A new kitchen cabinet can be just the thing to improve your kitchen in a variety of ways. From providing a convenient storage space to adding a little extra character, there are many reasons to install a new set of cabinets, whether they be ground-level or fixed to your wall for head-height placement.

Without the right tools and without following the right steps, it can be difficult to ensure you’re installing your cabinet correctly, which at best can affect peace of mind regarding the finished result, and at worst can negatively impact the strength and security of your installed cabinet.

Because of this, we’ve put together this guide to help you install a kitchen cabinet correctly. We’ll be looking at installing upper (wall) and lower cabinets, ensuring you know how to apply both of these common kitchen variants. We will look at the tools you will need, as well as the correct order of steps to follow.

You can absolutely install kitchen cabinets yourself, although it is also possible to contact an expert and get them installed for you. Kitchen cabinets tend to be supplied with all of the important components included, such as the cabinets themselves, the shelves, the hinges and – in some cases – the screws needed to fix everything together.

Not only this, but instructions are also usually provided alongside cabinet units purchased from us. Produced alongside the products themselves by the manufacturers, these instructions should be your first point of reference when installing your cabinets. This guide is sure to prove a useful alternative if you have lost the instructions or your items were not supplied with them, but if you do possess them, be sure to check them and compare them to this guide before continuing.

Meanwhile, if you read through our guide – or your supplied instructions – and conclude that this task may be too difficult for you, don’t forget that there are plenty of experts that you can reach out to for an installation quote. Remember to read online reviews and ask family, friends, and neighbours for recommendations to ensure you’re getting a suitable tradesperson for the job.

For more information on this, check out our guide on how to find the best kitchen fitter for you.

This option will cost more money, but is more likely to provide you with greater peace of mind once the job is done.

In order to install a kitchen cabinet correctly, you will need a selection of tools and equipment. Gathering all of these together before starting is the best way to make sure that your project runs smoothly and without major issues or obstacles. In order to install your kitchen cabinet, you will need the following items:

• Stud finder
• Cabinet screws
• Spirit level
•  Drill
• Clamps
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Wall fixings
• Caulk
• Masking tape

Once you have acquired all these tools and pieces of equipment, move onto the installation process.

Now that you have the appropriate tools and have cleared the kitchen ready for work, you can begin to follow our quick and easy step-by-step removal process.

Installation is broken down into several straightforward steps. Follow each one in order, and if you get stuck with how to proceed next, retrace your steps through this guide.

To start, it is important to clear the area, making sure that you remove all surrounding obstacles, and clean up any dirt, dust, or debris. Once this has been done and you have a spacious work area, you can move onto the first important step – measuring out and marking the height for your cabinet.

1. Measure and mark the heights for your cabinets. If you’re only installing a single unit this should be straightforward. If you are adding multiple, be sure to keep heights consistent with cabinets applied flush to another. If you’re adding upper cabinets above lower ones, keep a reasonable space between the two – your upper cabinets should be head height.
2. Use a stud finder to seek out the position of any studs that may be present. Once you have done this, mark them clearly.
3. We will begin the installation itself by adding any upper cabinet units. Draw out a horizontal line with a spirit level to serve as your guide along the wall space. This will serve as a reference point until your cabinet is correctly installed.
4. Attach a temporary ledger board as a support for the cabinet during the installation process.
5. The first cabinet you attach should be the one in – or closest to – the corner of your kitchen. Using screws to fix each one into the wall, install each cabinet and work towards the centre.
6. Take breaks to check each cabinet unit is level and install spacers if you feel they are needed. While not always a necessity, they help to improve the end result.
7. Once you have installed all of your upper cabinets, move onto the lower ones. You should do this before installing any accessories on either level, such as knobs or handles.
8. Lower cabinets are installed in much the same way as upper cabinets. They too are attached to the wall and will need to be level with one another. This is especially important if they are to be used as supports for the countertop above them.
9. Clamp adjoining cabinets together to keep them uniform and level.
10. Once your lower cabinets are installed move onto installing accessories such as knobs and handles on both.
11. Now is your last chance to check for any gaps between the cabinets. These will need to be adjusted if necessary.
12. Adjust the doors and drawers if needed. They will need to be aligned correctly with the main cabinet bodies.
13. Install any plinth panels. These go underneath your cabinets, and can also be referred to as cabinet skirting, as they serve a similar function (at least visually) to skirting boards.
14. Caulk in any seams. This will make them more secure and resilient in a busy kitchen environment.

And there you have it – your cabinets are now installed and ready for use. Finish off by returning objects and belongings to the spaces surrounding your cabinet once you have cleaned up any leftover dirt and debris. Keep in mind not to put too much pressure on the cabinet for the first 24 hours or so while the wood adjusts to its new environment and the caulk sets.

We have plenty of other articles about cabinets, including a buying guide and how to remove any unwanted cabinets. The latter is a great companion piece to this guide if you’re looking to replace an old set of cabinets with a newer selection.

Finally, if you have any more questions about cabinets or kitchen appliance installation, do not hesitate to contact our excellent team. With plenty of knowledge on DIY projects as well as our extensive product selection, they will do their best to help you out with any DIY project you may be facing.

Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our wide range of product and project guides - covering an array of subjects from garden renovations to painting and decorating, installing stunning lighting set-ups to building out a kitchen or bathroom from scratch and much, much more. Take the leap today and start your DIY journey right here. For direct help and advice, you can also contact our award-winning customer service team.