DIY Guide: How Do You Remove Kitchen Cabinets

Yes, you can remove kitchen cabinets yourself, even if you are a beginner. Taking out old kitchen cupboards is a doable DIY job. This kitchen cabinet removal guide will show you how, step by step. We will cover everything from upper cabinets to base units.

Preparing for Cabinet Removal

Before you touch a single screw, good prep saves time and prevents mess. Taking out cabinets involves some dust and heavy lifting. Get ready first.

Safety First When Removing Cabinets

Safety is the most important part of this job. Always wear the right gear.

Safety glasses protect your eyes from falling debris.
Work gloves keep your hands safe from sharp edges.
A dust mask helps if demolition creates much dust.
Have a helper for lifting heavy sections.

Tools Needed to Remove Kitchen Cabinets

Having the right gear makes this job much faster. You need more than just a screwdriver. Here is a list of the tools needed to remove kitchen cabinets:

Tool Category	Specific Tool	Purpose
Prying & Separating	Pry bar (small and large)	To gently separate cabinets from walls or countertops.
Fastening	Screwdriver set (Phillips and flathead)	For removing hinge screws and mounting screws.
	Power drill/driver	Speeds up removing many screws.
Measuring & Marking	Tape measure	To mark where supports are if needed.
Cutting	Utility knife	To score caulk or paint lines around the cabinets.
Support & Lifting	Shims or scrap wood	To support cabinets as you take screws out.
	Step ladder	To safely reach upper cabinets.
Cleanup	Trash bags or bins	For immediate disposal of small parts.

Disconnecting Utilities First

This step is crucial, especially for the sink area. You must shut off water and power before disconnecting kitchen sink base cabinets.

Shutting Off Water

Locate the shut-off valves under the sink.
Turn both the hot and cold water valves fully clockwise until they stop.
Turn on the faucet to drain any leftover water in the lines.
Use a bucket to catch any remaining drips when you disconnect the drain lines later.

Managing Electricity

If you have lights under your upper cabinets, you must turn off the power.

Go to your main breaker box (fuse box).
Find the breaker labeled for the kitchen or the specific circuit.
Flip the breaker to the “Off” position.
Test the outlets or lights near the cabinets to make sure the power is truly off.

Step-by-Step: Removing Upper Kitchen Cabinets

Safe removal of upper kitchen cabinets requires careful planning because they are high up and can be heavy. Always work with a partner for this section.

Step 1: Empty and Prepare Upper Cabinets

Take everything out of the cabinets. Remove all shelves and shelf pins. Clean the insides. This makes the cabinets lighter and easier to handle.

Step 2: Remove Doors and Drawer Fronts

Taking off the doors reduces the weight and makes the main box easier to manage.

Open the cabinet door.
Locate the hinge screws. These are usually on the door frame or the cabinet side.
Use your drill or screwdriver to remove the screws holding the hinges to the cabinet frame.
Keep the screws organized. Label a plastic bag for each cabinet’s doors.
Set the doors aside safely.

Step 3: Find the Mounting Screws

This is the key part of how to detach kitchen cabinets from wall. Cabinets are usually held up by screws driven through the cabinet’s back rail directly into the wall studs.

Look inside the top and bottom of the cabinet frame.
Check the back corners. Sometimes screws are hidden behind finished trim or filler pieces.
If you see plastic screw covers or wooden plugs, carefully pry them off using a small flathead screwdriver or utility knife tip.
Use your stud finder to confirm where the wall studs are. Mark these spots lightly with a pencil. This helps you know where the strongest screws are located.

Step 4: Loosening the Cabinet Fasteners

You must loosen the mounting screws gradually. Never remove them all at once.

Place your ladder securely below the cabinet. Have your partner stand ready below.
Start by removing one or two screws near the top center.
If the cabinet does not move, stop. Check for more hidden screws.
Once a few screws are out, the cabinet might sag slightly. Use a small piece of scrap wood or a shim placed just under the cabinet bottom to support its weight. This prevents it from ripping away from the wall unexpectedly.
Continue removing the screws slowly, working from the top down.

Step 5: Gently Pulling the Cabinet Away

Once all mounting screws are out, the cabinet is only held by caulk, paint, or a tight fit.

Use your pry bar very carefully between the cabinet back and the wall. Place a small block of wood against the wall first to protect your drywall.
Gently tap the pry bar to break the seal of paint or old adhesive.
Once you break the seal, you and your partner should lift the cabinet slightly up and then pull it straight out from the wall. Be prepared for the weight.
Move the cabinet immediately to your staging area for dismantling kitchen cabinets later, or set it aside if you are getting rid of old kitchen cabinetry.

Step-by-Step: Removing Base Kitchen Cabinets

Removing base kitchen cabinets is physically harder because they are heavier and often secured to the floor as well as the wall.

Step 1: Clear the Area and Disconnect Plumbing

If you are disconnecting kitchen sink base cabinets, this is essential:

Use a wrench to disconnect the water supply lines from the faucet connections. Have towels ready for drips.
Use a hacksaw or pipe wrench to carefully cut or unscrew the P-trap drainpipe connections. Keep a bucket underneath to catch standing water.
Remove the countertop if it is still attached. Base cabinets are often screwed to the underside of the counter. Pry the counter gently upward using shims between the counter edge and the top of the base cabinet frame.

Step 2: Removing Toe Kicks and Accessing Floor Screws

Many modern base cabinets have a toe kick—that recessed area at the bottom front. This often covers screws securing the cabinet to the subfloor or floor joists.

Use a utility knife to score the caulk line where the toe kick meets the cabinet base.
Use a pry bar to carefully pop the toe kick panel off. Save it if you plan to reuse the cabinets.
Look underneath the exposed area for screws driven down into the floor. Remove these first.

Step 3: Detaching from the Wall Studs

Just like upper cabinets, base units are screwed into studs along the back wall.

Look inside the cabinet above the bottom rail. You will see screws going into the wall.
Remove these screws, working from the ends toward the middle.
If you have continuous runs of cabinets (a long counter section), they are often screwed to each other internally. Look inside where two cabinets meet; there will be screws holding the side panels together. Remove these screws too.

Step 4: Lifting the Base Cabinets

Base cabinets are bulky and heavy. Do not try to lift them alone.

Have one person on each end of the cabinet section.
Lift the cabinet slightly, trying to tilt it toward you. This breaks the seal where the back of the cabinet meets the wall or backsplash area.
Slowly slide the cabinet away from the wall. It may scrape the floor slightly.
If you have very long sections, it is better to cut them into smaller, more manageable pieces after they are detached from the wall but before they are moved far.

Specialized Advice for Kitchen Cabinet Demolition Tips

If your goal is total renovation and you are not planning to reuse anything, you can use slightly more aggressive methods. These are solid kitchen cabinet demolition tips for when reuse is not a concern.

Handling Stubborn Cabinets

Sometimes, old cabinets are glued or heavily nailed in place.

Use Leverage: For very stubborn upper cabinets, a long pry bar works better than a short one. Use the wall studs (if exposed) or the floor as a solid fulcrum point.
Score Everything: Before prying, use a utility knife to deeply score every edge where wood meets wood, wall, or ceiling. Cut through paint, caulk, and wallpaper completely. This prevents tearing large chunks of drywall when the cabinet moves.

Dismantling Kitchen Cabinets On-Site

If the cabinets are too large to fit through doorways once whole, you need to break them down further.

Remove Shelves and Dividers: Take out all internal pieces first. These are usually held by pins or simple screws.
Separate Box Sides: Once empty, the box is held together by screws or sometimes just glue and nails. Look for screws connecting the sides to the front face frame. Remove these.
Breaking Down the Box: If screws are not easily accessible, you may need to carefully cut the box apart using a reciprocating saw (Sawzall). Cut along the joint lines where the side panels meet the top and bottom panels. This should be a last resort.

Finalizing the Removal Process

After the main cabinets are gone, you have a few final tasks before you can start installing new ones.

Removing Backsplashes and Wall Coverings

If the old cabinets were hiding tile or drywall that is now damaged, you must address it.

If the tile extends behind where the upper cabinets were, you might need to carefully chip away the bottom row of tile using a hammer and chisel.
If the drywall behind the upper cabinets is ripped or gouged from removal, plan to patch and repaint these areas before installing the new units.

Dealing with the Exposed Floor

For removing base kitchen cabinets, the floor underneath is now exposed.

Check the flooring. If you are replacing the floor, this is great.
If you are keeping the floor, the exposed area might show discoloration where the old cabinets sat. This often requires refinishing or sanding that section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cabinet Removal

Q: Can I remove kitchen cabinets without shutting off the main water supply?

A: For sink base cabinets, you only need to turn off the local shut-off valves under the sink. You do not need to shut off the main water to the entire house unless those local valves do not work or you plan to cut the pipes entirely.

Q: How long does it take to remove a full set of kitchen cabinets?

A: For an experienced DIYer with a helper, a standard kitchen (10 to 15 upper and base cabinets) can take about 4 to 6 hours. If this is your first time, plan for a full day (8 hours), especially if you have to deal with tricky plumbing or stubborn fasteners.

Q: Should I remove the countertop before or after the upper cabinets?

A: Always remove the upper cabinets first. Base cabinets are usually secured under the countertop, meaning the counter rests on top of the base cabinet frames. Removing the uppers first allows you to safely tackle the base units afterward.

Q: What if I find screws going into metal studs instead of wood studs?

A: Metal studs are weaker than wood studs for anchoring heavy cabinets. If you find only drywall anchors or screws in metal studs, the cabinets were likely installed poorly. Use extreme caution. When pulling, lift straight up slightly before pulling out to help break the grip of the anchors, minimizing wall damage.

Q: Is it necessary to completely empty the cabinet boxes?

A: Yes. Even small items add significant weight. Since you need a helper to safely lift heavy units off the wall, making the boxes as light as possible reduces strain and the risk of injury.