How to Add Feet to Kitchen Cabinets FAST! (Easy Steps)

Are you tired of ugly cabinet bottoms touching the floor and getting damaged by water or dirt? Adding feet to kitchen cabinets is an easy weekend project that makes your kitchen look taller, more modern, and much easier to clean underneath. In just a few hours you can completely change how your kitchen feels without spending a fortune.

Why You Should Add Feet to Kitchen Cabinets Right Now

Lifting your cabinets with feet completely changes the look and function of your kitchen in the best way possible. When cabinets sit directly on the floor they collect dust, get wet from spills, and make cleaning very hard work. Adding feet creates a beautiful gap that lets you sweep or mop under them without moving anything heavy. Your kitchen instantly looks cleaner and more professional.

Feet also protect the bottom of your cabinets from water damage that happens from normal kitchens every day. Water from leaks or mopping slowly destroys wood over time and causes expensive problems later. Simple plastic or wood feet stop this damage before it starts and can save you thousands of dollars in repairs. Many people notice their cabinets last much longer after this small change.

Another big reason is how much taller and more modern your kitchen looks with raised cabinets. Even adding just four inches of height makes the whole room feel bigger and more open. This trick is used by expensive kitchen designers all the time because it works so well. Your friends will think you spent a lot of money when you really just added simple feet.

The extra space under the cabinets becomes perfect hidden storage for flat items like baking sheets or rarely used appliances. You can even add LED lights under there to make your kitchen glow beautifully at night. This small project gives you more storage, better looks, and real protection all at once.

• Raises cabinets for easy cleaning underneath
• Protects from water damage and extends cabinet life
• Makes kitchen look taller and more expensive
• Creates hidden storage space

Tools and Materials You Really Need

You do not need fancy or expensive tools to add feet successfully to your kitchen cabinets. A basic cordless drill with different size bits is the most important tool you will use many times. Make sure your battery is charged because you will drill lots of holes. A good stud finder helps you find strong wood inside the cabinet to screw into safely.

A simple tape measure and pencil are needed for marking perfect spots for each foot. Buy a small level to check that everything stays straight while you work. These cheap tools stop your cabinets from becoming crooked later. A pack of wood screws in 2-inch and 3-inch lengths works best for most projects.

The feet themselves come in many materials and heights at any home improvement store. Plastic feet are cheapest and very strong for normal kitchens. Wood feet look more elegant but cost more money. Adjustable metal feet are perfect if your floor is not perfectly level because you can turn them to make everything even.

You will also want wood glue for extra strength and some shims to fill small gaps. Painter’s tape helps mark straight lines and protects your cabinets from scratches while working. Safety glasses and work gloves keep you safe from wood pieces flying around.

• Cordless drill, tape measure, level, pencil
• Wood screws, wood glue, shims
• Cabinet feet (plastic, wood, or adjustable)
• Stud finder and safety glasses

How to Prepare Your Kitchen Cabinets Perfectly

Start by completely emptying every cabinet you plan to lift so nothing falls and breaks during the work. Remove all plates, pots, food, and anything heavy or breakable. This step takes time but keeps your things safe. Put everything on the counter or dining table with soft towels underneath.

Next take off all the doors and drawers to make the cabinets much lighter and easier to lift later. Label each door with tape and a number so you know exactly where it goes back. Store the screws in small bags with the same numbers. This simple trick saves hours of confusion when putting everything back together.

Clean the bottom edge of each cabinet very well because dirt stops screws from holding strong. Use warm water with a little dish soap and let everything dry completely. Check for any rot or damage at the bottom that needs fixing first. Weak wood must be repaired before adding weight or the cabinet could break later.

Measure the height you want to add and write it down for every cabinet because floors are never perfectly level. Some spots may need taller feet than others to make the countertops stay even. Mark the exact spot for each foot about three inches in from every corner. Use your level to draw straight lines across the bottom for perfect placement.

• Empty cabinets completely and remove doors/drawers
• Clean bottom edges and check for damage
• Measure exact height needed for each corner
• Mark foot positions clearly with pencil

Best Types of Cabinet Feet to Choose

Plastic feet are the most popular choice because they cost very little and last forever in kitchens. They come in black, white, or brown to match most cabinets perfectly. These feet can hold hundreds of pounds each and never rot from water. You can buy a pack of four for less than ten dollars at any hardware store.

Wood feet give the most beautiful and classic look that matches real wood cabinets perfectly. They can be stained or painted any color you want. Pine or oak feet are strong enough for heavy cabinets. The only problem is that wood can swell if it gets very wet all the time.

Adjustable metal feet are the smartest choice for older homes with uneven floors. You turn the bottom part to make each foot taller or shorter by up to two inches. This means your countertops stay perfectly level even if your floor is wavy. These cost more but solve many problems at once.

Bun feet are large decorative wood feet that look like furniture legs and make your kitchen look very expensive. They come in many pretty designs and different heights. These are perfect if you want your kitchen to look custom made. Just make sure they are rated to hold the heavy weight of full cabinets.

• Plastic feet = cheapest and waterproof
• Wood feet = most beautiful natural look
• Adjustable metal = perfect for uneven floors
• Bun feet = fancy furniture-style look

Step-by-Step Installation Process

First turn off the water and disconnect plumbing if you work near the sink cabinet to stay safe. Have a friend help lift each cabinet because even empty cabinets are heavy and awkward. Place old towels or cardboard on the floor to protect it from scratches when the cabinet comes down. Always lift with your legs and not your back.

Carefully tilt the cabinet forward and have your helper slide wood blocks under the front to hold it up. Now you can easily reach the bottom to work. Mark and pre-drill holes exactly where each foot will go using the marks you made earlier. Use a bit slightly smaller than your screws so the wood holds tight.

Put strong wood glue on the top of each foot and press it firmly into place on the bottom of cabinet. Drive screws through the foot into the cabinet frame from underneath. Use at least four screws per foot for maximum strength. Check with your level that the cabinet stays straight as you tighten everything.

Slowly remove the wood blocks and let the cabinet rest on its new feet. Check the height and level one more time. If anything is crooked, adjust now while everything is easy to reach. Repeat the same process for every cabinet working around the kitchen one at a time.

• Get help and protect floors before lifting
• Pre-drill holes and use wood glue
• Screw feet tightly with 4+ screws each
• Check level constantly during installation

How to Make Everything Perfectly Level

Even new floors are rarely perfectly flat so you must check level in many places. Place your long level on the countertop after installing feet on each cabinet. Look for any gaps under the level that show high or low spots. Mark any cabinet that sits too high or too low with tape.

Adjustable feet make this step easy because you just turn them with your fingers or pliers. Turn clockwise to lower and counterclockwise to raise each foot slowly. Check the bubble in your level after every small turn. Work around all four feet until the bubble stays perfectly center.

For plastic or wood feet that cannot adjust, use thin wood shims under the low feet. Tap them gently with a hammer until the cabinet becomes level. You can trim extra shim that sticks out with a sharp knife. Paint or stain the shims to match your feet so they disappear.

Walk around and push on different counter spots to test for rocking. If the cabinet moves at all, one foot is still too short. Keep adjusting until everything feels rock solid with no movement. This step takes patience but makes your finished kitchen look professional.

• Use long level on countertops constantly
• Adjust one small turn at a time
• Add shims under non-adjustable feet
• Test for rocking by pushing counters

Final Thoughts

Adding feet to your kitchen cabinets is one of the smartest and easiest upgrades you can make at home. Your kitchen will look taller, stay cleaner, and last much longer with almost no money spent. Even beginners can finish this project in one weekend and feel proud every time they cook. Start planning your new raised cabinets today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it hard to add feet to kitchen cabinets?

No, it is actually very easy once you have the right tools and plan. Most people finish their whole kitchen in one or two days even if they never did this before. The hardest part is lifting the empty cabinets safely with a helper. Everything else is just measuring, drilling small holes, and screwing the feet on tight. Thousands of regular homeowners do this project every year with great results.

Can I add feet to cabinets that already have a toe kick?

Yes, you have two good choices. You can carefully cut off the existing toe kick with a saw and then add new feet to the real cabinet bottom. Or you can buy special toe-kick feet that attach to the front of the old toe kick without cutting anything. Many people choose the second option because it is faster and makes no mess.

Do I need to remove the countertop first?

Almost never. You only remove the countertop if it is glued directly to the cabinets with no screws or if your cabinets are very old and weak. In 95% of kitchens the countertop stays in place and you just lift each cabinet box a few inches to slide feet underneath. Always check how your counter is attached first.

Can cabinet feet hold the weight of granite countertops?

Yes, when you use the right feet and install them correctly. Choose feet rated for at least 300 pounds each and use strong blocking inside the cabinet corners. Granite is very heavy but four good feet spread the weight perfectly. Professional installers use this method all the time with stone counters.

Do I need to anchor cabinets to the wall after adding feet?

Yes, always. The feet make cabinets taller but do not replace wall anchoring. Use strong metal brackets or wood cleats screwed into wall studs every 16 inches. This stops tipping accidents especially with children climbing or heavy items inside. Safety comes first.

Can I paint or stain the new feet to match my cabinets?

Absolutely yes. Plastic feet can be painted with special plastic primer and spray paint made for plastic. Wood feet take regular stain or paint perfectly. Many people buy unfinished wood feet just so they can make them match exactly. Always do two or three thin coats for the best look.

Do I need planning permission to raise my kitchen cabinets?

No, never for normal homes. Adding feet is just a simple improvement like painting or changing handles. Only if you live in a special historic building or apartment with strict rules might someone care, but this is very rare. You own your kitchen and can improve it freely.

Can one person do this project alone?

It is possible but not recommended. You really need at least one helper to safely lift and hold cabinets while you work underneath. Trying alone can cause back injury or dropped cabinets that break floors. Ask a friend or family member to help for just a few hours.