How to install a kitchen cabinet

Extending a kitchen with an extra cabinet, replacing a single wall cabinet or fitting a cupboard in the utility room: installing a kitchen cabinet is a job you can do well yourself with a little preparation. The most important things are that the cabinet is level and that wall cabinets are firmly fixed to the wall. A full wall cabinet with plates and glasses is heavy. In this blog you will read step by step how to install a kitchen cabinet.

👷 Calling in a professional is never superfluous. If it is a complete kitchen, or if water, waste, gas or electricity need to be connected, always have that done by a kitchen fitter or a qualified installer. A gas connection or a new circuit for a hob is never a DIY job.

Preparation: measuring and checking

Measure the space accurately with the tape measure with auto-lock: width, height and depth, and the position of pipes, sockets and window frames. Use the 120 cm spirit level to check whether the floor is flat and the wall is straight. Hardly any floor is completely flat; that is why base units have adjustable legs. Read more about measuring accurately in our blog on tape measures and measuring tools. Also check what kind of wall you have. In brick and concrete you use ordinary plugs. A plasterboard or metal stud wall usually cannot carry a heavy wall cabinet without extra timber backing or special fixings.

⚠️ Always use a multifunction wall detector before you drill. In a kitchen there are often electrical cables, water pipes and sometimes a gas pipe in or on the wall. If you hit something or are unsure, stop and call in a qualified installer.

What do you need?

Measuring and aligning

• A tape measure with auto-lock, a carpenter pencil and a 60 cm spirit level to align the cabinets.
• A 120 cm spirit level to check a row of cabinets in one go.
• A cross line laser to project a straight line across the whole wall. Handy for a row of wall cabinets.
• A multifunction wall detector to locate cables and pipes in the wall.

Assembly and fixing

• A cordless drill driver and a screwdriver set to assemble the cabinet.
• A hex key set for connecting fittings and adjustable legs.
• A hammer drill to drill holes in brick and concrete.
• A universal expansion plug that suits the wall and the weight of the cabinet.
• screws for wood and chipboard to join cabinets together.
• An angle bracket to secure a single base unit to the wall.
• A quick clamp to clamp two cabinets together while you join them.
• A folding ladder with handle to reach the wall cabinets safely.

Personal protective equipment

• safety goggles when drilling into the wall.
• work gloves with nitrile coating against splinters and sharp edges.
• knee pads when you work on the floor for a long time fitting the base units.

Step 1: assemble the cabinet

Lay all the parts on a clean, soft surface, such as the packaging. Check that everything is complete and undamaged. Assemble the cabinet according to the instructions. Tighten the screws by hand or with the cordless drill on a low setting so you do not strip the chipboard. Only fit the doors and drawers once the cabinet is in place; that makes it lighter and prevents damage.

💡 Assemble the cabinet in the room where it will go. A complete tall cabinet does not always fit through a door or a narrow hallway.

Step 2: placing and levelling base units

1. Fit the adjustable legs under the cabinet and put it in place.
2. Start in the corner or at the highest point of the floor.
3. Put the spirit level on the cabinet, both front to back and left to right, and turn the legs in or out until the cabinet is level.
4. Place the next cabinet next to it and set it at the same height. Check the whole row with the long spirit level.
5. Clamp two cabinets together with the clamp, with the fronts exactly flush. Pre-drill and join them with short wood screws on the inside.
6. Secure a single or tall base unit to the wall with an angle bracket so it cannot tip over.

Read more about using clamps in our blog on carpenter's clamps.

Step 3: hanging wall cabinets safely

Wall cabinets usually hang on a mounting rail or on adjustable cabinet hangers. The height depends on your own height and the cooker hood. Often the bottom of the wall cabinet is about 50 to 60 centimetres above the worktop.

1. Use the laser or the spirit level to mark a level line on the wall at the height of the mounting rail.
2. Scan the wall along the whole line with the wall detector.
3. Drill the holes and insert plugs that suit the wall and the weight.
4. Screw the mounting rail in place and check that it is level.
5. Hang the cabinet on the rail with two people. Use the adjustable hangers to fine-tune the height and depth until the cabinet hangs straight.
6. Join wall cabinets that hang next to each other, just like the base units.

⚠️ Never lift a wall cabinet above your head on your own. Work with two people and stand firmly on a ladder with both feet on a step.

Step 4: adjusting doors and drawers

Fit the doors and drawers. Using the screws on the hinges, adjust the doors for height, depth and sideways until the gaps are equally wide everywhere. Turn carefully, a quarter turn at a time. Read more about the right screwdriver tools in our blog on screwdrivers, bit sets and screw extractors.

Common mistakes

• Not checking with a wall detector and hitting a cable or water pipe.
• Using plugs that do not suit the wall, so a wall cabinet can come loose.
• Not levelling a row of base units, so the worktop does not sit properly later.
• Overtightening screws in chipboard.
• Connecting a hob, oven or gas supply yourself. That is work for a qualified installer.

Working safely

Wear safety goggles when drilling and keep drilling dust to a minimum. Work on a sturdy ladder and never on a chair or a cabinet. Do not leave heavy or tall cabinets standing loose before they are fixed to the wall, especially if there are children in the house. If you are unsure about the load-bearing capacity of the wall, or if pipes need to be moved, call in a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hang a wall cabinet on a plasterboard wall?

Only if there is a solid backing structure, such as a batten or board behind the plasterboard, or with fixings that are suitable for the weight. If in doubt, have a professional assess it.

How high should I hang the wall cabinets?

Usually the bottom is 50 to 60 centimetres above the worktop. Take your own height into account, as well as the height the cooker hood manufacturer specifies.

Do I need to fix the base units to the wall?

A row of joined cabinets with a worktop is usually stable. A single tall cabinet, or a cabinet that children can reach, should always be fixed as well.

Can I connect the tap and the waste myself?

A handy DIYer can often connect a simple tap to existing angle valves. If new pipes are needed or you are in doubt, have it done by a qualified plumber.

Read also: Custom cabinet: have it made or build it yourself? and Choosing hex and torx keys

Read also: How to tile a kitchen splashback

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Read also: Installing a kitchen: DIY or professional?

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.