FAKTUM or METOD - how to identify your IKEA kitchen and what to choose

This is the first question a customer looking for new IKEA kitchen fronts asks: do I have FAKTUM or METOD? Everything else - dimensions, hinges, replacement paths, prices - depends on this answer. Currently, you can only buy METOD at IKEA; FAKTUM was discontinued 12 years ago. If you mix up the systems, the fronts simply won't fit the cabinet frames.

In this article, you will find a 30-second test to identify your kitchen, a full table of differences between the systems (hinges, dimensions, years sold), and the most common mistakes customers make. Plus clear conclusions: which system is "better" (spoiler: it depends on the question).

30-second test - which system do you have?

Three quick tests. Each works independently. If one confirms, you have the answer.

Test 1 - kitchen year. Check your invoice or recall when you bought it: - 2002-2014 → FAKTUM - 2014-2026 → METOD - 2014-2015 → borderline, check the hinge

Test 2 - hinge. Open any cabinet door, look at the hinge from the cabinet frame side: - Metal base with two screws in the cabinet frame → FAKTUM - Plastic base attached with a clip (marked UTRUSTA) → METOD

Test 3 - door dimension. Measure the height of a standard base cabinet door: - 70, 92 or 125 cm → FAKTUM - 80, 100 or 140 cm → METOD

If you're still unsure despite the tests, send a photo of the hinge and one front to kontakt@ogony.pl, and we'll identify it within a day. Often, a customer is convinced they have METOD ("the kitchen is still new"), but it turns out to be FAKTUM from 2012 - and then the strategy for replacing fronts is different.

Differences table - FAKTUM vs. METOD

The standard hinge drill hole is identical in both systems (ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, offset 96 mm). What is different is the hinge base attached to the cabinet frame - which is why a FAKTUM hinge will not fit a METOD cabinet frame even if the front has the correct holes.

What IKEA changed and why

In 2014, IKEA stopped selling FAKTUM and replaced it with METOD. Reasons worth knowing:

• The UTRUSTA clip hinge is faster to install (clip instead of screwing) and provides more stable hanging - less door sagging after years.
• Taller doors in METOD (80/100/140 cm instead of 70/92/125 cm) result from the trend of higher countertops and taller cabinets - kitchens are becoming "taller" because people are taller than 30 years ago.
• More flexible drawers - METOD has 10/20/40 cm, meaning you can have a shallow cutlery drawer (10 cm) plus a deep one for pots (40 cm). FAKTUM had 13/25/38 cm without this flexibility.
• Better modularity - METOD has more cabinet width variations (with a 90 cm corner unit) and a more consistent system of handles for solid doors and drawers.

From the perspective of a custom manufacturer (like us at ogony.pl), the difference is purely dimensional. We make fronts for both systems - only the exact millimeters are different.

Which system is "better"

A poorly phrased question, but often asked. Short answer:

• METOD is newer - better hinges, more cabinet widths, more flexible drawers. If you're buying a new kitchen in 2026, you're buying METOD (and you have no choice, because FAKTUM is not sold).
• FAKTUM is not worse - it's a system that has been working stably in Polish homes for 20+ years. If you have a FAKTUM kitchen from 2010 and the cabinet frames are fine, there's no reason to throw them out. Just replace the fronts.
• Old FAKTUM + new custom fronts is often a better solution than "demolish everything and buy METOD" - because you save 70-80% of the cost vs. a new kitchen.

At ogony.pl, 60% of kitchen orders are for FAKTUM (rescue customers with kitchens from 2005-2014), 40% are for METOD (customers looking for non-standard colors or dimensions). Both systems are equally good for us as a custom manufacturer.

Full guide to IKEA systems in the hub: IKEA kitchen fronts - FAKTUM and METOD. Full catalog of FAKTUM models (ADEL, ABSTRAKT, RUBRIK and others): IKEA FAKTUM front replacements. Full guide to METOD: IKEA METOD fronts.

Three typical identification mistakes

From our experience - these are the mistakes that cost customers the most.

1. Assuming METOD because "the kitchen is still new." A customer bought a second-hand apartment in 2018, the kitchen was "new" (as the previous owner told him). A hinge check reveals it's a FAKTUM from 2012. A new set of METOD fronts will not fit the cabinet frame.

2. Confusing model with system. The customer says "I have a Bodbyn kitchen." Bodbyn is a front style in the METOD system - Bodbyn itself says nothing about the system. The question "FAKTUM or METOD" is about the cabinet frame and hinge, not the front style.

3. Matching by an internet photo. A customer is looking for Veddinge-style fronts (smooth white matte lacquer from METOD), finds a "similar" FAKTUM front on Allegro and buys it. The front will not fit - different dimensions, different hinge.

FAQ - most frequently asked questions

Does a FAKTUM front fit a METOD cabinet frame? No. Although the standard hinge drill hole is the same (ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, offset 96 mm), a FAKTUM hinge (metal base) will not attach to a METOD cabinet frame - which has a plastic UTRUSTA base with a clip.

Can I replace FAKTUM hinges with UTRUSTA so that a METOD front will fit? Theoretically yes, but in practice it's not cost-effective. Replacing hinges requires milling the cabinet frame for the new base - more work than ordering a custom front for the existing FAKTUM hinge.

Are there any FAKTUM fronts still available at IKEA? No. IKEA gradually phased out FAKTUM by 2015. Currently, only METOD is available in stores (Veddinge, Bodbyn, Ringhult, Stensund and other styles). Old FAKTUM fronts can only be found on the secondary market (Allegro, OLX) or custom-ordered from manufacturers.

Does ogony.pl make fronts for both systems? Yes. We make custom fronts for both FAKTUM (with drill holes for the metal base) and METOD (with drill holes for UTRUSTA). It's the same front, just a different hinge attachment.

What are the standard IKEA dimensions for METOD? Doors: 40, 60, 80 cm width × 80, 100, 140 cm height. Drawers: 40, 60, 80 cm width × 10, 20, 40 cm height. Non-standard dimensions (e.g., 47×72 cm) require a custom manufacturer.

Does a dishwasher front have drill holes? Not as standard - the mounting depends on the dishwasher model. We supply the dishwasher front smooth; drill holes are made by the installation team or by you according to the specific dishwasher's instructions.

How to identify a FAKTUM front model (ADEL, ABSTRAKT, RUBRIK)? By frame style and material: ADEL = solid wood, ABSTRAKT = glossy or matte lacquer, RUBRIK = matte lacquer. Full catalog of FAKTUM models in our article IKEA FAKTUM front replacements.

Can I order a sample before replacing all fronts? Yes. Order a front sample for PLN 99, delivery in 12 working days. The price is deducted from the production order.