Assembly guide

How to assemble your RTA cabinet

Every cabinet ships flat with pre-cut dadoes, so the parts line themselves up. Pick your cabinet type below and follow the numbered steps to a solid, square box.

You'll need

  • Wood glueFor every dado and rabbet
  • Drill / driverFor the assembly screws
  • Wooden malletTo tap panels into place
  • Tape measureTo check the box is square

Included in the box

  • Assembly screwsProvided with your cabinet
  • Drawer guidesDrawer models only

Base cabinet · 8 steps

Assembling a base cabinet

Base cabinets add a toe kick along the bottom and, on drawer models, a drawer stretcher and drawer guides. Work on a flat, padded surface so you don't scratch the finished sides.

Exploded view of an RTA base cabinet showing how the panels fit together

In the box

  • Left side
  • Right side
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • Back
  • Top nailer
  • Bottom nailer
  • Toe kick
  • Drawer stretcher*

*Drawer models only

  1. Check your parts

    Lay out the left and right sides, top, bottom, back, top and bottom nailers, toe kick, and the drawer stretcher if your cabinet has a drawer.

  2. Install the drawer guides

    Screw the drawer guides to the left and right sides using the screws provided.

  3. Glue the left side

    Run glue in the left-side dadoes where the top, bottom, toe kick and drawer stretcher will sit.

  4. Attach parts to the left side

    Seat the bottom in its dado and secure it with assembly screws. Repeat for the top, toe kick and drawer stretcher.

  5. Glue the right side

    Run glue in the right-side dadoes for the top, bottom, toe kick and drawer stretcher.

  6. Close up the box

    Line up the right side's dadoes with the parts and tap it into place with a wooden mallet if needed. Then secure it with assembly screws.

  7. Slide in the back

    Glue the dadoes for the back, then slide the back panel down into place from the top of the cabinet.

  8. Fit the nailers

    Glue the rabbets, then set the top and bottom nailers between the sides, behind the back panel. Screw through the sides into the nailers, then through the nailers into the top and bottom.

Upper cabinet · 7 steps

Assembling an upper cabinet

Uppers go together the same way as a base cabinet, with fewer parts — no toe kick, drawer stretcher or drawer guides.

Exploded view of an RTA upper wall cabinet showing how the panels fit together

In the box

  • Left side
  • Right side
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • Back
  • Top nailer
  • Bottom nailer

  1. Check your parts

    Lay out the left and right sides, top, bottom, back, and the top and bottom nailers.

  2. Glue the left side

    Run glue in the left-side dadoes for the top and bottom.

  3. Attach parts to the left side

    Seat the bottom in its dado and secure it with assembly screws. Repeat for the top.

  4. Glue the right side

    Run glue in the right-side dadoes for the top and bottom.

  5. Close up the box

    Line up the right side's dadoes with the top and bottom and tap it into place with a wooden mallet if needed. Then secure it with assembly screws.

  6. Slide in the back

    Glue the dado for the back, then slide the back panel down into place from the top of the cabinet.

  7. Fit the nailers

    Glue the rabbets, then set the top and bottom nailers between the sides, behind the back panel. Screw through the sides into the nailers, then through the nailers into the top and bottom.

Hanging it next?

The top and bottom nailers are what you screw through into the wall studs — never hang an upper by the back panel alone.

Pro tips

A few tips from our shop

Dry-fit first

Set each part in its dado before you glue so you know exactly where everything goes.

Go easy on the glue

A thin bead in each dado is plenty. Wipe any squeeze-out with a damp rag before it dries.

Check for square

Before the glue sets, measure corner to corner both ways. Matching diagonals mean a square box.

Don't overdrive screws

Snug is enough. Set your drill's clutch low so the screws don't strip the panels.

Stuck on a step?

Missing a part, or not sure which piece goes where? Our team builds these every day — give us a call and we'll walk you through it.

Call (877) 344-8548Shop RTA cabinets →