A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install Handles on Your IKEA Cabinets (Doors or Drawers)

🚪 Elevate Your Cabinets with Precision! Learn How to Install Handles Step by Step 🚪
UPDATE: The process shown in this video is still very valid if you don't want to spend money on a better and more precise jig. However, since I install a lot of handles every week, I have purchased a better jig, which allows me to get the job done much faster and, more importantly, a lot easier.
This is the one: amzn.to/4aYYMNC (paid link).
Unlock the secrets to achieving a flawless result whenever you install handles on your IKEA cabinet doors and drawers. With over 3,000 handles and knobs installed, I've perfected the art, and now I am sharing my step-by-step guide with you. Elevate your cabinet aesthetics with this comprehensive tutorial!
🛠️ Key Steps:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:03 Tools needed
- 02:37 Unpacking the handles and knobs
- 03:38 Location is everything
- 08:10 Preparing the IKEA template
- 13:27 Marking and drilling the drawer
- 19:19 Marking and drilling the door
- 32:56 An important thing about knobs
- 35:49 Before you leave...
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3. • The Ultimate Ikea Kitc...
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🔗 Elevate your cabinets precisely and learn how to install handles like a pro!

[@martycurtis7090]

He literally has a video for every single part of a kitchen installation, including handle installation 🙂

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yes I do! ☺️ Almost....

[@beef8803]

My kitchen is only completed because of Rannes! Thank you for these amazing videos.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know ❤️

[@curtiskarrel3400]

Thank you for this video, and this entire series. I could not have renovated my kitchen without your help!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome. I'm glad that you find the videos helpful.

[@sshattle]

Thank You Rannes for all the Great and very Helpful Videos! If IKEA is not paying for these, well they should. A few sleepless nights were had until I found these gems and now thanks to you I find working with mdf a bit more manageable. Thanks again for the help!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Glad you like them! Oh yes, wouldn't it be nice if Ikea would compensate me for doing all the videos 😊 That said, since they don't pay me, I'm free to decide on my own, how often and how much, when I post new content, that is a plus. Free as a bird 🐦 Some of my viewers recognize the value I add, or burden I remove from their minds and shoulders, by clicking the "super thanks" button ❤️ All the best with your project 🙏

[@jessicaporter49]

Thank you for this sir!!! It’s a lifesaver!!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

My pleasure, Jessica 👍

[@NOELTM]

@27:08 great point about opening the door to check the hinged side. I also found opening the door gave me this insight... I have just installed a 200cm high metod cabinet with integrated fridge/freezer. I have learned a great deal from you/your videos and website and I tried to put as much of this into practice and I am happy with the outcome thus far. I really appreciate that your videos fill in the empty spaces in the IKEA instructions! Now I am at the handles stage having got past the tricky part of finding some that I like! The cabinet has two doors one for the fridge one for the freezer. The doors are Bodbyn, the freezer door is symmetrical, just one panel, so IKEA only drilled holes for the hinges on one side since you can flip the door around if you want it to open on otherside. The fridge door however has two panels one larger than the other, so you can't flip the door around, and so IKEA have drilled holes for hinges on both edges. You plug the unused holes with plastic caps provided. When I put the handle up against the door ( lower left in this case) I remembered your tip about opening the door. When I did so I found the location where I want to put the handle is precisely in one of the unused holes (covered by a plastic cap) . Hmm so what now? I am thinking do I glue a small piece of mdf in the hole to backfill it so I can screw in the handle There doesn't seem to be much mdf left to put a screw into for the handle otherwise. It's a handle with two screw holes somewhat like the bar handle in your video. I wonder if you bumped into this situation before and what your thoughts might be. I did try moving the handle higher but I don't favour that position as it means moving the freezer handle lower to keep the symmetry and the lower handle is too low I feel. Again, thank you so much, the tip about opening the door is a good one - if I had just gone ahead with the drill 😥

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Hi Noel. You're very welcome, again 😊 The idea you describe to fill up the hole should work. I've used washers for this purpose too. Drill the hole, through the plastic cap too, insert screw through cap, add the adequate number of washers, and then mount the handle. If you have rough teenagers, a glued solution may be needed as that will be stronger.

[@NOELTM]

@@kitchensbyrannes Thank you for your fast response. I didn't think of washers ! I will go with the glued solution for sure.

[@murrat]

Thanks. Very helpful. Your a pro.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Aw, nice! Just doing my KZbinr duty!

[@karend.9218]

Im a designer and i approve this handle placement message!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Phew.....🤗

[@TrevPagesPlace]

Hey Rannes. I just got one of those adjustable cabinet handle jigs I've seen you use and they made it a breeze to do a whole kitchen for a client in short order. Best $50 I spent! Keep up the great videos, I've already applied many of your tricks for my installs.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thank you, Trev. I actually paid a lot more than $50 for mine but it's the best money I ever spent on a tool. It certainly speed up the speed and accuracy of the handle job.

[@BrooklynFeaver-bs8gp]

Thank you for this, you are amazing

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you find it helpful.

[@NOELTM]

On the pointy thing you used to make the holes prior to drilling : An Awl is a small hand-held tool with a sharpened point - that's what you used. A Bradawl is similar but is flattened at its tip to produce a sharp chisel edge. For the purpose of fitting handles as per your demonstration an awl is the better choice over the bradawl. My (London England) accent pronounces awl as "all" 🙂

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks for clarifying. A few others suggested bradawl, but Google is saying the same as you 👍

[@PetiteBluebirdgirl]

Awl is short for bradawl 😂

[@ronlichterman7534]

Thanks so much for the informative video Lars, it helped us a lot. We had no idea the template even existed. I have a question: where do you place the handle on the Axxstad top drawer 24 x 5 , if its on top of a 24x10 and 24x 15? We chose the lowest hole on the template, though the halfway distance of the drawer front was actually the bottom edge of the template itself, about 9mm below the lowest hole.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I'm glad that you find the videos helpful. For the 5" high drawer fronts (Axstad and others), I put the handle at the same distance from the top as on the 10" or 15" high fronts i.e. on the center line of the "frame."

[@raybode8347]

Thank you for all of your great and very helpful videos. I will however mount all of my handles on drawers in the centre of them rather than near the top as you suggest. I believe you're putting too much pressure on the backside of a large and heavy drawer every time you open it full of kitchen stuff.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome. Oh dear 😮 Are you now? 😁👍 I'm not a fan of that location for the handle but hey, not my kitchen 🤔 If the only concern is the one you mentioned, don't let that stop you from putting the handles at top. Makes no difference from a technical point of view. 👍

[@rickpeters9174]

I am about to put on the cabinet doors. Should I drill the holes in advance before putting them on the cabinets? Thanks for the help!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Good question. I wouldn't because that makes it easy to drill in the wrong corner of the door 😱 Seen that happen ☺️ And if you always open the door and hold your jig with fingers behind the door, you don't drill in the wrong side either. Just don't hold your fingers where you drill. Painful 😖

[@AlbertFintelman-cr6kk]

Hi Lars, Thanks for another informative video. I am installing Eneryda pull handles on Axstad drawers. Do you recommend centering the mounting holes on the "frame" or centering the handle on the "frame". Thanks, Albert

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're welcome, Albert. Uh....that's a question for the spouse 🙏 But....I would drill the holes on the center of the frame(s).

[@AlbertFintelman-cr6kk]

Thanks so much for your help! Albert

[@kitchensbyrannes]

That on is tricky. I looked at the other eneryda. Handles centered on frame, not the holes.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome 😊

[@vincentcousin5332]

Merci 👍🏻

[@kitchensbyrannes]

My pleasure.

[@cpm5303]

Thanks Rannes for another useful tutorial. I'm doing it next and had to go back to buy the template. I have this question, which handle size one must use with door height or width? I have tall 40 inch wall cabinets doors and 24 inch pull out base cabinets. ORRNÄS handles have 3 different length. I guess the 9 3/16 will fit for 40 inch door and the 13 inch go for the 24 inch pull out doors? Not sure for the 6 11/16 , could be use for 12 inch pull out door? Any advice is appreciated!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're welcome. Your question belongs in the category of "personal preference." Handles, knobs, or both, there are no right or wrong, almost. I suggest that you ask your spouse 😀

[@edgar9651]

Thanks for your information. I have RINGHULT glossy grey fronts and nothing to align the handles to. What distance from the edge to you suggest? I have 80cm upper cabinets with horizontal hinges, the doors open to the top. And most of my base cabinets have two big drawers. Thanks.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're welcome 👍 Hmm.....I just asked myself that question the other day when I was installing handles on the Veddinge front, which is flat too. I went with approximately 45 mm (or was it 50 🤔) from the edge, but it's really a personal choice. I think it also depends on the handle, if it is slimline or if they are the thicker ones. Ask your spouse, just to be safe 🙏

[@edgar9651]

@@kitchensbyrannesThanks! Your last sentence kind of answers my question, at least for the upper cabinet. My spouse is only 148cm tall. I guess it's best to have the handle not too high. ;) The upper doors in the upper cabinets are only for me.

[@crystaldawn2736]

Did u make a video like this video but using a flat panel drawer front? Ty

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thank you for your question. No I didn't, as the procedure is the same, you just have less restrictions to where you want to put the handle. I normally put the holes 1 ½ - 1 ¾" from the edge.

[@crystaldawn2736]

@@kitchensbyrannes thank so much for the reply. My crew and I are just debating whether or not to pre drill holes for the handles before fully assembling the drawers. 🤔🤔

[@kitchensbyrannes]

@@crystaldawn2736 I cannot recommend it. It's a lot easier with the drawer assembled and in place.

[@bludington5839]

Wondering what your suggestion for horizontal pulls would be to bring 36" and 24" drawers together design/look-wise?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

My personal preference is to have handles in the same size across the kitchen. I like a simplistic look. For that reason I also don't recommend to have two handles on a wide 36" drawer. Just one.

[@karend.9218]

I agree but when possible i put a much longer handle on 24”, 30” and 36” drawers.

[@PetiteBluebirdgirl]

Bradawl Bradawl A bradawl is a woodworking hand tool with a blade similar to that of a straight screwdriver and a handle made from wood or plastic.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yes, that's what it's called. Thanks for clarifying.

[@AH-hv8hm]

It is called a 'bradawl' in the UK

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks for clarifying 😊

[@marshallmayer351]

Does Ikea sell the templates for door handle installation?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

They do, it's the one I use in the video. www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/fixa-drill-template-orange-90323393/

[@shandusa]

Where can I buy one of those templates? Thanks in advance

[@kitchensbyrannes]

The orange plastic one in the video, is from Ikea. It is called Fixa and the item number is 903.233.93

[@shandusa]

@@kitchensbyrannes Thanks, I am watching now your tutorials, they are awesome.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks 🙏

[@shandusa]

Because it’s a small diameter drill bit, set the drill to the maximum speed.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yes, sir. Full speed ahead.

[@sama.2586]

"This thing"...called an "Awl". Pointy thing for marking holes.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

🤣 I know.... learning every day 🤗

[@karend.9218]

I HAVE drilled into the inside drawer……bummer.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Welcome to the club; I have done that too 🙂