The IKEA Algot and Boaxel systems both offer highly customizable modular storage, but they cater to different needs and spaces. Algot focuses on sleek, space-maximizing solutions for bedrooms and offices with a more polished Scandi-modern look. In contrast, the IKEA Boaxel system is more utilitarian, emphasizing ease of assembly and flexible use in a wider variety of areas, including laundry rooms and entryways.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide which IKEA modular system is the right fit for your home organization project.
IKEA Algot Modular Storage System
The IKEA Algot is a versatile modular storage system designed to maximize vertical space in areas like closets, bedrooms, and home offices. It's known for its clean, minimalist aesthetic and the ability to customize configurations with a variety of shelves, drawers, and baskets. The Algot system has been a long-time favorite for creating efficient, stylish storage on a budget.
- What it is: A wall-mounted, modular shelving and drawer system for creating personalized storage.
- Key features: Wide range of components (shelves, baskets, rods, drawers), sleek minimalist design. Designed for customization in standard room and closet spaces.
- Price: Basic setups start around $50, with larger, more complex configurations costing $200 or more.
- Style: Modern Scandinavian. Features clean lines and a simple design that fits well in contemporary and minimalist interiors.
- Materials/Construction: Built with engineered wood, fiberboard, and sturdy metal brackets for support. It's durable enough for everyday clothing and office supply storage.
- Pros: Highly affordable entry point. Sleek, polished aesthetic looks great in closets and bedrooms. Extensive component options allow for detailed personalization. Efficiently uses vertical space.
- Cons: Assembly can be more involved than newer systems. Not intended for heavy-duty storage like tools or heavy equipment. Limited suitability for humid environments like bathrooms.
The Algot system is for anyone seeking an affordable, custom closet or office organization solution who prioritizes a clean, modern aesthetic.
Note: While widely popular, the Algot system has been phased out in many regions. Availability may be limited to second-hand marketplaces.
IKEA Boaxel Modular Storage System
The IKEA Boaxel is the successor to systems like Algot, designed for even greater simplicity and versatility. This modular system emphasizes effortless click-in assembly and can be adapted for almost any room, including challenging spaces like laundry rooms, narrow hallways, or garages. Its design is practical, functional, and exceptionally easy to reconfigure as your needs change.
- What it is: An easy-to-assemble, wall-mounted storage system for bedrooms, laundry rooms, closets, and entryways.
- Key features: Simple "click-in" assembly requires minimal tools. Components are lightweight and easy to adjust. Versatile enough for humid spaces like laundry rooms.
- Price: Individual units start around $30, with complete systems typically ranging from $100 to $300+.
- Style: Minimalistic and utilitarian. The focus is purely on function and practicality, with a simple, unobtrusive look that blends into any space.
- Materials/Construction: Components are primarily powder-coated steel and foil-finished particleboard, making them lightweight and reasonably moisture-resistant for household use.
- Pros: Extremely easy to assemble and reconfigure. Versatile enough for a wide range of rooms, including laundry rooms. Highly adaptable for renters who may need to move it. Modern and widely available at IKEA.
- Cons: A more utilitarian look that lacks the slightly more polished finish of a system like Algot. Overall system cost can be slightly higher for expansive setups. Fewer specialized accessory options compared to older systems.
Boaxel is ideal for renters, first-time homeowners, or anyone who needs a simple, adaptable storage solution that can be used anywhere and changed easily.
Shop this product: ikea.com/us/en/cat/boaxel-system-47525/
IKEA Algot vs. IKEA Boaxel Comparison
Dimensions & Sizing
Both Algot and Boaxel are modular systems designed to fit a variety of spaces, but they approach scalability differently. Algot shines in creating large, wall-to-wall installations typical of walk-in closets or entire office walls. It was designed with a breadth of components to fill more traditional, uniform spaces completely.
The Boaxel system, while also scalable, focuses more on simple, compact configurations that can be placed in diverse and often smaller spaces. Its streamlined component list makes it perfect for adding storage to a narrow laundry room, a small entryway closet, or a garage wall, where simplicity and adaptability are more important than creating a fully built-in look.
Materials & Construction
Both systems use a combination of engineered wood for shelves and steel for brackets, but their construction reflects their intended use. IKEA Algot was built to be a relatively permanent fixture in a home, offering durable components that feel solid once installed correctly.
By contrast, Boaxel prioritizes lightweight construction and ease of handling. This makes its components simpler to move, click into place, and reorganize. Its powder-coated steel is suitable for areas with some moisture, such as a laundry room or well-ventilated bathroom, giving it a construction advantage for versatile home-wide use.
Style & Versatility
Stylistically, Algot presents a cleaner, slightly more refined look. The design felt more intentional for living spaces like bedrooms and offices, integrating seamlessly with other contemporary furniture. Many users preferred its cohesive appearance for open-concept closets.
Boaxel is unapologetically utilitarian. Its design is driven by function, practicality, and cost-effectiveness. While it may not win awards for style, its neutral appearance allows it to disappear into the background in utility-focused spaces. Its true versatility comes from where it can be placed (laundry rooms, closets, garages), whereas Algot's versatility was more in how it could be customized within its target spaces.
Price & Value
For large-scale projects, the Algot system was often slightly cheaper, offering great value for homeowners looking to create an entire custom closet solution on a budget. Because it was an older system, its pricing was highly competitive.
The IKEA Boaxel is still very affordable, but its value proposition is different. The premium is placed on convenience, simplicity, and relocatability. For a renter who might move in a few years, the incredible ease of disassembling and reassembling Boaxel provides immense value that may outweigh any small price difference.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both modular systems from IKEA are effective, but they excel in different scenarios.
Choose Algot if (and you can find it):
- You are building a custom walk-in closet or home office storage system.
- A sleek, built-in, and stylistically consistent appearance is your top priority.
- You are on a very tight budget and are shopping the second-hand market.
- You won't need to reconfigure or move the system frequently.
Choose Boaxel if:
- You need a flexible storage solution for spaces like a laundry room, entryway, or garage.
- You value extremely simple, tool-minimal assembly and reconfiguration.
- You are a renter and plan on taking the storage system with you when you move.
- Functionality, versatility, and availability are more important than a specific aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Algot and Boaxel?
The main difference is their design purpose. Algot was designed as a sleek, customizable system for main living areas like bedrooms, closets, and offices. Boaxel is a more utilitarian system designed for supreme ease of assembly and flexible use across a wider variety of spaces, including utility areas like laundry rooms.
Is Boaxel the new Algot?
Essentially, yes. Boaxel is IKEA's modern replacement for the discontinued Algot system. It improves on Algot's concept with a much simpler click-in installation and is designed to be even more versatile for different rooms in the home.
Which system is stronger or can hold more weight?
Both systems are engineered for typical household loads like clothing, books, and storage bins. Neither is intended for extremely heavy-duty garage storage. Always follow IKEA's specific weight load guidelines for each shelf or bracket combo. For most uses, their strength is comparable.
Can I combine parts from Algot and Boaxel?
No, the systems are not cross-compatible. The mounting brackets, uprights, and shelf attachments are sized differently and will not work together. You must use components designed specifically for each system.
Which one is easier to assemble?
Boaxel is significantly easier to assemble. Its primary selling point is the click-in connection for shelves and accessories, which requires fewer tools and less time than the Algot system.
Which is better for a walk-in closet?
While Boaxel is perfectly functional for a closet, many users prefer the slightly more refined look of Algot for a primary walk-in closet where aesthetics are important. If you can find it, Algot often creates a more "built-in" feel.
Which system is more versatile?
Boaxel is more versatile in terms of the number of rooms it can serve. Its materials are better suited for spaces with potential humidity, like a laundry room, garage, or even a covered balcony, making it a more rugged, all-around home solution.
Are these systems easy to find and buy?
The Boaxel system is a current product and is widely available at most IKEA stores and online. The Algot system has been discontinued, so finding new components is rare. It is primarily available through second-hand online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
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