DIY Cabinet Hardware Template

The kitchen renovation is in the final stages! YAY! Today I’m giving a sneak peek at the cabinets and sharing a tip for installing hardware. I want to show you how to save time and avoid costly mistakes when installing cabinetry hardware with an easy to make DIY Cabinet Hardware Template.

You can purchase cabinet hardware templates online (Amazon affiliate link) but with my cabinets, I found it is just as easy to make your own custom template with posterboard, cardboard, or foam board and depending on the style of your cabinets/drawers, the purchased templates don’t always work. Of course if you have power tools, a template can be made out of scrap wood too.  I made one template for my cabinets and a second tempate for the drawers.

DIY Cabinet Hardware Template

You will need the following supplies:

• ruler
• foam board, cardboard or posterboard
• pencil
• scissors or utility knife
• washable markers
• drill

Step 1)  Decide exactly where you want your hardware to go on the cabinet. Take TWO measurements.

1. First measure the width of the side panel of the cabinet (this will be the width of your template). Record this 1st measurement.
2. Measure the distance from the bottom of the cabinet up to where the 1st drill hole of your hardware will go. Record this 2nd measurement.

Step 2) Use the ruler and pencil to mark the 1st measurement onto a side corner of your foamboard or cardboard. Using the corner of the board helps ensure a precise 90° angle. The height of your template depends on how large your hardware is. I have 3 differents sizes of cabinet pulls so I made my cabinet template extra tall. Next cut the template out with either scissors or a utility knife.

Step 3) With your ruler, find the center of the template width and draw a line down the center, dividing the template in half.

Step 4) Take the 2nd measurement and measure from the bottom up on the template and mark the intersection where the lowest hole for the hardware will be.

These are the 3 different sizes of hardware I’m using in my kitchen and familyroom cabinets. Our hardware is Elements Sedona Collection in Brushed Nickel. I want to use one template for all 3 sizes. Next is a super cool trick to get totally accurate measurement of your hardware.

Step 5) You can either measure the distance between the hardware holes or you can use this easy trick! Take a washable marker and color the bottom of the hardware screw holes. Line up the hardware on the template and stamp the color onto the template. Use a different color for each hardware size. The marker washes right off easily by dabbing it on a wet sponge. Now my template has all 3 hardware sizes on it! Yay!

Step 6) Line up your cabinet hardware template along the edge of cabinet. Either hold it steadily in place or use a bit of painter’s tape to secure.

Step 7) Hold the drill level and drill through the appropriate holes on the cabinet hardware template and then attach the hardware.

Ta-da! Beautiful hardware installed!

Here’s a peek at the drawers and island. The island color is Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams.

Don’t forget to PIN the graphic below for future reference! I hope you give this DIY Cabinet Hardware Template a try!

Just a few more weeks and the full kitchen will be revealed! I can’t wait!

UPDATE! THE REVEAL! 

Click here to see the long awaited results! Coastal Kitchen Makeover – The Reveal

Catch up on the whole flood fiasco & our kitchen renovation progress with these posts:

Waking up to a Flood

After the Flood ~ An Update

After the Flood – Preparing and Installing Hardwood Floors

Choosing Hardwood Floor Stains

Weathered Oak Floor Reveal + More Demo {After the Flood Update}

Our Coastal Kitchen Design Board

KIM