This article offers a step-by-step guide on installing kitchen cabinets, from reviewing the layout plan and identifying the floor’s highest points to installing the base and wall cabinets. We’ll also teach you how to use shims to level uneven surfaces and filler strips to cover gaps.
Installing kitchen cabinets is challenging, but with proper guidance and the right tools, it is definitely something you can handle on your own.
However, as Eric Elford, the CEO of Habidex, notes, successful cabinet installation requires more than just basic skills: “If a homeowner has really significant tools and skills to build things, then they might have the ingredients to rip out their old cabinets, design and purchase their new ones, receive and build a new kitchen in their stead.”
Remember, it’s not just about cabinets, as it also involves plumbing, electrical, tiling, lighting, and flooring. If you are unsure of your abilities, Elford recommends one thing: “Hire a pro.”
What You’ll Need
- Cabinet layout
- Level
- Screwdriver
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Drill/Drill bit set
- Clamps
- Tape measure
- Bevel
- Holesaw
- 1×4 Ledger
- Shims
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Read the Kitchen Cabinet Plan
When you order kitchen cabinets, you will receive detailed kitchen layout drawings including dimensions for each cabinet part. These kitchen cabinet plans show the measurements and heights of the upper and lower cabinets.
In addition, the kitchen layout plan assigns a number for each cabinet to guide you with the installation. The drawings also include a visual reference of how the cabinets should look once installed. Read and understand the plan to help the installation process go smoothly.
Step 2: Find the Highest Points on the Floor
Finding the highest point on your kitchen floor is essential because it helps guide the cabinet installation. Most floors are not perfectly level, especially in older homes. To find the highest spot on the floor:
- Place the Level: Lay a 4-foot level on the floor parallel to the wall, starting in the corner of your kitchen.
- Check for Lifting: See if you need to lift one side of the level to make it even. You will find the highest point on the side of the level where you do not need to lift.
- Repeat Around the Room: Move the level to other corners and parts of the kitchen where you plan to install cabinetry. Repeat the process to confirm the highest point.
Step 3: Install the Corner Cabinet
Install the base cabinets first, as they serve as the foundation for everything else. You will align wall cabinets, countertops, and other components with your base cabinets, so they must be level, straight, and flat.
- Pre-fit the Base Cabinets: Start by dry-fitting the base cabinets, beginning with the corner unit. Fit them snugly together and leave space for filler strips, which are narrow pieces of wood or material used to fill gaps. Filler strips should be included in your layout plan. Ensure drawers and doors open properly, appliance openings are at the right width, and sink bases are centered under windows.
Once satisfied with the fit, remove shelves, drawers, and doors, labeling them with numbered tape for easy reassembly. Move the cabinets out of the room and carefully measure and mark each cabinet and appliance’s wall using a 4-ft level and pencil. Using a stud finder, mark the studs above the horizontal leveling line for secure installation.
- Position the Corner Cabinet: If your kitchen has a corner cabinet, always begin the installation from that spot. Since you already know the highest point, use shims to adjust the base until the cabinet top aligns with the horizontal leveling line. Then, level the cabinet from front to back, adding shims as needed.
If there’s a gap between the wall and the cabinet, insert shims and secure the cabinet by driving screws into the studs about 1 inch below the top. Once the base cabinets are in place and level, use a utility knife to trim the shims and snap them off.
Step 4: Install the Other Base Cabinets
- Fasten the Cabinet’s Face Frame: Position the next cabinet beside the corner cabinet to ensure their frames are aligned. If necessary, use shims to level the cabinet, then clamp the two cabinets together. You may need to loosen the screws on the previous cabinet and slightly pull it away from the wall to get the frames to match up.
Once aligned, drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the cabinet frames, 1 to 2 inches from the top and bottom inside the cabinet, and secure them with 2-1/2-inch screws. Be careful to drill straight to avoid going through the front of the frame. After securing the frames, remove the clamps and screw the cabinet to the wall. Repeat the same process for the other cabinets.
- Ensure Proper Space for Kitchen Appliances: When installing base cabinets, make sure you account for the space required for appliances like a range or a dishwasher. Measure the distance between the cabinets on each side to ensure the appliance fits properly between them. Always refer to the cabinet layout plan for precise measurements before continuing the installation.
Step 5: Use Filler Strips for Gaps
You’ll need filler strips when cabinets do not fully reach the walls or as specified in the design, and you must leave precise gaps for appliances like dishwashers or ranges. Manufacturers provide filler strips that match the cabinet’s wood and finish. These strips fill gaps between cabinets, walls, and appliances, ensuring proper door and drawer clearance while covering awkward spaces.
- Measuring, Cutting, and Installing the Strips: To fit a filler strip against uneven walls, clamp it to the cabinet frame. Use a compass to trace the wall’s contours onto the strip, then cut it at a 7-to-10-degree angle using a bevel.
Measure the width and trim the cabinet side if necessary, or use a plane for small adjustments. Once the filler strip fits, clamp it flush to the cabinet, drill holes through the frame, and secure it with screws. Do the same process when installing strips between two cabinets.
Step 6: Cut Holes for Plumbing
When installing your base cabinets, cutting precise openings for plumbing lines is important. Begin by measuring the location of pipes and drains and marking those spots on the back or bottom of the cabinet.
Use a hole saw or jigsaw to carefully cut out the necessary holes, ensuring they are large enough to accommodate the plumbing but not oversized. Take your time to avoid damaging the cabinet or cutting it in the wrong place. Double-check your measurements to ensure the plumbing fits properly once the cabinet is set in place.
Step 7: Measure the Wall for Wall Cabinet Installation
When installing wall cabinets, always start in the corners. Begin by getting the correct height measurement of the wall cabinets. Next, measure and mark the height on the wall, starting from the top of the tallest base cabinet.
Next, measure the distance from the top of the base cabinet to the mark you made on the wall. This distance will be the space between the bottom of the wall cabinets and the top of the base cabinets. Doing this step will ensure proper alignment when you begin the installation.
After determining the height for the base of the wall cabinets, start the installation in the kitchen corner. Use a 2-foot level to draw a straight line at the marked height on both walls to serve as a guide in the installation.
Step 8: Install the Corner Wall Cabinet
The hardest part of installing upper cabinets is holding them in the exact position while fastening them to the wall and to each other, especially when working alone. The ledger method makes this much easier.
Although it works well, you will need to patch and repaint the screw holes left by the ledger. Don’t forget to mark the stud locations on the wall before you start.
- Attaching the Ledger: Begin by attaching a 1×4 ledger board along the marked line. Next, remove the cabinet doors for easier handling. Using the outline on the wall, measure the distance from the cabinet edge to the studs and transfer those measurements to the back of the cabinet, making sure to include the thickness of the face frame.
- Installing the Cabinet: Drill pilot holes at the top, middle, and bottom of the cabinet’s back. Repeat this process for each cabinet. Set the cabinet in place and drive the mounting screws into the wall just enough to hold it securely. You will fully tighten them later. Check if the cabinet is level and plumb, and use shims as needed to adjust.
Step 9: Install the Other Wall Cabinets
Again, remove all the doors before starting to install the other cabinets. Position the second cabinet next to the first. Align the cabinet faces so they are even at the bottom and across the front, then clamp them together. Drive screws into the back of the cabinet just enough to hold it in place for now. If needed, use shims at the back to make sure it is plumb level.
- Drill and Connect the Two Cabinets: Keep the cabinet faces aligned, and use a drill with a countersink and taper twist bit to drill through the face frames and secure them with cabinet screws. Repeat this process for each cabinet in the row, consistently checking that the faces and edges remain even and level as you go. After all the cabinets are connected, secure them by tightening the rear screws and then remove the clamps after.
Step 10: Reinstall the Doors and Drawers
Finish the installation by sliding the drawers back into place and reattaching the cabinet doors. Adjust the hinges to ensure the doors align properly. Then, install the door and drawer pulls to complete the job.
More resources about kitchen cabinets:
- How to Measure Kitchen Cabinets
- Types of Kitchen Cabinets: What’s the Difference?
- Standard Kitchen Cabinet Sizes: What You Need to Know
- Kitchen Cabinet Construction Grades
- Is It Cheaper to Build Your Own Cabinets?
- Why Are Kitchen Cabinets So Expensive?
Note: Home Gnome may get a referral fee for matching you with pros in your area.
Main Image Credit: standret / Adobe Stock Free / License
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