How to Make Holes in Cabinet Shelves

Remove the shelf from the cabinet. In most setups, you can simply lift the shelf out by pushing it up from the bottom. If it is stubborn, a few smacks on the bottom of the shelf with the palm of your hand should remove it.

Mark a dot on the surface of the shelf where you want the center of the hole to be.

Clamp the cabinet shelf securely to the edge of a work table so that the outer edge of the drilled hole will be no more than 4 inches away from the edge of the table.

Attach a hole saw bit to a hand-held drill. Choose a hole saw bit size that corresponds to the size of the hole you need. Hole saws come in diameters up to 6 inches or more, depending on the manufacturer.

Drill through the shelf so that the drill bit is flat against the surface of the shelf and not at an angle.

Stop the drill's rotation once you see the tip of the drill just emerge through the other side of the shelf. Don't drill deep enough to completely remove the plug. This may splinter the shelf.

Pull the drill out of the wood. Pulse the bit in reverse, as you pull, to free it easily without cracking or damaging the wood.

Flip the shelf over so the bottom of the shelf faces up. Clamp it back into place in the same position.

Drill through the bottom of the hole in the exact same spot to free the plug of wood.

Pull the drill out of the wood. Pulse the bit in reverse, as you pull, to free it easily without cracking or damaging the wood.