What size drill bit for cabinet knobs?

If you’ve decided to renovate your kitchen, then you’re probably sick of looking for new hardware, what finish to put on the cabinet front, and so on. One thing to know, however, is what size drill bit to use for cabinet knobs. The last thing you want to do with those new cabinet doors is damage them. There are just a few tricks you need to get the job done right without risking the cabinet’s finish.

First, a brief introduction to drawer pull handles. You basically have two types, knob and handle. They can be attached in different methods.

Many handles will have two small screw holes built into the outer flange. These are the easiest to install.

For thicker flush mount pulls and individual knobs, they are bolted through the back of the cabinet and then threaded into the hardware. You will have to be much more careful when drilling the holes for this.

The first step of any job is the prep work. You will need a couple of different sized drill bits, so choosing a drill rate is a good idea. You won’t need a full index, you can accomplish everything you need with a selection of drill bits ranging from ¼ to ½ inch.

Make sure the tips are sharp. The last thing you want is to risk the bit walking across the surface of the cabinet or splintering the wood.

For the screw type handle, the installation is really simple. Just mark where the screws go. Tap in a pilot hole about a third of the way through the face of the cabinet and drive the screws in.

Bolt on handles will take a little more time and prep work.

A single bolt knob is the next step up in complexity. For this you will need to measure from the edge of the knob to the center of the bolt hole. This will be your drilling compensation.

Place a piece of masking tape over the face of the cabinet where the knob will be installed. Now trace around the perimeter of the knob. Take your offset measurement to mark where the center of the bolt hole is.

Use the ¼-inch drill bit to close up a pilot hole. Make sure you drill from front to back, I know it’s counterintuitive but this way if you have any splinters it will be on the inside of the cabinet.

Now simply increase the size of the bits until you get to a size large enough to drive the deadbolt through the door.

Remove the tape, put the bolt in place and tighten the knob.

The most complex door handle will have two bolts. The basic principle is the same.

apply tape

measure displacement

Trace the handle.

Mark the tape.

Drill the pilot hole and then size up to the size of the bolt.

The only difference in connection is that you will be tightening the bolt from the back of the cabinet.

So what size drill bit to use for cabinet knobs is a bit of a misnomer. You’ll need quite a few different sizes to achieve a sleek, professional look.