How to hang wall cabinets in kitchen and bathroom

Have you got a new cabinet that you want to fit in your kitchen (or bathroom)? By learning how to wall hang cabinets by yourself you can upgrade all of the cabinets around your home.

• Step 1: How to hang wall cabinets – getting started
• Step 2: How to mount wall cabinets in your kitchen
• Step 3: How to finish installing kitchen cabinets

Step 1: How to hang wall cabinets – getting started

Before you get started with hanging wall cabinets, take care of a couple of preparations. We also recommend getting a friend to help you because cabinets can be too heavy to lift by yourself.

1. Make sure that the area is clean and that you have all of your tools at hand.
2. Make the measurements. Using a tape measure, write down the dimensions of the bathroom cabinet.
3. Mark where the cabinet/s will go on the wall. Use a spirit level to find highest point on the floor. Measure up the wall about 120 cm (or 50 cm above a lower cabinet). Mark with a pencil and draw a straight line through it across the wall.
4. Find the wall studs. The cabinets will need to be screwed into the wood studs in the wall so locate the studs with a stud finder and mark these out on the wall.
5. Mark the length between the studs on the back of the cabinet. Measure the length between the studs and transfer this onto the cabinet.
6. Hang a ledger board in line with the studs. The ledger board will add temporary support while you fit the cabinet.
7. Take the doors off the cabinet. This will make it easier to install it.
8. Drill through the back of the cabinet. Find the stud marks and drill through them.
9. Screw the cabinet to the wall. Resting the bottom of the cabinet on the ledger board, line it up with the stud marks and fasten in place. 
10. Pre-drill holes if you’re going to fit another cabinet next to, or below, the first one. This will make installing the next cupboard easier. 

Step 2: How to mount wall cabinets in your kitchen

Just like before, make sure that your workspace is clean, you have all your tools, and your volunteer helper is ready.

1. Lift the cabinet up. Rest the bottom of the cabinet on the ledger board and push the cabinet unit into place.
2. Drill pilot holes through the back of the cabinet and position your cabinet onto your located wall studs. Using wall screws of at least 1.5 inches or longer, screw the cabinet to the wall as it rests on the support.
3. Put some shims in along the back of the cabinets if your cabinet is looking a bit wonky.
4. Check that the cabinet is level before you mount the next cabinet.
5. Repeat the process until all of your cabinets have been installed.  

Step 3: How to finish installing kitchen cabinets

Now you’ve installed your kitchen cabinet/s it’s time to finish the job.

1. Tighten the screws which are holding the cabinet to the wall and the adjoining cabinets.
2. Put the doors back onto the cabinets, test them to make sure they open and close properly.
3. Get rid of the ledger board, this has done its job now.
4. Seal the cabinets where they meet the wall or tiles using UniBond’s Perfect Finish Indoor Paintable Sealant. This is the perfect sealant for finishing off your cabinets as it can seal the internal joints and it is paintable after just an hour.