Installing the inside pantry drawers at the right spot is not as easy as it looks, but there's help to be found right here.
As with most things in life, practice makes perfect, and that is certainly true when it comes to installing the inside drawers from Ikea. Making sure that they sit inside the cabinet so they don’t interfere with the hinges and, at the same time, look great can be a bit tricky.
However, it takes a fair amount of experience to know where the hardware must be installed. Not only do the drawers come in three different heights, but the cabinets also vary in height, plus some have two, three or even four hinges.
As you can see in the example below, it makes a big difference whether you do it wrong or right. If you pull on the arrows in the picture, it is obvious to see which is the best.
THE BASICS
When we are installing inside drawers, one thing is certain: we always use the first hole (from the left) at the front and the middle hole at the back, as indicated in these pictures.
Whether we use the upper or the lower holes depends on the specific setup.
In the examples shown below, I will describe the position of the hardware as outlined in this example:
A: Base cabinet
B: 2 x hinges – 60″ high door
C: Drawers: 3 x medium
D: Hole number 4 – Lower
E: Hole number 11 – Upper
F: Hole number 17 – Lower
Where:
A: Cabinet type/size
B:Number of hinges and size of door(s)
C:Drawers: number and size
D: Position of screws in the cabinet (from the bottom) and in the rail for the first drawer from the bottom.
E: Position of screws in the cabinet (from the bottom) and in the rail for the second drawer from the bottom.
F: Position of screws in the cabinet (from the bottom) and in the rail for the third drawer from the bottom.
VARIOUS INSTALLATIONS:
Please note that the examples below are from my personal notes and are in no way to be seen as the finite truth. During my many installations, I took notes and pictures; what you see here is the result of that work.
Also, in some cases, you will see that the lower rail is installed in hole #4 and others in hole #5 from the bottom. Both can be correct; it depends on the situation.
In some situations, you must adjust the drawer front upwards if you use hole #4 to ensure that the front clears the hinge, but you will see that for yourself.
If you find any mistake, please let me know, and if you install a setup that isn’t found here, I will be happy to add it to the list. In any case, please reach out.
Base Cabinet
2 x hinges – 30″ high door
Drawers: 3 x medium
Hole number 4 – Lower
Hole number 11 – Upper
Hole number 17 – Lower
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x medium, 1 low
Hole number 4 – Lower
Hole number 13 – Upper
Hole number 21 – Lower
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x medium
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 16 – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
4 x hinges 60″ high door
Drawers: 1 x medium, 2 low
Hole number 4 – Lower
Hole number 12 – Upper
Hole number 17 – Lower
Pantry Cabinet
4 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x medium
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 17 – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x high, 2 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 16 – Upper
Hole number 3 above middle hinge – Upper
Hole number 11 above middle hinge – Upper
Hole number 19 above middle hinge – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
4 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 4 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 12 – Upper (LOW DRAWER)
Hole number 18 – Upper
Hole number 27 – Upper
Hole number 36 – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
4 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x high, 2 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 18 – Upper
Hole number 28 – Upper
Hole number 36 – Upper
Hole number 43 – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 2 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 4 – lower
Hole number 13 – Upper
Hole number 21 – lower
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
Drawers: 4 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 16 – Upper
Hole number 27 – lower
Hole number 35 – lower
Hole number 43 – lower
Base Cabinet
2 x hinges – 30″ high door
Drawers: 2 x medium, 1 x low
Hole number 4 – lower
Hole number 16 – Upper
Hole number 20 – Upper
Pantry Cabinet
3 x hinges – 60″ high door
2 x hinges – 30″ high door
Drawers: 2 sets of 2 x medium
Sets are similar.
Hole number 5 – Upper
Hole number 15 – Upper
Repeat.
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Still going strong
I bought one of these when I started my business more than five years ago, and it is still going strong after more than 250 kitchens.
Unbelievable quality. I use it to assemble all cabinets and drawers, and the Gyro feature is excellent. There’s only one button to press. The twist of your hand controls the rotational direction.
Comment
I came here hoping to find a screw hole guide for installing a large drawer and three small ones in sektion with maximera drawers, this is shown repeatedly in the catalogue but instructions never allude to this arrangement. Do you have this guide, anywhere?
Hi, is there a measure I can use between the top of the low drawer and the slider for the one over? I don’t have a Sektion cabinet, so I don’t have the holes.
I might be imagining it, but I swear that you had a page showing which holes to use on each drawer front based on their size.
Am I crazy or did you have this page available a few weeks ago?
Thanks!
Comment
I came here hoping to find a screw hole guide for installing a large drawer and three small ones in sektion with maximera drawers, this is shown repeatedly in the catalogue but instructions never allude to this arrangement. Do you have this guide, anywhere?
Hey Wendy.
Check this. It is short, so watch it twice 🙂
No matter the number or size of drawers, the procedure is always the same. Start at the bottom and work your way up/
https://youtube.com/shorts/zBeEI6RcIPY?feature=share
Hi, is there a measure I can use between the top of the low drawer and the slider for the one over? I don’t have a Sektion cabinet, so I don’t have the holes.
Hi Martyne,
Hmm….I really don’t know what that measurement is exactly, as I only install in cabinets with predrilled holes.
Sorry.
and an other question… the rail of the lowest drawer is completely on the bottom of the cabinet? It touches the bottom?
It’s almost at the bottom. Just a hair of clearance.
I might be imagining it, but I swear that you had a page showing which holes to use on each drawer front based on their size.
Am I crazy or did you have this page available a few weeks ago?
Thanks!
Hi John,
You’re not going mad, here it is.
https://kitchensbyrannes.com/easy-assembly-of-ikea-drawers/