How to Install New Cabinet Pulls and Hinges

Cabinet hardware is one of the cheapest upgrades that completely transforms how your kitchen feels. New pulls and hinges cost $50–200 total and take an afternoon, but the payoff is instant—your cabinets suddenly look intentional and current. The work itself is straightforward: you're removing old fasteners, filling holes if they don't line up, and drilling new ones. The real skill is measuring accurately so your hardware sits flush and straight. Get that right and your cabinets will look professionally refreshed.

1. Empty and prep your cabinets. Remove everything from inside your cabinets and clear the counter space in front of them. Open all cabinet doors and drawers wide so you have full access to the hardware. If you're replacing hinges, do both doors and hinges at the same time on each cabinet so the work stays organized.
2. Remove old hardware. Unscrew all old pulls from the inside of the doors using a drill or screwdriver. For hinges, unscrew them from both the door and the cabinet frame. Keep fasteners organized by cabinet in case you need to reference hole positions. Don't pry or force anything—if a screw is stuck, use a penetrating oil and wait a few minutes.
3. Assess and fill old holes. Check if your new hardware aligns with old holes. If it does, you're done here. If not, fill old holes with wood filler that matches your cabinet color, let it dry per instructions (usually 30 minutes), then sand flush with the door or frame. For large gaps, use a wooden toothpick or dowel to fill deep holes before applying filler.
4. Mark new hole locations. Lay your new hardware on the door or frame and mark hole centers with a pencil. For pulls, measure from the top or bottom edge—most pulls sit 2–3 inches from either end, or centered on wide doors. For hinges, they usually sit 2–3 inches from the top and bottom of the door. Use a ruler or measuring tape to keep spacing consistent across all cabinets.
5. Drill new holes. Use a drill bit that matches your hardware's screw diameter. Drill straight into the marked spots, going slow enough to control depth. For pulls on doors, drill from the outside only. For hinges, you'll drill both from the frame and the door side. Wipe away dust with a damp cloth before installing hardware.
6. Install new pulls. Insert screws through the new pull into the drilled holes. Don't overtighten—pull the door closed gently to feel when the screw sits snug, then give it a quarter turn more. If the pull is already mounted to a bolt, screw the bolt from inside the cabinet into the pull from outside, alternating sides so it tightens evenly.
7. Install new hinges. Mount hinges to the door first, starting with the top hinge. Drive one screw partially into each hole, then close the door and eyeball alignment. Once you're happy with position, finish tightening all screws. Then open the door and mount hinges to the frame, again using partial screws first to check alignment before final tightening.
8. Test and adjust. Open and close each door several times. Look for smooth operation and check that doors close fully without binding at the top or bottom. If a door rubs or hangs crooked, loosen hinge screws slightly and nudge the door into alignment, then retighten. Small tweaks to the top or bottom hinge fix most issues.