Missing furniture hardware? Check these details before assembly

Check the delivery before counting screws

Look at the order and package labels to see whether the product comes in several boxes. Check the opened packaging for a separate hardware bag before discarding it. Keep small parts contained and out of children's reach.

IKEA recommends checking every box and using the instructions available under its online product details. For another brand, find that manufacturer's manual for the exact model and size.

Record the part number and quantity

Compare the manual's parts list with what you received. Note the missing quantity and save a photo of the relevant manual page. If assembly has already started, include the step where the missing part becomes a problem.

IKEA uses six- or eight-digit codes for some orderable spare parts; its customer service can help identify uncoded components. Have your receipt ready and check availability for your particular item.

• Product name, model or article number, and size.
• Missing part number or the clearest available description.
• Quantity required and the assembly step involved.
• Photos of the relevant manual page and the parts you do have.
• Whether the manufacturer has confirmed and dispatched a replacement.

Separate missing fittings from damaged components

A missing fastener, a broken drawer runner and a cracked side panel are different problems. Describe each one separately when contacting the supplier. A close photo of the problem and a wider photo identifying the panel are more useful than “the hardware is wrong.”

Do not force a connection or modify a panel to make an uncertain part fit. Ask the manufacturer to identify an approved replacement. For secondhand furniture, include any readable product label and mention that the original fittings or manual may be incomplete.

Treat anti-tip hardware as part of the job

A dresser or bookcase looking complete does not mean its safety steps are complete. CPSC's Anchor It guidance recommends securing furniture and following the manufacturer's instructions. If a specified restraint is missing, flag it with the other missing parts.

Tell the assembly team where the item will stand and ask them to confirm the required anchoring arrangements for that furniture and wall. Include that step when agreeing on the scope of the visit.

Set a realistic assembly date

A replacement request is not the same as having the part in hand. Before confirming an assembly visit, check that the replacement arrived and matches what the manufacturer specified. If you need help identifying the parts first, say that when you contact us so the initial scope is clear.

For an Irvine or nearby Orange County request, send the product link, current assembly stage, missing-parts list, city and preferred day. Mention whether the furniture is already in its intended room and whether packaging removal is part of the work you want. We will confirm scope and availability before a visit.