Always put the cabinet plan on the wall before starting as described in the Cabinet Layout Page. For information on cabinet quality visit The cabinet Quality Guide at the Kitchen Guide Book.

I like to start with hanging the upper cabinets, so you're not tripping over, and beating up the base cabinets. Think about crown molding at this point and  if it will need something to nail to, if so then attach a strip of wood along the top of the cabinet before you hang it. (Figure 5)

First install the corner cabinets. Use a cabinet stand or ledger to hold the cabinet up while attaching the cabinet. Measure and drill holes where the studs are located top and bottom of the cabinet and start cabinet installation screws in the holes. If there is under cabinet lighting then drill a hole for the wire under the cabinet.  

Put the cabinet on the wall on your stand or ledger and start one screw to hold the cabinet in place (Figure 1). Next use your 2 foot level and some shims to level and plumb the cabinet. Fully attach the cabinet to the wall using a cordless screw gun, or impact driver. Next hang the wall cabinets that need to be in an exact spot. An example of this would be the wall cabinets on either side of the hood, or a certain distance from a window (Figure 2). 

After this install the rest of the wall cabinets. When two cabinets are together clamp the frames together, pre drill and put in three 2-1/4" finish screws to hold the frames together(Figure 3). If you have frameless cabinets then use sex bolts between the cabinets to hold them together. 

Attach fillers between the cabinets that don't meet again using clamps and 2-1/4" finish screws. Rip the fillers on a table saw to fit nice and tight. Fillers that end up against the wall must be shaped to fit the wall if it is out of plumb, or not flat. I use a scribe to mark the filler and then use a bench top sander, or hand planner to shape it. 

Set the tall cabinets and refrigerator panels in place, but don't attach them. The base cabinets and the wall cabinets have to meet a tall cabinet together, and if they don't then you will have to adjust something, or put in a filler. 

Start putting in the base cabinets the same way as the upper or wall cabinets. install the corners first, then the critical placement cabinets, and then fill in the rest. Always shim the base cabinets up to the line drawn on the wall. If you have to shim the cabinet up more than the thicknes of a shim then use strips of plywood or wood that run from the wall to the front of the toe kick under the cabinet.

Remember that in your layout stage you thought about the height of the finish floor and brought up your layout line to accommodate. Always install base cabinets to finish floor height so your appliances fit rite.

The base cabinet must sit by itself level before attaching it to the wall. Before attaching the cabinets to the wall use a string line or a long level along the front of the cabinets to keep them in a strait line. Use shims between the cabinets and the wall (Figure 4) to keep to front of the cabinets in a strait line, because all walls are wavy!

Attach the cabinets to the wall using cabinet screws in as many studs as possible. Attach the cabinets together the same way as the wall cabinets, with 2-1/4" finish screws for framed cabinets, and use sex bolts for frame less cabinets.

Install the tall cabinets the same way. The tall cabinet may also need a crown nail-er on the top (Figure 5). When an upper cabinet meets a tall cabinet, or fridge panel connect the two with a 1-5/8 finish screw from inside the tall cabinet. Always pre drill, and always pre drill with a smaller drill bit then the screw. For the finish screws between the cabinets I pre drill with a 7/64 drill bit.

When cutting for plumbing or electrical always make as small as hole possible. For round pipes use a little bit bigger hole saw , or a spade bit for smaller holes. For cutting square holes I use a oscillating tool saw if the plywood is thin, and a jig saw if the plywood is thick.

Check out the Kitchen Island Page for special consideration on islands and peninsulas.

For installing crown molding, and other decorative trim help go to the Trim page, and for cabinet knobs and accessories go to the Accessory Page.