Guides25 October 2026 4 min read

How to Install Cabinet Handles

How to fit cabinet handles without damaging the fronts — marking out, pre-drilling, and why the screwdriver beats the drill.

Oak Natural Finish Ensemble knob and bar handles

Cabinet handles are fitted from the back of the door or drawer front. Mark and check your fixing points, pre-drill with a 4.5mm bit, pass the supplied M4 screws through from the rear, hold the handle in position on the front, and tighten by hand with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Do not use power tools, and do not overtighten.

What you will need

A tape measure, a pencil, masking tape, a 4.5mm drill bit, a drill and a handheld Phillips-head screwdriver. A square or drilling jig helps if you are fitting a full kitchen.

Sloan Roberts handles are rear-fixed and supplied with M4 × 22mm and M4 × 45mm break-off cabinet handle screws, which cover most standard door and drawer front thicknesses. Check which length suits your cabinetry before you start. The screw should engage the handle securely without bottoming out or protruding.

Marking out

This is the part worth slowing down for, because it is the only part that cannot be undone.

Run masking tape across the area where the handle will sit. It gives you a surface to mark on, it stops the pencil marking the finish, and it reduces chipping when the drill breaks through.

Measure and mark both fixing points. Check the measurement between them against the centre-to-centre size of your handle — not the overall length. Then check the height and the setback from the edge against the other fronts in the run.

Step back and look at the whole row before drilling anything. Irregularities invisible on one door become obvious across eight.

Our guides to handle sizing and handle placement cover how to arrive at those figures.

Drilling

Pre-drill both holes with a 4.5mm bit, working from the face you marked and backing the panel with a scrap of timber so the bit does not tear out as it exits.

Keep the drill perpendicular to the front. A hole drilled at an angle will force the screw off-axis and prevent the handle sitting flat.

Fixing

Pass the M4 screws through from the rear of the door or drawer front. Hold the handle firmly in position on the front and align it with the screws.

Tighten each screw gently with a handheld Phillips-head screwdriver until the handle is secure and sits evenly against the cabinetry.

Do not use power tools. A driver applies far more torque than the fixing needs, and it is the most common cause of damage to the handle, the thread or the cabinet surface.

Do not overtighten. The handle should be firm, not forced. Excess pressure can damage the handle, the drawer front or the surrounding finish — and with natural materials such as marble, that risk is higher.

When to call someone

For installation into stone, glass, metal, unusually thick panels or other specialist substrates, speak to a qualified cabinetmaker, joiner or installer before proceeding.

The same applies if you are unsure about the construction of your cabinetry, or if your existing holes do not match the centres of your new hardware. Filling and re-drilling a finished front is not a job to learn on.

Common questions

What size drill bit for cabinet handles?
A 4.5mm bit suits M4 screws, which is what Sloan Roberts handles are supplied with. Check the screw gauge of any other hardware before drilling.

What screws come with cabinet handles?
Sloan Roberts handles are supplied with M4 × 22mm and M4 × 45mm break-off cabinet handle screws, covering most standard door and drawer front thicknesses. Choose the length that engages the handle securely without bottoming out.

Can I use a drill to tighten cabinet handles?
No. Power tools apply excessive torque and can damage the handle, the fixing thread or the cabinetry surface. Tighten by hand with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

How do I stop the drawer front chipping when I drill?
Run masking tape over the drill area, use a sharp 4.5mm bit, keep the drill perpendicular, and support the back of the panel so the bit does not tear out as it exits.

Do I need to pre-drill?
Yes. Pre-drilling with a 4.5mm bit keeps the screw aligned and prevents the panel splitting, particularly on timber and veneered fronts.