How To Install Kitchen Cabinets

Installing your own kitchen cabinets can save you some serious cash, whether you’re building a brand-new home or simply remodeling your existing setup. The process might seem daunting at first, but it can be a breeze if you prepare properly and take precautions to keep yourself safe. Read our guide below to learn how to install kitchen cabinets, how to secure them to the wall, and how to add the perfect finishing touches.

Tools and Materials Needed to Install a Kitchen Cabinet

Gather the tools and materials below before you begin installation:

• 6-foot level
• Cabinet jack
• Cabinet screws
• Clamps
• Drill/driver
• Hammer
• Jigsaw
• Pencil
• Shims
• Stud finder
• Tape measure

Screw Selection: Use 2½-inch deck screws with washers or washer-head screws for anchoring cabinets to studs. As TOH general contractor Tom Silva has demonstrated, the washer head provides more surface area when attaching the screw to the cabinet, creating a more secure hold. Avoid drywall screws — they can snap under the load.

Measuring and Planning a Kitchen Cabinet Installation

Follow the steps below to prepare your space, and remember that accurate measurements will help you achieve a seamless outcome:

1. Measure the total length of your cabinet run, and add up the widths of all of the cabinets.
2. Mark a plumb line on the wall to establish the positions of the cabinets.
3. Determine the height of your cabinets, and consider factors such as refrigerator height and the clearance you want for your countertop.
4. Draw reference lines on the wall with which you can guide your installation.
5. Measure the height and width of any appliances you plan to install near the cabinets.

Laying Out Reference Lines: Using a level, mark a level reference line on the walls about 48 inches off the floor. Snap a chalk line at these marks, and measure from this line down to the floor in several places. Mark where the measurement is shortest — this is the high point of the floor. From that point, mark the height of your base cabinets (usually 34 inches above the floor) and extend a level layout line along the walls. The top of the base cabinets will be flush with this line. Then measure 17 to 18 inches up from the base cabinet layout line and snap a level chalk line for the bottom edge of the upper cabinets. Find the studs and mark their locations on both layout lines.

Installing Upper Cabinets

Starting installation with the upper cabinets will simplify your project because lower cabinets won’t be in the way. Follow the steps below.

Locating Wall Studs

You must locate the wall studs before you mount the cabinets. Follow the steps below.

1. Use a stud finder to identify the locations of the studs behind the drywall.
2. Mark the stud locations on the wall, and transfer these measurements to the backs of the cabinets.
3. Pre-drill holes in the backs of the cabinets at the stud locations.
4. Double-check your stud locations to make sure you can securely anchor your cabinets.

Technique: In older homes with plaster walls, you can locate studs by tapping on the wall and listening for a solid sound — a good indication there’s a stud right there. Then drive a nail to confirm. In newer homes with drywall, a stud finder is more reliable. Another trick: look at the baseboard or ceiling trim for signs of nails, since trim is usually nailed into studs. Electrical boxes are often nailed to studs as well, so carefully remove the cover plate, see which side of the box the stud is on, and measure across every 16 inches to find adjacent studs.

Transferring Measurements: Once you’ve confirmed your stud locations, measure from the corner of the wall to the center of each stud. Then transfer those measurements to the back of the cabinet. Keep in mind: if the front of the cabinet has an overhang or lip, you’ll need to subtract that amount from each measurement so the screw holes line up correctly with the studs. For example, a half-inch front overhang means subtracting a half inch from each mark on the cabinet back.

Mounting the First Cabinet

Once you’ve prepared your project, you can start mounting the first upper cabinet. Follow the steps below.

1. Use a cabinet jack to hold the cabinet in place against the wall, or ask someone to assist you.
2. Use a small level under the cabinet to make sure your setup is level.
3. Secure the cabinet to the wall using 2 1/2-inch deck screws and cabinet washers.
4. Use a level on the front of the cabinet to check for plumb alignment.
5. Repeat your alignment checks before fully securing the cabinet.

Attaching Additional Cabinets

Once you’ve secured the first cabinet, continue the installation process by following the steps below.

1. Clamp adjacent cabinets together.
2. Use 1 1/4-inch screws to join the cabinets behind the face frames.
3. Use a 6-foot level to check for alignment across the cabinets’ faces. 
4. Adjust for any bowing in the wall by loosening screws and inserting shims.
5. Check for level and plumb alignment after you’ve mounted each cabinet.

Installing Lower Cabinets

After you’ve installed the upper cabinets, you can begin installing the lower cabinets. The process is similar, but there are a few additional variables to consider.

Preparing the Base

You must check for floor unevenness before you install your lower cabinets. Use a long level to see if there are any high spots or low spots. If the floor is uneven, create a level base by installing a filler strip along the floor, and shim it as needed. Then plan the layout of the lower cabinets. Consider the placement of all plumbing and electrical connections.

Shimming for an Uneven Floor: On a TOH project, Tom Silva demonstrated just how dramatic floor dips can be — measuring 34½ inches from floor to cabinet top on one side and 36½ inches on the other, revealing a full two-inch dip across the run. To compensate, he placed shims at the base of each cabinet location, leveling them from front to back and side to side, then confirmed that the top of each shim hit the reference line at the correct height before setting any cabinets in place.

Joining and Leveling Cabinets

Proceed by joining and leveling cabinets on the floor before you line them up against the wall. Follow the steps below:

1. Lay the base cabinets on their backs on a protective surface.
2. Join the cabinets using 1 1/4-inch pan head screws.
3. Measure across the face and back of the cabinets, and use shims to level them.
4. Clamp the cabinets together and secure them with screws.
5. Confirm your measurements, and make sure the cabinets are level and aligned.

Why Pre-Join on the Floor: Before fastening cabinets to the wall, push them tight against it and check the front edges. If your wall bows, the cabinets may sit flush at the back but create a gap along the front face frames. By pulling the cabinets away from the wall, joining them together first so the fronts are perfectly flush, and then installing the unit, you ensure a straight, seamless cabinet run — even against an imperfect wall.

Squaring the Cabinets: When truing cabinets to each other, measure the distance between face frames at the front and at the back. If the measurements don’t match — for example, if the front reads wider than the back — drive a shim between the cabinets at the rear to bring the back measurement in line with the front. Clamp the cabinets together, confirm the measurements are equal, then drive your screws. This ensures the joined cabinet run is perfectly square before it ever touches the wall.

Securing the Kitchen Cabinet to the Wall

Once you’ve joined and leveled the lower cabinets, you can secure them to the wall by following the steps below.

1. Place the cabinet assembly on the prepared base or filler strip.
2. Make sure the structure is level and plumb.
3. Shim as necessary to achieve proper alignment.
4. Secure the cabinets to the wall studs using appropriate screws.
5. Make sure you’ve firmly attached all cabinets, and that they do not wobble.

You can make a sturdy base for your countertops and appliances by properly securing the lower cabinets.

Technique: At each stud location, drive deck screws with washers through the cabinet back and into the studs. The washer provides more surface area against the cabinet back, creating a stronger connection that won’t pull through over time. Working out from the corner cabinet, shim each cabinet away from the wall at the stud locations and up from the floor so that the face frames are plumb and the tops are level and even with your layout line.

Getting It Right: Before securing cabinets to the wall, use a level to check that each cabinet is plumb in both directions — side to side and front to back. If a cabinet isn’t plumb, slip shims between the cabinet back and the wall at the stud locations until the bubble reads true, then drive your screws through the shims and into the studs. Once all cabinets are fastened, use a utility knife to score and snap off any shims that protrude past the cabinet face.

Finishing Touches on Your Kitchen Cabinet Installation

Once you’re done installing the cabinets, you can complete your project with a few final steps. Consider the finishing touches below.

• Adjust doors and drawers so that they align properly and work efficiently.
• Attach toe kicks to the base of the lower cabinets.
• Clean the cabinets to remove any dust or debris.
• Install filler strips or panels to cover gaps between cabinets and walls.
• Install any hardware you like, such as handles and knobs.

Door Alignment Details: For overlay doors—which cover the cabinet frame—adjust the hinges so that the doors hang straight and even. For inset doors, adjust the hinges so each door sits flush with the face frame with a consistent reveal (gap) around its perimeter. If a door doesn’t clear the floor evenly due to settling, you may need to remove it from the hinges and trim the bottom edge at a taper so it swings freely without dragging.

Tools: