Shaker style cabinets — flat-panel doors with a five-piece frame — are the most popular kitchen cabinet style in modern Canadian homes. The install is the same as any other cabinet style: hang upper cabinets first (level reference line), then base cabinets, then countertops, then finish details. Shaker doors specifically often need adjustment after install for symmetric door gaps.
This guide covers installing shaker cabinets in a typical kitchen — both upper and base cabinets, with finish details for a built-in look.
- Skill level
- Advanced
- Time
- 1-2 days for typical kitchen
- Steps
- 10
- Tools
- 7, listed below
- Materials
- 8, listed below
Before you start
Three things to settle:
1. Establish reference line and high point. Floor is rarely perfectly level. Find the highest point of floor along base cabinet run; that's your reference. Level reference line for upper cabinets typically 54 inches above the high point of floor (gives 18 inch backsplash height). Mark this line first; everything aligns to it.
2. Upper cabinets first. Hang upper cabinets BEFORE setting base. Easier to access wall studs, no base cabinets in the way. Standard order: upper cabinets → base cabinets → countertops → backsplash → trim.
3. Cabinet adjustments. Shaker doors with European hinges have 3D adjustment. After cabinets are installed, adjust each door for: even reveal between doors, flush with cabinet face, no rubbing on adjacent doors. Take time on this — visual quality of finished kitchen depends on it.
What you'll need
Tools
- Drill with bits and driver
- Level (4-foot)
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Cabinet jacks or 2x4 lumber + temporary support
- Pencil
- Caulk gun
Materials
- Cabinet boxes (shaker style, with doors and drawer fronts)
- Cabinet hardware (hinges, slides, pulls)
- Cabinet screws (2.5-inch construction screws or cabinet-specific)
- Filler strips
- Toe-kick (for base cabinets)
- Shims (cedar or plastic)
- Trim moulding (crown, light rail)
- Caulk (matched to cabinet finish)
Always level upper cabinets to a reference line, not to floor
If you set upper cabinets to floor (variable height), upper cabinet bottoms won't be level.
Use a level laser line at uniform height — typically 54 inches above floor's highest point — and align all upper cabinets to that line.
Result: visually level upper cabinet line throughout the kitchen.
Step-by-step instructions
Plan layout and verify cabinet sizes
Verify cabinet dimensions match your kitchen plan.
Locate stud positions; mark on wall.
Find floor's highest point; mark reference line at 54 inches above.
Plan filler strips and trim ahead of time.
Install ledger board for upper cabinets
1×4 board, screwed level into wall studs at the height of upper cabinet bottoms.
Cabinets rest on ledger during install — supports weight and holds level.
Remove ledger after cabinets are screwed to wall studs.
Hang first upper cabinet
Set cabinet on ledger.
Drive screws through cabinet back into wall studs (typically 4-6 screws per cabinet).
Verify cabinet is level (front-back, side-side) and plumb (vertical).
Shim where needed.
Continue upper cabinets
Each subsequent cabinet sits next to previous.
Drill cabinet sides for cabinet-to-cabinet screws.
Faces should be flush, doors aligned.
Verify level for each.
Install ledger and base cabinets
Remove upper cabinet ledger.
Mark base cabinet height (typically 34.5 inches above floor's high point).
Set first base cabinet, level it, shim under base if needed.
Anchor through cabinet back into wall studs.
Continue base cabinets
Adjacent base cabinets butt to first.
Drill cabinet sides for cabinet-to-cabinet screws.
Each cabinet level and aligned.
Toe-kick installed at base.
Install filler strips
Filler strips fill gaps between cabinets and walls.
Cut to fit; screw in place.
Match finish to cabinets.
Install doors and drawer fronts
Hinges: pre-mortised in factory cabinets; mount cup in door, plate on cabinet.
Drawer fronts: face-screw to drawer box from inside.
Adjust hinges for even reveal between doors.
Install pulls or knobs.
Coordinate countertop template
Countertop fabricator measures cabinets after install.
1-2 weeks for fabrication.
Backsplash and finish trim after countertop install.
Final adjustments and details
Adjust hinges for visual perfection: even reveal, flush doors.
Caulk where cabinets meet walls (matching cabinet colour).
Install crown moulding (separate guide).
Touch up any small finish issues.
Common mistakes that cost you
- Levelling cabinets to floor. Upper cabinet line wavy. Always reference line.
- Screws into drywall only. Cabinet pulls out under load. Screws into studs mandatory.
- Not adjusting hinges after install. Visible uneven door reveals. Adjust each door.
- No shims under base cabinets. Cabinets at different heights. Shim to make level.
- Skipping filler strips. Visible gaps between cabinets and walls. Use fillers.
Frequently asked questions
Why are shaker cabinets so popular?
Clean style works in traditional and modern kitchens.
Flat panel doors are easy to clean.
Available in many price points and finishes.
Versatile and timeless.
Can I install cabinets without help?
Upper cabinets: 2-person job (cabinets are awkward to hold while screwing).
Base cabinets: solo possible but slower.
Cabinet jacks help solo install.
DIY vs professional install?
DIY: no labour cost, 1-2 days, requires skill and patience.
Professional install: 1-2 days, professional finish, with labour scaling by cabinet count and site conditions.
First-time DIY: factor in extra time for adjustments.
Should upper or base kitchen cabinets be installed first?
Upper cabinets go in first. With no base cabinets in the way, the wall studs are easier to reach. The standard order is upper cabinets, then base cabinets, then countertops, backsplash and trim. Screw a level 1×4 ledger board into the studs at the height of the upper cabinet bottoms so each cabinet rests on it during install, then remove the ledger once the cabinets are screwed to the studs.
What height should kitchen cabinets be set at?
Measure kitchen cabinet heights from the highest point of the floor, since floors are rarely level. The reference line for upper cabinets is typically 54 inches above that high point, which leaves an 18 inch backsplash height.
Base cabinets are marked at about 34.5 inches above the same high point and shimmed underneath where needed. Align every upper cabinet to the reference line, never to the floor, or the cabinet line turns wavy.
When to call us instead
Shaker cabinet install is the heart of kitchen renovation. Our team handles cabinet selection, install, and finishing as fixed-price work.
Book a free 60-minute site visit →Dream Touch Renovations · 33 Roydon Pl, Suite 210, Ottawa, ON K2E 1A3 · (613) 862-4555
Renovating homes across Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orléans and Stittsville.
Related Ottawa services
If you're planning a kitchen renovation, our kitchen renovation team handles the full scope. Book a free 60-minute consultation.
Official references
- Do I need a building permit?, City of Ottawa
- O. Reg. 163/24: Building Code, Government of Ontario