The home office journal / Practical decisions
Will your supplies fit ALEX? Measure the items and drawer space
Use an item inventory and verified drawer measurements to plan a single exact ALEX unit without assuming it is a filing cabinet.
By Office Home Supply editorial · Updated 2026-10-11 · 3 minute read
Begin with the things you need to store
A drawer unit is useful only if the contents fit and remain accessible. Gather a representative set of supplies: the largest notebook, paper stack, cable pouch, charger and any container that will go inside. Record their external width, depth and height. Include lids, handles and plugged-in cable shapes where relevant. A product's overall width is not the same as the clear space inside a drawer.
Use the exact ALEX article
The selected white ALEX article is 004.735.46. IKEA lists an exterior width of 14 1/8 inches, depth of 22 7/8 inches and height of 27 1/2 inches, plus an inside drawer depth of 20 1/2 inches. Those facts establish part of the fit calculation. They do not establish every drawer's clear width and height. Obtain missing dimensions or check the actual unit before treating a large organizer as compatible.
Make a drawer-by-drawer plan
Draw one row for each drawer position and assign a role. Keep everyday small supplies together and name a place for the items that rarely move. If using a tray, measure the tray itself as well as its contents. Compare the combined height with available space and leave access for lifting items out. Do not fill a drawer plan solely from its volume; a long object can fail to fit even when the nominal storage volume looks ample.
Separate files from loose supplies
Do not assume this five-drawer ALEX supports hanging files or every paper format because another ALEX model does. Record the actual file dimensions and any required rails or insert. If the chosen configuration lacks verified compatibility, keep that use unresolved and compare a product designed for it. An attractive drawer photo should not become an invented filing-cabinet specification.
Plan the room with the drawer open
Mark the unit's full footprint, the path used to open a drawer and the space where you stand or sit to reach inside. Include the desk legs, chair movement and a nearby doorway. An under-desk location may save visible floor area while reducing leg clearance. The unit's finished back permits flexible placement, but does not answer those access questions. Follow the manufacturer's assembly and load instructions for the selected article.
Finish the single-unit purchase record
The photographed display may include adjacent units or optional accessories; the selected offer is one standard white unit without casters. Keep quantities and accessories explicit in Workspace Builder. Check current package contents, retailer total and missing measurements before purchasing. Office Home Supply has not performed a drawer-capacity test with your supplies. A measured inventory gives you a useful way to distinguish confirmed fit from an arrangement that still needs an interior dimension.
Sources & further reading
Original planning analysis based on the cited specifications. We do not claim hands-on testing. Confirm manufacturer compatibility and follow the supplied instructions.
