Can't find a Billy Bookcase? Don't fret — there are options.
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Why Is The Billy Bookcase So Hard to Find?
O Billy, Billy, wherefore art thou Billy? IKEA’s ubiquitous shelving unit, the Billy Bookcase, has been playing hard to get lately.
Customers love its modular, stackable, hackable design; its narrow, adjustable shelves; its options for doors and lighting; and the Swedish engineering that makes it space-saving and attractive.
And, of course there’s the price. The six-shelf Billy starts at a super-affordable $70 and moves up from there, depending on what kind of library shelves, curio cabinet or storage unit you’re looking to create.
In the past, IKEA said Billy bookcases rolled off the factory line every three minutes. But there are lots of reasons why they aren’t as available as customers would like. Maybe they’re too expensive to ship, regularly out of stock, or simply too hard to procure if you don’t live near an IKEA store.
The good news is, there are other options if you and Billy can’t make a connection.
IKEA Hemnes
The internet may be crawling with hacks and inspiration photos for the Billy bookcase, but there’s an equally adamant army defending the honor of IKEA’s Hemnes bookcase. The Hemnes is more expensive than the Billy, but offers a similar look. It’s also made from pine rather than particleboard.
The shelves are mostly adjustable — just one is fixed — and can be flipped if one starts to bend. And while the dimensions are similar to the Billy, the Hemnes offers slightly deeper shelves to accommodate larger books, vases or other collectibles. Several can be lined up together to create a library wall. And there are matching furniture pieces, including dressers.
Room Essentials at Target
Again, Target presents a design winner: The Room Essentials Bookcase feels like a Billy. With five adjustable shelves, all deeper than the Billy, there’s lots of flexibility with display options.
Like the Billy, the simple, clean design fades into the background and allows your books and curiosities to shine. While supply can also be spotty, it comes in three finishes: Billy-like white, espresso and black. That offers some design flexibility. Andra Delmonico, lead designer at Trendey, notes it has a lower maximum weight capacity than the Billy, so keep that in mind.
Mainstays at Walmart
The Mainstays Bookcase from Walmart rings up around $50, and it’s made from slightly better medium-density fiberboard (MDF). It has been in stock, and it’s shippable if there’s no Walmart store near you.
This bookcase is eight inches shorter and about eight inches wider than the Billy so you’ll need more wall space. But it offers five adjustable shelves and could be lined up to create a wall of shelves. It’s offered in white, espresso and true black oak finishes.
Elfa Shelf System From The Container Store
For anyone with a bigger budget who loves organization, The Container Store probably has a solution. The Elfa System can be configured to work in nearly any space and offers the same Scandinavian air of lightness and efficiency as the Billy. But such customization comes at a price — a three-foot bookshelf costs $772.
Freeport Pure White Bookshelf From The Home Depot
This particleboard five-shelf bookshelf is only slightly shorter and a bit wider than the Billy, but offers nearly the same narrow depth that Billy owners love. At less than $87, it’s not as inexpensive as a Billy. But it offers three adjustable shelves that can hold up to 30 pounds each, and comes in a simple white or chocolate finish.
Allen Roth Five-Shelf Bookcase at Lowe’s
Delmonico likes this five-shelf bookcase from Lowe’s for a Billy stand-in. Although wider and shorter than the willowy Billy, it offers some adjustability, with two fixed and three adjustable shelves within the closed-back unit. Its mega simple, no-frills design mimics the Billy, and the price is a wallet-friendly $50.
Hettel Bookcase From Wayfair
If you’re looking for something resembling a built-in library wall, with glass and solid doors like those offered as add-ons to the Billy, consider the Hettel bookcase.
Only four inches shorter and two inches wider than the Billy, it’s made of MDF and particleboard and available in that beloved clean, modern white. Although the price ($360) may be off-putting, you’re getting all the components up front and adding a showpiece in one go.
Parana Bookcase From Ashley Furniture
The Parana bookcase is tall and narrow, but six inches shorter and two inches narrower than the Billy. These dimensions make it a good choice for tight spaces. It’s got more flair, which can be appealing for some but a turn-off for Billy purists. It also costs more, at $115, because it’s made from wood instead of particleboard.
