You can add cabinet hardware without the hassle
Learning how to install kitchen cabinet handles can be intimidating. No one wants crooked handles or off-center knobs that they will have to look at for the life of their cabinets. But if you’re tackling a cabinet handle install project, we’ve got you covered. From measuring and marking to adding the finishing touches, here’s everything you need to know about how to install kitchen cabinet handles.
Adding the right cabinet hardware can transform the look of a room. Whether you want to update your cabinets or total kitchen remodel, adding handles to cabinets can make them more functional and help pull together an overall design for your room. If you’re replacing the existing hardware or starting from scratch, handles will allow you to shape the style of your space and add a functional design element to your room.
Before installing kitchen cabinet handles, there are some things to consider. First, if you’re replacing existing handles, you’ll need to measure the size and spacing of the holes to choose new hardware that fits the cabinets. Unless you plan to fill, sand, and paint your cabinets, swapping out hardware will be easier and look better if you get compatible handles.
Using a drill index or hole gauge, measure the existing hardware holes by holding the gauge up to the holes for the old hardware. Then, use a tape measure to determine the distance between the holes for handles that have more than one attachment point.
If you’re starting from scratch, using a cabinet hardware template will help you to line up, center, and place cabinet handles so that they are uniform and evenly spaced. You will also need a drill with a bit sized for the hardware you plan to install if there are no existing holes for your handles.
Follow these steps to install handles on your kitchen cabinets.
Begin by measuring and marking your cabinet doors for placement of the handles. Most cabinet door handles should be placed two to three inches from the bottom of a cabinet door and centered on the raised edge of the door known as a style. For drawers, either centered on the drawer face or centered on the top raised edge and also right to left is considered correct placement.
Using a premade template from a hardware store is a simple way to get uniformly spaced handles. Templates will come with holes for a variety of hardware types, so you will usually be able to find one that works for your hardware. Once you determine the correct hole, you can cover the holes you aren't using with tape to prevent accidentally marking the wrong one. Then, using a pencil, a tape measure, and a cabinet hardware template, locate the correct placement for your handles.
You can also consider making your own template with two pieces of wood to achieve your desired handle spacing. You can even create a two-sided template to ensure the wood on the back of the door stays secure during the installation process.
Once you have marked out where you want your handles to be, use a drill to make holes to accept the new handles. Make sure to hold the drill at a right angle to the cabinet door so that the bolts that hold the hardware on will go in straight. If you’re using the existing holes, you can skip this step because your hardware already matches the configuration of the holes.
Once the holes are drilled, you can use a screwdriver or a wrench to attach the bolts for the kitchen cabinet handles and tighten them. The handles should be bolted tightly enough so that the parts don’t move against the cabinets surface. Make sure to follow the manufacturer instructions for using washers to avoid causing tearout or excessive wear around the handles due to pressure from the bolts.
If you changed the placement of your kitchen cabinet handles, you will likely need to cover up the previous holes in your cabinets. There are several methods to try, including installing back plates or using wood putty to fill in the holes. Be sure to choose a solution that blends in best with your cabinetry and new hardware.
To ensure your new handles won’t budge, you can add reinforcements to them. Consider adding a small amount of thread sealant to the screws to keep them tight. For knobs that fasten with a single screw, you can add a dab of super glue to the back of the knobs to keep them in place.
If you’re swapping out handles in existing holes, it helps to remove one of your old handles and take it with you to the hardware store for comparison. Although you can measure the spacing and size of the holes, having a visual comparison can help you narrow down your choices more quickly.
Keep in mind that the handles will be a very visible part of your cabinets, so choosing ones that go along with your overall room design is key. If you’re not sure what type you want, find samples to use as examples that you can compare them to see how they will look on your cabinets.
If you’re unsure of placement while measuring for new handles, you can use some double-sided tape or candle putty to place hardware temporarily to visualize the placement before permanently attaching handles. Getting a better sense of what the spacing will look like can help you determine the ideal placement for your cabinet handles.
Adding handles to cabinets is a DIY simple task that only requires using a drill and some measuring and marking implements. The average cost to hire a pro to install cabinet handles is $300, so you can save a significant amount by doing it yourself.
However, If you plan to fill the old hardware holes, sand, and refinish the cabinet surface, the installation can be a little bit trickier, so hiring a local cabinet installation pro is helpful. Plus, you don’t want to risk drilling unnecessary holes into your kitchen cabinetry, so your best bet is always to hire a cabinetry professional that will get it right the first time.
Using a thread-sealing product, lock washer, or glue where appropriate to prevent bolts and screws from letting go over time is a good idea. Make sure to follow the manufacturer recommendations when choosing a product to keep hardware snug. Keep in mind that adding these types of fasteners will make it more difficult to remove and replace them in the future.
Yes. It’s common to have a combination of knobs and pulls for drawers and cabinets. There are usually a few different-sized cabinet doors or drawer fronts that look better with different scales of handles, or you might prefer one type of handle for a drawer front and a different one for a cabinet door. Be sure to choose handles of the same overall type when you mix and match and avoid using more than three types in one room to make sure everything flows together.
While a three-inch center-to-center handle is common, there’s no guarantee that sizing will be the same for every cabinet. Different types of handles have different sized holes to attach them and there are lots of different cabinet handle widths and styles. You should measure to be sure you know the size of a handle and to avoid surprises.
