IKEA GERSBY bookcase

IKEA GERSBY bookcase by IKEA — bookcases & shelving, Overall: 23.63" W x 9.5" D x 70.88" H. Compare it with similar pieces across brands, and see the rooms it appears in.

GERSBY Bookcase - white 23 5/8x70 7/8 " by IKEA
  • Brand: IKEA
  • Category: Bookcases & shelving
  • Price: $59
  • Dimensions: Overall: 23.63" W x 9.5" D x 70.88" H
  • Colours: white
  • Rooms: Home office
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Room×Lab Review · Review updated October 15, 2026

White GERSBY owners' recurring complaints are shelves bending under books, fixed shelf heights, and wobble until the bookcase is anchored

Room×Lab read 1,465 distinct written reviews of the white GERSBY, posted 2015–2026 in many languages. Most are under the pictured US listing, and a small share come from IKEA's Australian and Malaysian pages (the Malaysian ones mostly in Japanese, some citing yen), whose construction may differ. A few describe an older black unit, an earlier version or a modified build. Owners report using it for anywhere from a few days to more than five years. IKEA's 1,472 ratings (4.5-star average, September 2026) cover all three listings, including 7 duplicates and a few reviews of delivery, store service or another IKEA model. None says whether it was incentivized. Theme counts tally reviews mentioning each theme, not failure rates. The reviews below show long use and the main complaints. They are examples, not a vote.

Room×Lab rating: 6.5 out of 10 (medium confidence). Most white GERSBY owners rate this slim, inexpensive bookcase highly. Repeated reports of shelves bending under books, sometimes within days, plus fixed shelf heights and the need to anchor it hold the score back. Owners who report sag rarely say how much weight was on their shelves.

  • Shelves bending under books is the most serious repeated complaint: 15 favorable and 32 critical mentions about shelf sag under books — Critics describe shelves bending within a day, a few weeks or under six months, one under 2 kg of books and others holding softcovers or only a few books. Several of these reviews come from the Australian and Malaysian pages. Supporters report full shelves staying straight and years of heavy book storage. Loads are rarely stated.
  • Shelf heights are fixed, and owners say extra shelves aren't sold: 10 favorable and 55 critical mentions about fixed shelf heights and missing add-on shelves — Critics say shelves sit at one height with no spare peg holes, so changes mean drilling, and one says a new white unit lacks holes an older black one had. Others find the spacing suits tall books or A4 files. One owner calls the shelves repositionable and another cites €10 extra shelves, so owner accounts conflict.
  • Anchored units feel sturdy; unanchored ones can wobble or tip: 24 favorable and 30 critical mentions about stability and wall anchoring — Many satisfied owners call it sturdy once fastened to the wall; two found it steady before anchoring under light or early use. Critics report wobble and falling binders, several say it could easily tip forward unless fastened, and some say their boxes lacked anchors or an anti-tip screw.

Before buying

Choose the white GERSBY for a narrow, 9 1/2-inch-deep spot where its fixed shelf heights suit your items, and buy wall screws to anchor it. For heavy books on every shelf, consider sturdier shelving: some owners saw shelves bend within days.

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