IKEA Hemnes 8-drawer dresser in a nursery: size, clearance and layouts

Short answer: the IKEA Hemnes 8-drawer dresser is 63" wide × 19⅝" deep × 37¾" tall (160 × 50 × 96 cm), per IKEA. With 36" in front to open drawers, plan on a zone about 63" × 56" of floor. It fits well in a 10x10 nursery opposite the crib, and in a 9x10 on the short wall.

Hemnes 8-drawer dimensions

Measurement	Inches	Centimeters
Width	63"	160 cm
Depth	19⅝"	50 cm
Height	37¾"	96 cm
Drawer depth (inside)	15¾"	40 cm
Clearance under the dresser	4⅜"	11 cm
Wall + clearance zone	63" of wall and about 56" out (19⅝" + 36")

Source: IKEA US product page (same measurements for the white stain and black-brown versions).

At 37¾" tall, the top is close to a comfortable changing height for many adults. If you put a changing pad on it, use a contoured pad that's attached to the dresser, and measure the depth: the top is 19⅝" deep, so look for a pad that fits that depth without hanging over the front.

Is it too big for a nursery?

It's wide, not deep. The 63" width is the main thing to check: you need a stretch of wall longer than about 64" with no door swing, radiator or closet door in the way. A typical 6-drawer nursery dresser is 55–60" wide, so the Hemnes needs a few more inches of wall but gives you two extra drawers.

Layout A: 10x10, opposite the crib

Hemnes on the right wall, crib on the left, glider in the corner. Green is the 36" drawer zone; orange is a recliner's footrest. Scale: 1 ft = 48 px.

The 120" wall leaves about 57" beside the dresser. Between the crib and the edge of the drawer zone there's still about 33" to walk. The door swing in the corner doesn't reach the dresser.

Layout B: 9x10, under the window

On a 108" short wall, the Hemnes leaves 45" of wall free. Putting it under the window keeps the crib off the window wall. Scale: 1 ft = 48 px.

A dresser is a good use of a window wall, because the crib shouldn't go there. Keep blind and curtain cords tied up out of reach, and check that the 37¾" top won't block the window's latch or sill. The crib goes on the long left wall, and the glider sits in the corner.

Won't fit? IKEA's Hemnes 6-drawer (a taller chest) and 3-drawer are both 42½" wide, about 20" narrower than the 8-drawer. Measure your wall before you choose.

Drop a 63" × 19⅝" dresser into your own room and see where it fits with your crib, door and window.

Try it with your room, free →

Safety: anchor it

IKEA states the Hemnes must be securely anchored to the wall. It has a drawer interlock (only one drawer per column opens at a time), which reduces tip-over risk only when the dresser is anchored too. Use the right screws and plugs for your wall type, and anchor it before the baby can crawl.

Before you buy

Measure the wall you want: you need about 64" of clear length, with outlets and vents marked.
Check 36" of floor in front, clear of the door swing and crib.
If it's going under a window, measure the sill height (the dresser is 37¾" tall).
Plan where the changing pad and diaper caddy go, and keep a lamp and outlet within reach.

More: crib and dresser layout for a 9x10 nursery, nursery layout around the door and window, Babyletto Hudson crib dimensions.

Common questions

How big is the IKEA Hemnes 8-drawer dresser?

63" wide, 19⅝" deep and 37¾" tall (160 × 50 × 96 cm), according to IKEA.

Will a Hemnes 8-drawer fit in a 10x10 nursery?

Yes. On a 120" wall it leaves about 57" beside it, and with a crib on the opposite wall you keep 36" to open drawers plus a walkway.

Can you use the Hemnes 8-drawer as a changing table?

Many parents do. The top is 37¾" high and 19⅝" deep. Use a contoured changing pad that attaches to the dresser, and anchor the dresser to the wall.

How much space do you need in front of a dresser?

Plan on about 36" so you can pull a drawer out and stand in front of it.