How to Make a Template for Drilling Holes on Cabinets

Draw a right-angle onto a piece of cardboard to represent the bottom edge and the edge of the opening side of the cabinet door. Use a straight edge to make the lines straight and the angle perfectly squared.

Mark a small "X" where you want the bottom of the cabinet pull to screw in. Look at your cabinet and measure it from the side and up from the bottom to determine where to place the mark on the cardboard. Remember that the bottom line of the right-angle you drew represents the bottom edge of the cabinet door and the vertical line represents the opening edge.

Measure the distance between the holes on the back of your cabinet pulls with a ruler.

Draw another "X" mark as far away from the first mark as the distance between the holes in the back of the cabinet pull. Draw it so that it is also exactly the same distance away from the vertical line as the first mark. This will ensure that the pull runs up and down, not slightly diagonally.

Punch a hole over each "X" mark with a hole punch.

Cut along the vertical and horizontal lines of the right angle with a utility knife.

Hold the template against the bottom opening corner of the cabinet door and match the edges up with the template, exactly. The same template works for both cabinets that open to the right and cabinets that open to the left, just by flipping the template over.

Poke the tip of a pencil through each hole and make a mark on the cabinet door itself. These are your drilling guide marks.