The short verdict
BESTÅ is a flexible modular storage system, and most of what goes wrong with it is about the wall and the floor, not the cabinet. You choose frame sizes, then add doors, drawers and interiors that are sold separately. It stands on legs or hangs on a wall rail, and its TV units come with weight limits you must check against your TV. IKEA's US listings show ratings between 4.1 and 4.4 on the pieces we checked. We did not build one, so we give no star rating.
It suits
Living rooms and bedrooms where you want a low media unit or a built-up wall of storage sized to the room, and who will read the fixing instructions.
Think twice if
You cannot fix into studs, you plan to hang a heavy TV on a tall frame, or you want something that arrives complete with doors.
How we reviewed it
This is a source-verified review, not a hands-on test. Sizes, load limits, leg rules, ratings and warnings come from IKEA US product pages, checked on 2 November 2026, and from the 2022 IKEA BESTÅ buying guide. Prices on IKEA pages change, so we leave them out and suggest you check the current price. We have not assembled or loaded a BESTÅ, and we do not use forum posts as evidence.
White frame and TV unit sizes
All the units below are 15 3/4 in deep (some frames also come in a 7 7/8 in depth). Measurements are width by height, in inches, from the listing measurement field.
| Unit | Width x depth x height | Top limit and TV size | IKEA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | 23 5/8 x 15 3/4 x 15, 25 1/4 or 75 5/8 in | None listed | 4.1 (4,779 reviews, frames) |
| Frame | 47 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 15 or 25 1/4 in | None listed | 4.2 (1,553) |
| Frame, shallow | 23 5/8 x 7 7/8 x 15 or 25 1/4 in | None listed | 4.3 (608) |
| TV unit | 70 7/8 x 15 3/4 x 15 in | 66 lb, suits TV up to 72 in | 4.3 (2,316) |
| TV unit | 70 7/8 x 15 3/4 x 25 1/4 in | 55 lb | 4.4 (700) |
| TV unit | 47 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 15 or 25 1/4 in | 35 lb, suits TV up to 45 in | 4.2 (319, 25 1/4 in) |
Doors, hinges, drawers and interiors are sold separately, so a price for the frame alone is not the price of the finished unit. IKEA also offers a BESTÅ planner online for putting the combination together.
Check the TV before you pick the unit
The TV limit is the number to check first. For a 70 7/8 in unit, IKEA lists 66 lb on the 15 in high version and 55 lb on the 25 1/4 in high one. The 47 1/4 in units list 35 lb and a TV up to 45 in. Weigh your TV, including the stand, and keep clear of the limit. Our how high to mount a TV guide covers the eye-level rule if the TV will sit on the unit.
Legs, floor and wall
A frame stands on legs or hangs on a suspension rail, and the number of legs depends on its width. These counts are from IKEA US listings.
| Frame width | Legs on the floor |
|---|---|
| 23 5/8 in | Four legs |
| 47 1/4 in | Five legs, or four legs and one BESTÅ supporting leg (TV unit: six legs, or four and one) |
| 70 7/8 in | Eight legs, or four legs and two supporting legs |
- Floor. A 23 5/8 in frame takes four legs. A 47 1/4 in frame takes five legs, or four legs and one BESTÅ supporting leg. A 70 7/8 in frame takes eight, or four and two supporting legs.
- Wall. Frames hang on a suspension rail screwed into studs. IKEA lists one rail for a 23 5/8 in frame and two for a 47 1/4 in frame, with at least 2 in between the top of the frame and the ceiling. The 15 in high TV units can be wall-hung, and IKEA says the maximum load for a wall-hung TV bench depends on the wall material. The suspension rail cannot be used with TV units.
- 25 1/4 in TV units. The 2022 IKEA buying guide says these frames should not be hung on the wall for safety reasons, and the listings we checked show no wall-hang instructions for them.
Anchoring matters either way. IKEA's warnings say the unit must be securely anchored with suitable screws and plugs. Use fixings that suit your wall type, and have a professional check if you are unsure. A tape measure and a stud finder are the first tools to reach for.
Tall frames need their shelves
The 75 5/8 in frame must be completed with shelf supports and at least two BESTÅ particleboard shelves, to prevent the side panels bowing. That is an instruction from IKEA, not a nice-to-have. If you plan to leave a tall frame mostly empty, expect it to need those shelves anyway.
Materials and guarantee
IKEA lists the frame as particleboard and fiberboard, with a honeycomb paper filling that it says is 100 percent recycled. The TV unit page lists a 10-year guarantee. Read IKEA's guarantee terms for what it covers and what it does not.
Who BESTÅ suits, and who should skip it
It suits
- A low media unit under a wall-mounted TV.
- Built-up storage planned to the wall with the planner.
- People who will fix to studs and follow the leg and rail instructions.
Skip it if
- You cannot or will not fix into the wall.
- You need a heavy TV on a 25 1/4 in unit above the limit.
- You want a finished piece without choosing doors and interiors.
For open cube storage see our IKEA KALLAX shelf review. For closed storage that fits a wall, our IKEA PAX wardrobe review covers the same kind of planning.