Hanging Cabinets on Concrete

In this quick walkthrough I’ll show you the proper way to go about hanging cabinets on concrete or cinder block walls. I’ll go over the tools needed and some tips for a successful install.

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Hanging Cabinets on Concrete

Hanging cabinets on concrete or cinder block may seem daunting at first, but if you have the right tools on hand it’s actually quite easy, and concrete walls can hold a large amount of weight, so you’ll have a very sturdy set of cabinets when you’re done!

OK to get started here are the tools I recommend. You’re going to need a drill with a ¼” drill bit.

A hammer drill with a 3/16” masonry bit.

And a driver with a 5/16^th hex head attachment.

You’re also going to need concrete/masonry screws. These are Tapcon screws from the big box store.

And make sure to add a washer to each screw for extra gripping power.

You’ll also need a level. I recommend a four foot level for best results.

Hanging Cabinets on Concrete – Installation

But before any of that matters I need to get my cabinet up onto this platform.

I have a bit of an advantage because I already have base cabinets installed and leveled below where my wall cabinets will be.

If you don’t have that situation, you can screw a 2×4 to the wall and set the back of the cabinet on that as a helping hand. Just locate the 2×4 at the height you want the cabinet at and level it before installing the cabinet.

To make sure I was perfectly centered, I centered the platform to the base cabinet and then centered the wall cabinet to the platform. I recommend removing the doors and shelves which will make the cabinet lighter and protect the doors from getting damages.

Then I checked for level. Everything should already be level, but its always good to double check.

Now with the ¼” drill bit I go ahead and drill pilot holes in the back of the cabinet.

You should use an old, or at least a cheap drill bit here because you’re going to be running the tip into the concrete wall which might cause it to dull If you do it enough. I’m making six pilot holes for this 48” cabinet.

Next, I use the masonry bit and hammer drill to extend the pilot hole into the concrete. I just use the holes I already drilled in the wood as a guide. You CAN do this with a standard drill and masonry bit, but you’ll hate your life if you do that. A hammer drill is so much more efficient and drills a hole into the concrete in seconds rather than minutes.

I then grab my driver and Tapcon screw and begin fastening the cabinet to the wall.

It’s SUPER easy to over-drive these screws and strip out the hole.

Take it slow and stop driving once you feel the cabinet suck up flush to the wall. If you do happen to strip out the hole, your only options are to get the next size up Tapcon screw or to just start over and drill a new hole.

Hanging Cabinets on Concrete – More Tips

Having all six installed I relocate my platform to where my second cabinet will live and repeat the process.

Another tip is if you’re adding these cabinets to concrete that is below ground, say, in a basement you need to be mindful of the chance of water seeping through the wall. If that’s your situation I would recommend sealing the wall with Drylock paint or adding a plastic sheet to the back of the cabinet before installing it. That way the water won’t rot the wood over time.

After install, I vacuumed up all that nasty concrete dust. You don’t want to leave that behind because it’s bad to breath in.

Then I can go ahead and re-install my shelves.

Then I re-attach the doors. Always take doors on and off the cabinet by the door side hinge. That way when you re-install them they go back in the exact position they were before.

And that’s it. My cabinets are securely fastened and ready to be loaded up!

This is a super easy process, with the right tools on hand.