How to Remove Kitchen Cabinets: A Step-By-Step Guide

How to Remove Kitchen Wall Cabinets

Wall cabinets are attached to the wall above the base cabinets. Wall cabinets are screwed to wall studs with four or more screws per cabinet. Adjacent cabinets will be screwed side-to-side with short screws.

1. Remove Appliances

   Unplug and remove small appliances like microwaves.

2. Remove the Shelves

   Lift shelves off of the shelf pins and set the shelves aside. The pins can stay in place.

3. Remove the Doors

   Unscrew the door hinge screws to remove the doors from the cabinets.

4. Cut Any Caulk or Paint

   Use a utility knife to slice through caulk or paint connecting the cabinet to the wall. It’s not common to caulk or paint against kitchen cabinets, but sometimes you will find this.

5. Unscrew the Side Screws

   Use the electric drill to turn out screws on the interior side of the cabinet. You will find side screws only if there are adjacent wall cabinets.

6. Locate the Back Screws

   Use a light to locate the four screws in the back of the wall cabinet that connect the cabinet to the wall. Typically, there will be four screws with washers per cabinet box.

7. Unscrew the Back Screws

   With an assistant holding the cabinet firmly against the wall, unscrew all of the screws.

   Tip

   Lay a towel below the wall cabinet to protect the countertop. It’s helpful to be able to first lower the cabinet to the countertop.

8. Lower and Remove the Cabinet

   With all screws removed, shift your grip to the side of the cabinet. The assistant should take the other side of the cabinet. Lower the cabinet to the countertop. Then, pick up the cabinet and move it to the floor.

How to Remove Kitchen Base Cabinets

Base cabinets rest on the floor. Four or more screws per cabinet are driven through the back of the cabinet frame. Adjacent cabinets are attached side-to-side with short screws.

1. Remove the Shelves and Drawers

   Lift shelves off of the pins and set them aside. Pull out all the drawers.

2. Uninstall the Dishwasher

   Remove the dishwasher by first shutting off the circuit breaker to the dishwasher. Unscrew the brackets below the countertop that attach the dishwasher to the countertop. Turn off and detach the water supply line in the base cabinet, below the sink. Slide the dishwasher forward.

   Tip

   If flooring was installed after the cabinets were installed, the edge of the flooring will prevent the dishwasher from sliding out. Either remove some of the flooring in front of the dishwasher or remove the countertop.

3. Detach the Sink

   Turn off the two water supply lines in the sink base cabinet. Unscrew the water supply lines with pliers or by hand. Unscrew the drain pipes by hand. Unplug the garbage disposal.

   Tip

   It’s safest to remove the sink from the countertop. But if the sink and countertop are light enough, you can lift both out together. Rest the countertop on sawhorses to prevent damage to the sink.

4. Cut Away the Caulk

   Cut away any caulk along the back of the countertop. This caulk may be in place to seal the countertop to the backsplash on the back wall. Sometimes, the backsplash and countertop may be a unified piece. In this case, cut the caulk attaching the top of the backsplash to the wall.

5. Remove the Toe Kick Plate

   Gently pry off the toe kick plate from the bottom of the cabinets with the thin pry bar. This prevents damage to the toe kick plate.

6. Unscrew Side Screws

   With the drill, unscrew any screws on the interior side of the cabinets if there are adjacent wall cabinets.

7. Unscrew Wall Screws

   Locate the screws in the back of the base cabinet that attach the cabinet to the wall. Unscrew these screws with the electric drill.

8. Lift the Cabinets Out

   With an assistant, lift the base cabinets out. Place the cabinets on towels or on hand trucks to remove them from the house.