Must‑Have Tools for Your IKEA Kitchen
The Definitive Guide to IKEA Kitchen Installation: The Critical Tools IKEA Doesn’t Tell You About
Upgrade Your IKEA Kitchen Install: The Essential Tools That Save Hours.
Installing an IKEA kitchen is one of the most rewarding DIY projects you can take on — but it’s also where many renovators discover that the official IKEA tool list is only the starting point. As shown in the video, relying solely on the standard 15‑item checklist often leads to slow progress, imprecise fits, and avoidable frustration. Real efficiency comes from understanding which extra tools transform the workflow from “good enough” to genuinely professional.
After installing hundreds of IKEA kitchens, I’ve learned that a few strategic additions can save hours of labour, prevent common alignment issues, and dramatically improve the structural integrity of your cabinetry. This guide breaks down the practical upgrades demonstrated in the video — tools that tighten tolerances, speed up repetitive tasks, and help you achieve a cleaner, more accurate finish than the manufacturer’s recommendations alone can.
Whether you’re a first‑time DIY renovator or tackling a full remodel, these insights will help you avoid the pitfalls of inadequate equipment and set you up for a smoother, more predictable installation. By the end, you’ll know exactly which tools matter, why they matter, and how they elevate the quality of your build.
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Tool #1: Flat Screwdriver
Why we need it:
I use the flat screwdriver for only two tasks.
One is for the lock screw when I assemble cabinets, and the other is for twisting that grey plastic clip that secures the cabinet to the suspension rail.
My Recommendation
Any flat screwdriver, size 2, will work. I use a Husky multi-bit screwdriver from Home Depot, but a stubby multibit screwdriver like this will work just as well.
Having a short one will also be beneficial if you have to assemble the sink cabinet around the pipes.
Tool #2: Phillips Screwdriver
Why we need it:
Just as with the flat screwdriver, we don’t have much use for a Phillips screwdriver.
I use it for two things only, actually: adjusting doors and drawers and, if I don’t use my flat screwdriver, cabinet assembly. Both will do the job.
IKEA suggests that you need a Phillips screwdriver throughout their assembly & installation instructions, but in reality, practically all the screws used for assembly and installation are PoziDrive 2 (PZ).
My Recommendation
If you have a Phillips screwdriver, size 2, already, use that. If not, get the multi-bit screwdriver shown above, as it has enough bits to cover your needs for a hand-driven screwdriver.
As you will see further down this list, you will need to invest in a few power tools, and for those, you will need some PZ2 bits.
Get the long ones, as they will work better for you when assembling drawers.
Tool #3: Awl
Why we need it:
I use my awl for marking when installing under-cabinet lights, spot lights in cabinets, hinges on horizontal doors, and when installing the fixture for mounting a door on the Maximera drawer hardware.
If you don’t do any of these tasks in your installation, you might get by without it.
My Recommendation
An awl comes in handy for making marks throughout the installation, but don’t use it for poking a hole in the surface of the cabinet wall when installing panels or screwing panels together, as Ikea suggests in their instructions. It takes a lot of effort, and as you will see later, a countersink drill bit is the right tool for the job.
Tool #4: Pencil
Why we need it:
A pencil is one of those items you often don’t give much importance, so you grab whatever is near, e.g. a ball pen or permanent marker. However, using a pencil suited to the task makes a difference.
You will need it for making marks on the wall when hanging the rails, i.e. marking the stud positions, cabinet layout, and when installing lights and many other tasks.
My Recommendation
Pencils, even the good ones, are cheap, so get a few. The carpenter pencils are my go-to pencils. I’ve tried a number of more modern types with refills, but no matter how fancy they are, I also go back to basics.
Tool #5: Rubber Mallet
Why we need it:
A non-marking rubber mallet is invaluable when you are tying the cabinet boxes together.
While clamping the two cabinet sides together, a few precise taps with the mallet make the alignment much easier. I tried for a long time to use the palm of my hand, but as you can imagine, I ended up with sore palms.
My Recommendation
It is important that the mallet is made from rubber with a low recoil, has a solid head and a handle which provides a good grip. Don’t settle for a checper mallet with nylon heads, one on each side. You will not enjoy using it, and you might even damage the front of the cabinet. Go get the rubber one.
No, it is not a Philips bit
Contrary to what it looks like to the less experienced DIY’er, it is not a Philips bit.
For most, if not all, Ikea uses screws with a Pozidrive head.
PZ2 is the size and you will enjoy using it instead of the more famous PH2.
Less is more.
True story. The only task for which I use my hammer when assembling Ikea kitchen cabinets is to drive all the nails into the back. That is it. Nothing else. And for that, we don’t need a big hammer.
This 8 oz hammer is perfect for the job.
I have seen sledgehammers and axes used for this, but what are we? Professionals, right?