Frameless Kitchen Wall Cabinet - Universal Template

DIY wall kitchen cabinets
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Beginner Projects
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All kitchen wall cabinets are pretty much the same - so you only need ONE template to build them all!  You found it - this is a free plan with an easy to use configurator to help you plan all your kitchen cabinets.

This design is for a frameless wall cabinet, meaning there is no 1x2 trim on the front edges of the cabinet carcass.

MATCHING PLAN: Frameless Kitchen Base Cabinet - Universal Template

I have used this template many times over the years to build my own kitchen cabinets.  I love that I am able to build custom sizes easily.  In this kitchen, I had to build different size wall cabinets to fit around the windows.  It would have costed a fortune to buy these cabinets.

 

 

MATCHING PLANS: BASE CABINET AND ISLAND TEMPLATES

This plan is designed to work with our Frameless Base Kitchen Cabinet Template (cabinets pictured in photo).  You can also use it with our Frameless Modular Desk Base Template. 

You can also build the island using our Free Gathering Kitchen Island Plans.

 

DIMENSIONS

  • WIDTH: Single cabinets up to 36" wide:  Wider is not recommended as shelves may sag, instead, build two or more cabinets to achieve wider widths.
  • HEIGHT: Any height.  30" is standard, 42" is full ceiling height.  15" or 18" are standard over the range or over the fridge.  You can also build hutch style, in heights from 48" to 59".
  • DEPTH: Standard depth is 11-1/4", but deeper cabinets can be made.

 

 

WATCH: VIDEO TUTORIAL OF BUILDING WALL CABINETS USING THIS TEMPLATES

I built the wall cabinet shown in this template in this video.  Please take a second to watch so it all makes sense.

 

 

RECOMMENDED TOOLS AND MATERIALS

  • 3/4" plywood for the carcass, cut lists generated in Ana's Design App
  • 3/4" edge banding
  • 1x3 or 1x4s for Bay Supports
  • 1/4" plywood for the back if using
  • For doors: Doors and Full Overlay Frameless Concealed Hinges
  • Wood glue
  • Drill 
  • Brad nailer and 1" brad nails
  • Pocket hole jig and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws
  • Tables for ripping plywood
  • Circular saw, miters or jigsaw to cut bay supports and cross cut 

 

 

CONFIGURATION SETTINGS USING ANA'S DESIGN APP

Use Ana's custom configurator to create your carcass.

Ana White kitchen configuration

The configuration for the wall cabinet is as follows

  • Width = Up to 36"
  • Height = 30" is standard, but can be customized
  • Depth = 11-1/4" is standard
  • Bay = 1
  • Shelves = minimum 2 (top and bottom)

 

CUTTING THE CARCASS PIECES

After you design your cabinet in Ana's Design App, download the PDF.  On the second page, there will be a cut list.  

Use 3/4" plywood and rip into strips 11-1/4" wide by 8 feet long.  Then cross cut those pieces on a miter saw down to your needed lengths.

Apply edge banding to the front edges of the plywood pieces.

 

 

 

ASSEMBLING YOUR CABINETS

 

 

The shelves can also be fixed, or made adjustable with a Shelf Pin Jig.

 

BAY SUPPORTS

Bay supports on the wall cabinet are used to hang the cabinet on the wall.  You just need one at the top back unless your cabinet is extra tall, attached to both the sides and the top, with recommended pocket holes.

BACK

A back is not required, but we do recommend it, especially for open cabinets.  The recommended back material is 1/4" plywood, attached with either 3/4" brad nails and an 18 gauge brad nailer, or 3/4" narrow crown staples.

 

DOORS

Adding doors to wall cabinets is easy.

Simply measure the opening, and add 1" to the the width and height.  For double doors, simply divide by two width wise. Order doors through a door company or make your own.

DOOR HINGES

The recommended hinge is a Concealed Full Overlay Hinge for Frameless Cabinets.  These are sold off the shelf at Lowes or Home Depot, or also online.  

The hinges normally come with a template for drilling and installing.  

One trick I recommend for installing the hinge inside the cabinet is to measure on the hinge how far back the screw holes need to be inside the cabinet.  Then draw a parallel line to the front edge of the cabinet this distance back.  Then start your hinge screws on your pencil line.

 

Thank you for using this template.  We hope it is useful and allows you to create high quality custom cabinetry affordably.