Skip to content
Use code for 50% offSee plans
Used by thousands of developers who passed their interviews

How to Solve Filling Bookcase Shelves Problem

Master the Filling Bookcase Shelves LeetCode problem with undetectable real-time assistance. Get instant solutions and explanations during your coding interviews.

PhantomCodeAI generates complete solutions and debugging hints that you can use while explaining your approach, so you stay calm and in control.

undetectable
real-time
works on major platforms
Medium#1105
LeetCode Problem

Filling Bookcase Shelves

You are given an array books where books[i] = [thicknessi, heighti] indicates the thickness and height of the ith book. You are also given an integer shelfWidth. We want to place these books in order onto bookcase shelves that have a total width shelfWidth. We choose some of the books to place on this shelf such that the sum of their thickness is less than or equal to shelfWidth, then build another level of the shelf of the bookcase so that the total height of the bookcase has increased by the maximum height of the books we just put down. We repeat this process until there are no more books to place. Note that at each step of the above process, the order of the books we place is the same order as the given sequence of books. Return the minimum possible height that the total bookshelf can be after placing shelves in this manner.

PhantomCodeAI will help you solve this problem in real-time during your interview

Get instant solutions, explanations, and code generation
Problem Breakdown

Understanding the Filling Bookcase Shelves Problem

Let's break down this LeetCode problem and understand what makes it challenging in interview settings.

Problem Statement

You are given an array books where books[i] = [thicknessi, heighti] indicates the thickness and height of the ith book. You are also given an integer shelfWidth. We want to place these books in order onto bookcase shelves that have a total width shelfWidth. We choose some of the books to place on this shelf such that the sum of their thickness is less than or equal to shelfWidth, then build another level of the shelf of the bookcase so that the total height of the bookcase has increased by the maximum height of the books we just put down. We repeat this process until there are no more books to place. Note that at each step of the above process, the order of the books we place is the same order as the given sequence of books. Return the minimum possible height that the total bookshelf can be after placing shelves in this manner.

MediumProblem #1105
LeetCode

Filling Bookcase Shelves

Related Topics

How PhantomCodeAI Helps

Get real-time assistance for Filling Bookcase Shelves problems during coding interviews. PhantomCodeAI provides instant solutions and explanations.

Examples

# Example 1

Input
books = [[1,1],[2,3],[2,3],[1,1],[1,1],[1,1],[1,2]], shelfWidth = 4
Output
6

# Example 2

Input
books = [[1,3],[2,4],[3,2]], shelfWidth = 6
Output
4

Constraints

1 <= books.length <= 1000
1 <= thicknessi <= shelfWidth <= 1000
1 <= heighti <= 1000

How PhantomCodeAI Helps with LeetCode Problems

Reinforce undetectability, platform compatibility, and real-time assistance to remove any doubt.

1000+
developers use PhantomCodeAI
and growing every day
95%
success rate
of users pass their interviews
100%
undetectable
native desktop architecture
Real-time
assistance
instant solutions during interviews

See PhantomCodeAI in Action

Watch how PhantomCodeAI helps solve LeetCode problems during live interviews

PhantomCodeAI
Start Interview
⌘I
Online Round
⌘O
Interview
Listening
Think

Solve Filling Bookcase Shelves — You are given an array books where books[i] = [thicknessi, heighti] indicates th...

Here's the optimal approach using Array:

def solve(input):
# Optimal O(n) solution
return result

Time: O(n)  |  Space: O(n)

Start Over ⌘G
Think & Crack ⌘↵

Undetectability Checklist

Run compatibility test before interviews
Use recommended Zoom version settings
Enable advanced screen capture options
Verify native desktop architecture
Test with screen recording software

Platform Compatibility

Zoom
Supported
Google Meet
Supported
HackerRank
Supported
CodeSignal
Supported
CoderPad
Supported
Teams
Supported

User results and traction

Thousands of developers use PhantomCodeAI. Social proof signals that this approach helps real candidates land offers across a range of companies.

Undetectability and technical details

Our native desktop architecture avoids common detection vectors used by browser extensions. We provide a clear checklist so you can run basic checks and confirm the app will be invisible.

Platform compatibility and limitations

We work with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad and other web-based platforms. Check the compatibility note and request a browser link if a specific desktop app is unsupported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about solving Filling Bookcase Shelves and using PhantomCodeAI during coding interviews.

How does PhantomCodeAI help with LeetCode problems during a coding interview?
PhantomCodeAI reads the problem from a screenshot or listens to it via audio, then generates a complete solution with a step-by-step approach and time/space complexity, so you can focus on explaining your reasoning rather than getting stuck on implementation.
Which programming languages does PhantomCodeAI support?
11 languages including Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, and C#. Set a preferred language to get idiomatic solutions.
Does PhantomCodeAI work with HackerRank, CodeSignal, and CoderPad?
Yes — it works alongside LeetCode, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and HackerEarth, plus any browser-based coding environment.
Can PhantomCodeAI handle follow-up questions and modifications?
Yes. Capture the modified problem by screenshot or audio and get an updated solution within seconds, including new edge cases and optimizations.
Is PhantomCodeAI detectable during live interviews?
PhantomCodeAI runs as a native desktop overlay that does not appear in screen shares, recordings, or proctoring software, and works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and major coding platforms.
Should I still practice these problems on my own first?
Yes. The most durable preparation is solving problems unaided first, then using AI afterward to review your approach, complexity, and missed edge cases — use it to debrief and learn, not to skip the reps.

Related LeetCode Problems

Practice more problems similar to Filling Bookcase Shelves.

PhantomCodeAI

20+ Stealth Features. Zero Detection Cases.

The only AI interview tool with an undetectable desktop overlay, real-time audio listening, and personalized AI responses.