After building and installing over 100 kitchens, I have a good perspective when someone asks, “Can I install kitchen cabinets myself.” How? Well, I was trained (and have trained) cabinet installers and know what skills are needed.
But since the answer isn’t black & white, the final answer is yours.
One of your motivators for attempting a self-install is to save money. How do I know? I’ve installed quite a few factory cabinets to save friends thousands. And these aren’t small numbers: a typical range is $2500-4000 (or more) depending on the size of your kitchen.
Can I Install Kitchen Cabinets Myself?
1. Make sure a DIY installation is allowed
If you haven’t started searching for your cabinets yet, keep in mind that not all cabinet manufacturers allow their cabinets to be installed by a do-it-yourself.
Rule of thumb:
- Custom shops that build the cabinets install them. No DIY installers allowed.
- Big box stores and retailers like Home Depot and Lowes will allow DIY installation.
- Internet orders assume a DIY or third-party, homeowner-hired installer.
There may be exceptions to this rule, so be sure to check.
2. Checking your skills
A big part of cabinet installation is patience and the willingness to learn. But you also need the right skills and some construction or woodworking experience. Why? Installing cabinets requires skills such as:
- Ability to read fractions on a tape measure and know how to add/subtract them as needed for laying out the kitchen and doing cuts.
- No fear of saws, drills, or other tools as needed for the installation.
- Eye for quality to ensure that each piece installed is … perfect. What separates a lot of cabinet makers from home construction framers is an eye for detail and knowing they need to be perfect.
- Layout skills and ability to follow directions. A cabinet layout is complicated and requires time spent laying out pieces, determining appliance widths, and determining where cabinet filler strips will be needed.
If you are unwilling to take the time or uncomfortable with power tools, look to an installer to do the job.
3. Having the right tools
Few projects on the home’s interior require more tools than cabinet installations do. How many different tools will I need? It depends on what you already own, but a drill ($100-200), miter saw ($100-400), jigsaw ($50-200), circular saw ($50-150), and a myriad of smaller hand tools and drills bits are generally the minimal tools required.
For a comprehensive look at the tools required, check out our guide to cabinet installation tools.
4. Muscle to lift the weight
When I was 20, I could, and did, lift any cabinet to anywhere I wanted. Fast forward 20 years and two back surgeries later, I will still lift what I need but smartly. Why is this a discussion here? Because cabinet construction is a mixture of being (a) heavy-duty for decades of use and (b) cost-effective through particle board materials vs. lighter plywood. Cabinets are heavy, which might not work if you can’t lift over 50 pounds.
With that, most kitchens have five or more upper cabinets that must be lifted, held, and screwed in place. There are tools, such as the cabinet jack, that can alleviate the strain of holding them up. However, it would be best if you still had the strength to lift the cabinet in place to start.
5. Transporting the cabinets to the kitchen
Depending on the size of your kitchen, this could be a problem. A huge problem. Sometimes I’ve rented covered trucks, like a 26′ U-Haul, to ensure the cabinets were in the right spot safely (and dry). You might be thinking about your space now and considering doors, elevators, hallways, and ground transportation.
The good news is this problem is generally easy to solve but hard to execute. It will require some extra muscle (at least two people) to move kitchen cabinets into position for installation. Remember that this is part of the installation cost you are charged, and it might take a few dollars to ensure your cabinets arrive safely.
Remember to recycle the pile of cardboard you will likely have. That cleanup is a small job in itself.
6. Working under a time constraint
Kitchens are a finicky thing. With the complexity of the building, ordering, shipping, install, and then dependencies on flooring, solid surface installers, and tile crews for back splashes, they often fall into a complicated construction plan.
Are you lucky enough to be the project manager? Excellent. Or, are you trying to save some money on a new home or remodel and step in for this expensive task?
Make sure you know the time window, plan for it and work out contingencies to avoid schedule changes from eroding your savings.
How long does it take to install a kitchen? Some estimates say plan 1-1.5 hours per “box.” I think that’s a great place to start with. Most kitchens are 10-12 boxes, so plan for at least a long weekend. I can typically install a good size kitchen with help in a day, but that’s knowing all the tricks and not having to do rework.
7. Comfort with power tools
Over the years, you may have heard the saying measure twice and cut once. Well, not only does that saying go for cabinet installation, but it also means you must use some dangerous saws. Really? At a minimum, a miter, circular, jigsaw, or table saw will need to be used. If you can’t or won’t use these saws, you shouldn’t install a kitchen.
8. Don't trade quality for cost
This may be #2 on this list, but I am keeping it here, hoping serious would-be-installers will pause to consider it. A typical kitchen is $4,000-10,000+. Include your appliances, solid surface counters, and fancy knobs, and we are looking at a complete kitchen cost of $15,000 or more.
Do you want to look at cabinet joints that don’t align, sloped counters, or dinged cabinets (it happens!) you couldn’t afford to replace? If you are committed to doing a quality installation, and re-doing what may have been damaged or done incorrectly, then keep on the path to a self-installed kitchen.
But, if you think spending a few thousand more for a professional installation will result in a higher quality installation and more enjoyment later, go that route.
9. Fractional math
As we all become more specialized and pay others to work for us, we lose some of the skills that once were common-place. One example? Reading a tape measure.
I grew up with one and was lucky to learn from ten years old how to read fractions. I can find 5/16″ on a tape without trying, subtract fractions with different denominators (7/8″ – 5/16″ = 9/16″), and layout kitchen cabinet cut sheets without a calculator. You, however, won’t need that level of skill, but it is a must that you can read a tape measure and use it to layout, plan for cabinet filler strips, and make cuts.
10. Knowledge behind the wall
What does that mean? Well, the only way an upper cabinet stays on the wall after it’s loaded with dishes is if it is correctly screwed to the wall. Second, you must ensure you don’t damage utilities (pipes, wires, venting). If you have been around construction and seen the bare studs, wires, water lines, and such, then you have a good visual.
A part of this puzzle is ensuring you use the suitable cabinet screws – including the right length. For most 1/2″ drywall applications, a 2-1/2″ screw is perfect. Check out our guide to cabinet screws for more on what you’ll need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are cabinets attached to the wall?
Cabinets are usually attached to the wall with cabinet-grade screws or cabinet hanging rail systems.
Are there tools to help lift upper cabinets in place?
Cabinet makers and DIY’ers can use either a cabinet lift to lift and hold cabinets or a cabinet jack to hold an upper cabinet in place once lifted. Both allow for easier installation.
What is the hardest part of installing cabinets?
The most time consuming and, for most, hardest part of installing cabinets is making sure the cabinets are properly leveled, shimmed and scribed to each other and the wall.
Summary
For more guides on selecting tools, supplies and tips on installing cabinets be sure to check out our series:
Cabinet Installation Series
Planning & Tools To Install Cabinets
Guides for Cabinet Installation
Finishing Cabinets With Molding and Hardware
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Last update on 2024-04-25 at 08:22 / Images from Amazon
- About the Author
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
