How To Put Handles On Kitchen Cabinets: Quick Guide

Yes, you can absolutely put handles on your kitchen cabinets yourself! It is a straightforward DIY job that can give your kitchen a fresh look quickly. This guide will walk you through every step needed to install cabinet hardware like a pro.

Gathering Your Tools and Supplies

Before you start, make sure you have everything ready. Having the right tools makes the job much easier and faster. This preparation step is key to a smooth cabinet handle installation guide.

Essential Tools Checklist

You will need a few basic tools to attach kitchen knobs or mount cabinet pulls.

New Handles or Knobs: Of course! Check the center-to-center measurement of your new hardware.
Power Drill or Hand Drill: A power drill is faster.
Drill Bits: You need the right size bit for your screws. We will talk more about the best drill bit for cabinet doors later.
Screwdriver Bits: Usually Phillips head.
Measuring Tape or Ruler: For accurate placement.
Pencil: For marking drill spots.
Masking Tape or Painter’s Tape: To protect the cabinet surface.
Template (Optional but Recommended): A template for cabinet hardware placement ensures all handles line up perfectly.
Clamps (Optional): To hold the template steady.
Safety Glasses: Always protect your eyes.

Choosing the Right Drill Bit

Picking the best drill bit for cabinet doors prevents splintering and keeps your cabinets looking neat.

Cabinet Material	Recommended Bit Type	Key Feature
Solid Wood	Brad-point bit	Sharp point centers easily.
MDF or Particle Board	Spade bit or high-quality twist bit	Reduces tear-out (splintering).
Hollow Core (Less Common)	Thin twist bit	Use light pressure only.

For most kitchen cabinets (wood or MDF), a standard high-speed steel (HSS) twist bit around 3/32 inch to 1/8 inch works well for the pilot hole. The actual size depends on the screw shaft, not the head.

Step 1: Measure and Mark for Perfect Placement

Accuracy here saves headaches later. Good measuring ensures your handles look straight and even.

Measuring Existing Holes (If Replacing Handles)

If you are replacing cabinet handles, start here.

Measure the distance between the centers of the existing holes. This is called the “center-to-center” measurement.
This measurement dictates what new hardware you can buy without drilling new holes. Standard sizes are often 3 inches, 3.75 inches, or 4 inches.
If your new handles match this measurement, you skip the marking stage and go straight to removal and reinstallation.

Marking New Holes (For New Hardware or Different Sizes)

If you are installing new hardware or changing the hole spacing, you need careful marking.

Using a Template for Cabinet Hardware Placement

Using a pre-made jig or template for cabinet hardware placement is the easiest way to get professional results.

Place the template flat against the cabinet door or drawer front.
Align the template precisely where you want the handle to sit. For doors, this is often near the edge. For drawers, center it vertically.
Secure the template with tape or clamps.
Use a pencil to mark the center of each hole location through the template holes.

Manual Measurement

If you do not have a template, follow these tips:

Determine Height: Decide how far down from the top of the door or up from the bottom of the drawer you want the handle. Mark this line lightly.
Determine Spacing: If your handle requires two screws, measure the center-to-center distance of your new hardware. Mark the first hole, then measure out that distance along your height line and mark the second hole.
Marking Knobs: For knobs, mark the single center point clearly.

Protecting the Surface

Before drilling, protect the cabinet face.

Place a piece of masking tape or painter’s tape directly over your pencil marks. This helps prevent the drill bit from chewing up the wood veneer when it starts drilling.

Step 2: Drilling the Holes

This is where we drill holes for cabinet handles. Take your time here for the cleanest result.

Selecting the Right Drill Bit Size

You need a pilot hole. A pilot hole is a small hole drilled first. It guides the main screw and stops the wood from splitting.

Pilot Hole Size: The pilot hole should be slightly smaller than the threads of the screw that comes with your hardware. This lets the screw grip the wood tightly when you screw in cabinet hardware.
A good rule of thumb is to use a drill bit whose diameter matches the unthreaded shaft of the screw. If unsure, test on a scrap piece of wood first.

The Drilling Process

Set Your Drill: If using a power drill, set it to a medium or low speed. High speeds generate heat and cause splintering.
Drill Straight: Hold the drill perfectly perpendicular (straight up and down) to the cabinet surface. Tilting the drill leads to crooked holes.
Drill Slowly: Start drilling slowly until the bit breaks through the front surface.
Prevent Blowout: When you feel the drill bit start to poke through the back of the cabinet door, stop drilling.
Finish from the Back (Crucial Tip): Open the cabinet door. Drill the rest of the way through from the inside surface, following the pilot hole you already started. This prevents the wood from tearing out (“blowing out”) on the visible front surface.

Repeat this process for every hole you marked.

Step 3: Installing the Hardware

Now it is time to screw in cabinet hardware and secure your new handles or knobs.

Preparing the Screws

Hardware usually comes with two types of screws: short ones for knobs and longer ones for pulls/handles.

For Knobs: Usually, one screw goes from the back directly into the knob.
For Pulls/Handles: Screws usually go from the back, through the door, and into the handle holes.

Attaching Knobs

Hold the knob in place on the front of the door.
Insert the appropriate screw from the back side of the door.
Align the screw with the knob hole.
Turn the screw clockwise until it catches the threads.
Use a screwdriver to tighten. Stop when the knob is snug against the wood. Do not overtighten, as this can strip the wood threads or crack the cabinet.

Mounting Cabinet Pulls

Mounting pulls is similar but involves two holes.

Hold the pull against the front of the door, aligning its holes with your drilled pilot holes.
Insert the first screw from the back and turn it a few times by hand to secure it loosely.
Insert the second screw into the other side and turn it loosely.
Once both screws are started, use your screwdriver to tighten them fully, alternating between the two screws. This ensures the pull sits flat against the door face.

If you are replacing cabinet handles, this is where you might be adjusting kitchen cabinet handles slightly if the new screw pattern is a hair off, although using a template minimizes this need.

Special Considerations for Different Surfaces

The way you install cabinet hardware can change based on what your cabinets are made of.

Installing on Solid Wood Cabinets

Solid wood is durable. You can often skip pilot holes for small screws, but drilling pilot holes is still best practice to prevent splitting, especially near the edges. When you screw in cabinet hardware, wood allows for a very tight fit.

Installing on MDF or Veneered Cabinets

MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) and thin wood veneers are tricky because they are prone to stripping when screws go in.

Use Smaller Pilot Holes: Make your pilot holes slightly smaller than usual.
Use Plastic Anchors (Optional): For very soft MDF or if you anticipate frequent removal, some DIYers insert small plastic anchors into the pilot holes first. The screws then go into the anchors, which distribute the stress better.
Be Gentle: When attaching kitchen knobs, use less force. If you feel the screw spinning without tightening, you’ve stripped the hole. Back it out, try again with a slightly bigger screw, or use wood glue to temporarily secure the old screw threads.

Installing on Metal Cabinets

If you have older metal cabinets, you cannot drill pilot holes easily.

You will need a center punch to mark the exact spot.
You must use a metal-rated drill bit (like cobalt bits).
You will drill all the way through and use nuts and bolts (or the hardware’s provided machine screws) to attach the handle from the inside.

Troubleshooting and Adjusting

Sometimes things don’t line up perfectly. Here is how to fix common issues when installing cabinet hardware.

My Handle is Crooked!

If the handle looks slightly off after tightening:

Loosen the screws slightly.
Gently shift the handle until it looks straight by eye.
Tighten the screws again, alternating sides.

If the holes themselves are crooked (because your drilling was off):

If you are replacing cabinet handles with the same size, you may need to live with it or fill the old holes with wood filler and redrill entirely.
If you are installing longer pulls, see if you can use the new holes as guides, slightly enlarging the old hole on one side if necessary.

My Screws Are Too Long

This is common when replacing cabinet handles because new hardware sometimes uses standard screw lengths for all cabinet thicknesses.

Measure the thickness of your door/drawer front.
Compare this to how much screw is protruding inside the cabinet.
If the screw is too long, simply purchase shorter screws from the hardware store that match the thread size of your current screws. This is much safer than overtightening the long screw.

My New Handles Don’t Match Old Spacing (Adjusting Kitchen Cabinet Handles)

If you are moving from knobs to pulls, or vice versa, you will have leftover holes.

Removing Old Hardware: Unscrew and remove the old pulls/knobs.
Filling Holes: Use wood filler or color-matched wooden dowels inserted with wood glue to plug the unwanted holes. Sand smooth once dry.
Redrilling: Use your template for cabinet hardware placement to mark the new spots and proceed with Step 2 (Drilling).

Best Practices for Professional Results

To ensure your hard work lasts and looks top-tier, keep these best practices in mind throughout the entire cabinet handle installation guide.

Consistency is Key

When installing cabinet hardware, aim for absolute consistency across all drawers and doors.

Decide on the orientation (e.g., handles always pull from the bottom right).
Use the same template settings for every drawer front.
Use the same drill bit size for every hole.

Don’t Forget Cabinet Doors Swing

When working on cabinet doors, remember where the handle needs to be located relative to the hinges.

Handles should be opposite the hinges. This ensures you have the best leverage when opening and that the handle doesn’t bump into the adjacent cabinet or wall.

When to Call a Professional

While this is a simple DIY job, consider hiring a pro if:

Your cabinets are very expensive, custom-made, or antique.
You have glass cabinet doors (drilling glass requires specialized tools).
You have very thick or unusual cabinet construction materials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the standard placement for cabinet handles?

For cabinet doors, handles are usually placed vertically, about 2 to 3 inches from the bottom edge, on the side opposite the hinges. For drawers, they are typically centered both horizontally and vertically. Always confirm placement using a template for cabinet hardware placement.

Can I put handles on cabinets that only have knobs?

Yes, you can. You will need to fill the old knob holes, mark new spots based on the pull’s center-to-center measurement, and drill holes for cabinet handles.

What size screw do I use to screw in cabinet hardware?

Most cabinet hardware uses standard #8-32 machine screws. The length required depends on your cabinet thickness. Typically, screws for pulls are 1 inch long, and screws for knobs are 7/8 inch long. Always use the screws provided with your new hardware unless they are clearly the wrong size.

How do I avoid chipping the wood when I drill holes for cabinet handles?

The best way to avoid chipping (blowout) is to drill a small pilot hole from the front, then flip the door over and finish drilling the hole from the back. Using a sharp brad-point bit at a slow speed also helps tremendously.

What if I need to adjust kitchen cabinet handles after installation?

If they feel slightly off, slightly loosen the screws, gently nudge the handle into perfect alignment, and retighten. If the holes are significantly off, you will need to fill the old holes and redrill.

Is it hard to replace cabinet handles?

No, replacing cabinet handles is one of the easiest home upgrades. If the new hardware has the same center-to-center measurement as the old hardware, it’s as simple as unscrewing the old and screwing in the new.