enough clearance to open fully?
- Is there enough space between the wardrobe and the bed to move comfortably?
- Can you fit a dressing table or chest of drawers alongside?
A free, browser-based floor planner like the one at freeroomplanner.com lets you draw your bedroom to scale and experiment with different furniture arrangements — all without signing up, downloading anything, or entering your email address.
The bedroom planner tool on the site uses a snap-to-grid system (snapping to every 10 cm) so your measurements stay accurate. You can draw walls, add doors and windows, and then drag and resize furniture items to find the best layout. Live measurements display in metres, centimetres, or feet, making it easy to cross-reference with IKEA's standard frame sizes.
Step-by-Step: How to Plan Your PAX Wardrobe Using a Free Room Planner
- Measure your bedroom accurately. Use a tape measure to record the length and width of the room, plus the position of windows, doors, and any architectural features like alcoves or chimney breasts. Note the height of your ceiling too.
- Draw your room to scale. Head to freeroomplanner.com and use the bedroom planner to draw your walls. The snap-to-grid system makes this straightforward — click to place walls and the tool keeps everything proportional.
- Mark out windows, doors, and radiators. These are the obstacles that will influence where your wardrobe can go. Add them to your floor plan so you can see the available wall space at a glance.
- Experiment with wardrobe placement. Use the furniture tool to drag a wardrobe-shaped rectangle onto the wall where you're thinking of placing your PAX units. Resize it to match the total width of your planned configuration. Check that there's enough clearance for doors to open and that walkways around the bed aren't too narrow.
- Check standard clearances. For hinged PAX doors, you'll need at least 58 cm of clear space in front of the wardrobe (matching the door width). Sliding doors need no clearance in front but require an overlap between panels. Make sure your floor plan reflects this.
- Finalise your frame combination. Once you know the maximum width available, calculate which combination of PAX frame sizes fits best. Remember, frames come in 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm widths. Aim to fill the space as closely as possible, leaving a small gap (no more than 5 cm) that can be filled with a filler strip or plinth.
- Take your plan to IKEA. Export your floor plan as a PNG from freeroomplanner.com and bring it with you to IKEA or share it with a bedroom fitter. It gives everyone a clear reference point and reduces the chance of ordering the wrong items.
Tips for Specific Bedroom Scenarios
PAX in an Alcove
Alcoves are popular spots for built-in-style PAX wardrobes, but they come with challenges. The alcove may not be perfectly square, and the width might not match standard PAX sizes exactly. Use your room planner to map the alcove precisely, then work out which frame combination comes closest to fitting. Consider leaving a small gap on one side and using a filler strip for a neater finish. If the alcove is deeper than 58 cm, you may also want to consider a front panel or pelmet to close the gap above the cornice.
Floor-to-Ceiling PAX
In rooms with high ceilings, some homeowners extend their PAX wardrobes to the ceiling using a topper unit. This creates a built-in look and maximises storage. If this is your goal, measure your ceiling height carefully and check that IKEA's topper panel dimensions work with your chosen frame height.
PAX as a Room Divider
In open-plan spaces or large bedrooms, PAX units are sometimes used as room dividers — for example, to separate a sleeping area from a home office. If you're planning something like this, the multi-room floor plan maker at freeroomplanner.com can help you visualise the full space and make sure the divider works ergonomically and aesthetically.
Fitted Wardrobe Look on a Budget
Many homeowners use PAX as the base for a more fitted wardrobe look by adding custom doors, panels, and cornices. If you're working with a carpenter or joiner to achieve this effect, having an accurate floor plan to share is essential. Export your bedroom plan from freeroomplanner.com and use it as the basis for your brief.
What Professionals Use Floor Plans For
It's not just homeowners who benefit from planning tools. Kitchen makers, bathroom fitters, bedroom specialists, and contractors regularly receive client-produced floor plans to inform their quotes and installation plans. A well-drawn bedroom plan — even a simple one created in a free tool — can dramatically speed up the consultation process and reduce misunderstandings about what fits where.
If you're a bedroom fitter or contractor, freeroomplanner.com is a tool you can recommend to clients before their first appointment. When they arrive with a to-scale floor plan already drawn, you can focus on the details rather than spending the first half of the meeting taking measurements.
Other Related Planning Tools on FreeRoomPlanner.com
Bedroom planning is just one part of what freeroomplanner.com offers. If you're renovating multiple rooms, the site includes a range of specialist tools:
- Kitchen planner: Ideal for laying out kitchen units, appliances, and worktops before you order. Particularly useful if you're planning a kitchen alongside a bedroom renovation.
- Bathroom planner: Plan the position of a bath, shower enclosure, WC, and basin with accurate measurements. Useful if your en-suite is adjacent to the bedroom you're planning.
- Living room planner: Experiment with sofa placement, TV walls, and storage units to find the best arrangement.
- Multi-room floor plan maker: Draw your entire home layout and see how rooms connect — useful for whole-house renovation projects.
All tools work directly in your browser with no sign-up, no email address, and no download required. Just open the page and start planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free IKEA PAX planner for UK customers?
Yes. IKEA's own wardrobe planner is available on the IKEA UK website and lets you configure frame sizes, door styles, and internal fittings. However, it only shows the wardrobe itself — not how it fits into your room. For a complete bedroom layout, use a free room planner like freeroomplanner.com alongside the IKEA tool.
What is the maximum width of a PAX wardrobe combination?
There's no fixed maximum, as you can combine as many frames as your wall space allows. However, IKEA recommends securing frames to the wall for stability, and very wide combinations may need additional support. In practice, most UK bedrooms accommodate combinations between 150 cm and 300 cm wide.
Do I need to create an account to use freeroomplanner.com?
No. The room planning tools at freeroomplanner.com require no account, no sign-up, and no email address. Simply open the site in your browser and start drawing your room straight away.
Can I use a room planner to check if PAX sliding doors will work?
Yes. Because freeroomplanner.com lets you draw furniture and walls to scale, you can check whether sliding doors have enough wall space on either side to slide fully open, and whether hinged doors have enough clearance in front. This is especially useful in smaller bedrooms where space is tight.
How do I export my bedroom floor plan to share with a fitter or IKEA consultant?
Once you've finished drawing your room layout in freeroomplanner.com, you can export the plan as a PNG image. This can then be saved to your phone or printed out to take to an IKEA store or share with a bedroom fitter or contractor.
Final Thoughts
Planning a PAX wardrobe doesn't have to be stressful. The key is to start with an accurate picture of your bedroom — its dimensions, obstacles, and available wall space — before you even begin choosing frame sizes or door styles.
Using an IKEA PAX planner UK tool is a great way to configure the wardrobe itself, but pairing it with a free bedroom floor planner gives you the full picture. When you can see exactly how the wardrobe fits into your room alongside the bed, dressing table, and other furniture, you make better decisions — and avoid costly mistakes.
Head to freeroomplanner.com to start planning your bedroom layout today. No sign-up, no download, no hassle — just a simple, accurate planning tool that works right in your browser.