Drawer installation can be one of the more finicky parts of cabinetmaking, but with the right approach and a few clever tricks, it becomes a smooth, repeatable process. Whether you're working on a custom furniture piece or building cabinetry for a fit-out, precise alignment makes all the difference.
This guide walks through how to install drawer runners, boxes and faces using simple tools and methods — no jigs or specialty gear required.
Step 1: Start with a Clean Layout
Before installation, remove all hardware and ensure each component is ready for fitting. For inset drawers (where the faces sit flush with the cabinet frame), alignment is critical.
Begin by cutting plywood spacers to help set consistent heights across the cabinet. Always start with the top drawers first and work downward — otherwise, lower-mounted runners will interfere with your spacers as you go.
Use a square to mark the front position of each drawer runner so the faces line up evenly across the cabinet front.
Step 2: Mounting the Drawer Runners
Separate the drawer runners and place the cabinet-side components on your spacers, aligned with your front markings. Fix them in place with two screws: one in a fixed hole and one in a slot. This allows for small adjustments later — helpful if you need to fine-tune the drawer height once the faces are mounted.
Spacers ensure repeatability, while the slotted hole buys you flexibility during final adjustments.
Step 3: Installing Runners to the Drawer Boxes
To align the box-mounted runners with the cabinet-side components, measure the offset between the two — often around 10mm — and cut spacers to match.
Rest the drawer runner on your spacers, ensuring it’s flush with the drawer front edge. Predrill your holes (especially if working with hardwoods like oak), and fix the runners in place. Like the cabinet side, slots here can also be used if you want the option of future tweaking.
Step 4: Attaching Drawer Faces the Easy Way
This method is ideal when you want perfectly aligned drawer faces with minimal fuss — even when the cabinet top is already installed.
- Countersink two holes from the inside front of each drawer box.
- Insert short screws and leave 1–2mm of the point sticking out.
- Use spacers to position the face where you want it.
- Press or tap it into place — the screw tips leave small dimples that mark your drill points.
- Remove the face, drill, then attach it with proper screws.
For wider drawers, a table saw with a spacer block can be used to micro-adjust any faces that need slight tapering. This method delivers consistent, fine tuning when hand planing isn’t ideal.
Step 5: Final Adjustments
With the faces mounted, inspect all gaps for consistency. If a face sits slightly low or high, adjust the runner position using the slotted screw holes you left earlier. Once the alignment is perfect, replace the temporary screws with fixed ones, and add extra fasteners for strength between the face and the drawer box.
Remember to drill out the countersink holes on the drawer boxes so the screw threads only grip the drawer face — this ensures a tight fit without pulling the components unevenly.
Finishing Up
With everything aligned and fixed in place, your drawers should open smoothly and sit flush. This method is simple, adaptable, and ideal for everything from small furniture projects to full kitchen installs.
Whether you're fitting one drawer or ten, the principles remain the same — prep, align, adjust, and lock it in.