Building Cabinets Yourself: An Intro

Building your own cabinets can be one of the most satisfying DIY projects a homeowner can take on. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen, organizing your garage, or adding built-ins to your living room, cabinet construction offers both a challenge and a huge sense of accomplishment. This guide walks you through the essential tools, planning steps, and realistic project options — from full DIY builds to easier ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinet kits.

The Essential Tools for Building Cabinets
What Type of Cabinets Are You Building?
What’s Involved in Building Cabinets from Scratch
Why RTA Cabinets Might Be the Smarter Move
Getting Started

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1. The Essential Tools for Building Cabinets

Before starting, gather the right tools. You don’t need a professional workshop, but using the proper equipment will make your work cleaner, faster, and more accurate.

Basic Hand Tools

Hammer: A 16-ounce claw hammer is perfect for driving nails and light tapping adjustments. Look for one with a rubber or anti-vibration grip for better control.

Measuring Tape: A 25-foot tape measure with a locking mechanism ensures accurate readings for large panels. Always measure twice, cut once.

Level: A reliable level is critical. Even a minor tilt can cause cabinet doors to hang unevenly.

Power Tools

Drill and Bits: A cordless drill with variable speed is ideal for drilling pilot holes and driving screws. Keep a set of both wood and countersink bits on hand.

Saw: A circular saw or table saw is necessary for cutting plywood panels. Use a straight edge or guide track for precise cuts.

Sander: A random orbital sander will help smooth out your surfaces before painting or staining.

Hardware & Supplies

Screws & Nails: Use 1¼-inch to 2-inch wood screws for structure and finishing nails for trim or face frames.

Wood Glue: Reinforces joints for stronger, longer-lasting cabinets. Apply a thin, even layer before screwing panels together.

Clamps: You’ll need multiple clamps to hold your cabinet box together while the glue dries.

Avoid the cheapest tools. Mid-range options from brands like DeWalt, Ryobi, or Craftsman are ideal for first-time builders — affordable but dependable.

2. What Type of Cabinets Are You Building?

Before cutting any wood, define your project scope. Cabinet styles vary widely in complexity.

Option 1: Build from Scratch

Building from scratch means designing, cutting, and assembling every part yourself. It gives you total control over size, layout, and materials – but also requires the most time and precision.

You’ll cut panels (usually from ¾-inch plywood), build a box, attach a face frame (if desired), and install doors and hardware. It’s challenging but highly rewarding.

Option 2: Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) Cabinets

RTA cabinets are pre-cut and pre-drilled. All you do is assemble them using screws and dowels, following clear instructions – much like furniture from IKEA, but sturdier and often made with real wood.

Advantages of RTA cabinets:

Easier and faster to assemble
No cutting or measuring required
Available in a wide range of finishes and sizes
Significantly cheaper than custom or pre-assembled cabinets

With Canada Cabinets, you can design RTA cabinets in three easy steps.

Step 1 – Fill Out Our Form

Fill out our online form telling us what you want. If you don’t know how to take measurements, don’t worry. Tell us that you need help when you fill out the form and we will help you with this.

Follow our instructions for taking measurements and send them to us once you have them (or we can come to your home and take the measurements for you, if you are local).

If you know how to take your own measurements, then you can send them in your initial email.

Step 2 – Receive Your Free Design

Once we have all your measurements, we will create a 3D rendering of your design, a quote, and a cart link that you can click that shows you all the items you will need to purchase and a price.

When you are ready to buy, you just need to click “proceed to checkout”

Step 3 – Approve Your Free Design

Once you approve the design and the quote and pay, your cabinets will be shipped to you.

Option 3: Hybrid Builds

If you enjoy customization but want to save time, consider a hybrid approach. You can buy pre-made cabinet boxes and customize the doors, drawer fronts, or trim. You’ll still get a personal touch without doing every cut yourself.

We recommend Option 2 as there are many benefits of RTA Cabinets. Here are three of the main reasons why:

Convenience: RTA cabinets are designed to be easy to transport and assemble. They typically come with all necessary hardware and instructions, allowing homeowners to save on delivery costs and potentially assemble the cabinets themselves, saving time and hassle.
Customization: Many RTA cabinet manufacturers, such as Canada Cabinets Online, offer a wide range of styles, finishes and configurations. This allows customers to customize their cabinets to suit their specific preferences and needs.
Quality Construction: Despite being designed for self-assembly, RTA cabinets Canada has are typically constructed with durable materials and precision manufacturing techniques. This ensures that the cabinets are sturdy and long-lasting once assembled, providing good value for money.

Overall, RTA cabinets offer a cost-effective, convenient, and customizable solution for homeowners looking to upgrade their kitchen cabinets.

3. What’s Involved in Building Cabinets from Scratch

Here’s a simplified overview of the cabinet-making process so you know what to expect:

Measure your space – Carefully map out dimensions, including wall irregularities and floor slopes.
Cut your panels – Use a table saw to cut plywood into sides, tops, bottoms, and shelves. Label each piece.
Assemble the box – Use wood glue, clamps, and screws to connect panels. Square the corners as you go.
Add the face frame – If desired, attach a solid wood frame to the front for a classic look.
Install the back panel – Use thinner plywood (¼ inch) to close the cabinet rear.
Fit doors and drawers – Attach hinges, slides, and handles carefully, adjusting for alignment.
Sand and finish – Smooth every surface, then paint, stain, or seal for durability.

After watching a few tutorials like the one above, many homeowners realize that building from scratch is a serious time commitment — often 10–20 hours per cabinet. That’s why RTA options have become so popular.

4. Why RTA Cabinets Might Be the Smarter Move

RTA cabinets offer the satisfaction of DIY without the steep learning curve. They arrive flat-packed, with all the parts, hardware, and instructions included.

Key benefits:

Cost-Effective: Typically 30–40% cheaper than pre-assembled or custom options.
Beginner-Friendly: You’ll only need basic tools — a drill, screwdriver, and level.
Customizable: You can still paint, trim, or modify them to fit your design.
Fast Installation: Most homeowners can assemble and install a full set in a weekend.

If you can put together IKEA furniture, you can handle building RTA cabinets — and the finished product will feel far more substantial.

You can find all our tutorial videos here, and be sure to let us know if you need any assistance with the process.

5. Getting Started

If this is your first cabinet project, start small. A spice rack or microwave cabinet makes a perfect test run before tackling a full kitchen.

As you gain confidence, you can take on more complex layouts, add custom features like pull-out shelves or soft-close drawers, and eventually build pieces that rival professional cabinetry.

Building your own cabinets — whether from scratch or using RTA kits — is a project that pays off in both satisfaction and savings. With the right tools, planning, and patience, any motivated homeowner can do it.

Take your time, follow accurate measurements, and don’t hesitate to use online guides and tutorials. Each step you complete builds not just a cabinet, but your skill and confidence as a DIYer.

Shop for Affordable Cabinets With Canada Cabinets Online

Ready to assemble, beautifully crafted, affordable cabinets is what we offer at Canada Cabinets Online!

Effortless Online Ordering: Skip the showroom – design your dream space from the comfort of your home! Create a secure account to access our FREE online kitchen designer and a FREE 3D kitchen layout. Our kitchen specialists will be in touch within 24 hours to guide you.
Top Quality for Less: Our cabinets are finely crafted and built to last, all at an attractive price point.
Free Shipping (Ontario): Enjoy free shipping on all ready-to-assemble cabinets, bathroom vanities, and even sample door orders within Ontario (with minimal exceptions for remote areas).
Hassle-Free Installation: Our cabinets are designed for easy assembly. We even have helpful videos to walk you through the process, step-by-step.

Ready to get started? Contact us today and let’s transform your space together!