Best Cabinet Hardware Jig [2024 Review]

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When fitting cabinet handles and knobs, it’s tempting to jump in and eyeball the measurements. I think it will take less time that way. Instead, I risk doing irreparable damage to my cabinets. Once a handle is misaligned or a knob is off-center, there’s no going back.

There is an alternative to reckless freestyling or the tedium of individually measuring each cabinet. That alternative is called the cabinet hardware jig. 

Top Cabinet Hardware Jig Reviews 

When remodeling or updating a kitchen, a cabinet hardware jig is an essential tool for woodworkers of every level. Whether an old hand or a beginner, I want the best jig in my tool kit for the project at hand. With the right jig, adding knobs and handles to cabinets becomes far less intimidating. 

The Original Cabinet Hardware TPT-1934

The TPT-1934 is ideal for both DIY’ers and professionals. Although it’s on the expensive range for cabinet hardware jigs, the TPT-1934 is well worth the extra expense. Like me who build and install cabinets for a living will receive a quality return on investment from this durable and accurate cabinet jig.

Lots of less expensive cabinet hardware jigs have plastic components that wear down with use. The TPT-1934, on the other hand, is made entirely of aluminum and is far more durable than its competitors.

With a classic T-style shape, the TPT-1934 features highly adjustable sliders that are accurate to within 0.001 inches. This means that it can be adjusted to fit pretty much any cabinet handle. There is no need to worry about finding a handle that matches the settings on the jig.

The TPT-1934 is ideal for smaller projects but can be upgraded later to open up more possibilities. The jig can measure handle widths of up to 12 inches. For those who are serious about cabinets, there is an upgrade kit available that pairs with the TOT-1934 and allows it to fit handles up to 38 inches long.

What I Like

  • Very durable/ made completely of aluminum.
  • Extremely accurate measurements, within a fraction of an inch.
  • Highly adjustable sliders for any sized cabinet handle.

What I Don’t Like

  • More expensive than other cabinet jigs.

Ascendons Cabinet Hardware Jig

The Ascendons Cabinet Hardware Jig is ideal for use around the home. It’s a great pick for DIY’ers who want to do their home renovation projects but aren’t ready for anything too complicated. This tool not only produces accurate measurements for handle and knob placement.

Made from high-quality material, the Ascendons is a durable piece of equipment. It is almost completely stainless steel and aluminum alloy, except for a few parts that are made of plastic. The plastic parts may wear down over time, but the metal body of the tool will outlast many home improvement projects.

Another feature of the Ascendons is the hole placement pieces. There are drilled holes along the length of the arm for better accuracy in drilling. The jig is also equipped with L-brackets to keep it in place during drilling. This feature is not 100% effective, and there may still be some jostling of the cabinet jig despite the L-brackets.

The Ascendons cabinet jig is also easy to adjust to the specific measurements of any knob or handle. Once the jig is adjusted to the correct measurements, it’s easy to drill the holes in the same spot on every piece. It’s an invaluable time-saver, is easy to use, and is more accurate to boot.

What I Like

  • Pre-drilled holes allow for quicker, more accurate drilling.
  • Perfect for DIY home renovators who don’t need anything too fancy.

What I Don’t Like

  • Plastic pieces will wear down over time.
  • L-brackets are not completely effective at holding the jig in place during drilling.

Kreg Tool Company KHI-PULL 

The Kreg Tool Company KHI-PULL is designed for small projects. If you are a DIY woodworker doing home projects, this jig is a good option. The maximum handle size for this jig is 5 inches, which isn’t big enough for some projects. However, when installing small handles on numerous kitchen drawers, this is the cabinet hardware jig to use.

Unlike most jigs, the Kreg cabinet hardware jig does not sport a T-shaped design. Instead, it is square with slidable guides. For best results, Kreg recommends clamping the jig to the drawer or cabinet door with a face clamp. 

Thanks to its intuitive design, the Kreg cabinet hardware jig can be used by pretty much anyone. The edge guides and measurement scale are easily adjustable. Overall the Kreg cabinet hardware jig is easy to use for beginners, and the result is professional quality. For me who is just getting started with cabinet installation, this jig is an excellent choice.

Some woodworkers might be hesitant to purchase the Kreg cabinet hardware jig because the majority of the tool is made of plastic. Don’t be fooled by this, though. The Kreg is tough where it counts, with steel guides that don’t wear out. Having an all-metal construction like the TP-1934 is nice, but not necessary.

What I Like

  • Easy to use/ intuitive design for people with less carpentry experience.
  • Guides are made of steel and won’t wear out.

What I Don’t Like

  • The body of the jig is made of plastic, not metal.
  • Face clamp is required for best results and must be purchased separately.

Tourace Cabinet Jig for Smaller Projects

It’s right there in the name of the jig. The Tourace Cabinet Jig is perfect for small projects, with a maximum handle size of 12 inches. A DIY’er finishing a home kitchen remodel is good to go with a jig that fits average handle sizes.

Professionals who install cabinets regularly require a more expensive and durable jig, but for the casual woodworker, the Tourace cabinet jig does the trick.

The slides for measuring on the Tourace cabinet jig can be adjusted very precisely and are easy to use. This allows for up to 10 times faster installation of cabinet hardware, and my holes are drilled perfectly for every drawer or cabinet door.

Even though it has plastic slides, the Tourace cabinet jig is still of decent quality since the ruler portion of the jig is made of alloy steel and aluminum. The plastic slides may affect long-term durability, but overall this is a sturdy piece of equipment. When using this cabinet hardware jig, I have to be careful with the sliding guides, since they may strip over time.

What I Like

  • Produces precise, identical measurements.
  • Intuitive design is easy to use.
  • Made of high-quality alloy steel and aluminum.

What I Don’t Like

  • Plastic slides may strip over time and impact the long-term durability of the tool.

True Position 1935

The True Position 1935 cabinet jig is one of the most versatile out there. It is an excellent pick for professionals who regularly install cabinets for a living. Such a woodworker needs a flexible and reliable cabinet jig, and that’s where the TP-1935 comes in.

Made completely out of metal, this cabinet jig is sure to last many years and many projects. It’s a trusty addition to every tool kit. The metal bushings used to guide drilling have a lifetime warranty.

The TP-1935 is my choice for professionals because it is the same as my best overall pick, with one crucial difference. While the TPT-1934 requires a separate upgrade kit to install handles longer than 12 inches, the TP-193 comes with line-boring extensions that enable it to install handles of up to 38 inches in length. 

Additionally, the TP-1935 can be used as a 32mm drilling jig for cabinet supports. This cabinet jig ensures that I am ready for any project.

Because of its ability to install longer handles, the TP-1935 is more expensive than the TPT-1934. For this reason, I recommend the TP-1935 for professional use, and not for someone doing a one-time kitchen remodel in their home. Everyday DIY projects probably won’t require the extended ruler often enough to be worth the investment. 

What I Like

  • Able to install longer handles, up to 38 inches.
  • Ideal for professionals who will use it often for a variety of projects.
  • All metal, including metal bushings to guide drilling.

What I Don’t Like

  • This is the most expensive cabinet jig on the market.
  • Can be awkward to clamp into position.

Features to Consider

What am I looking for in a cabinet hardware jig? Every woodworker has a different preference, and each project requires particular tools. Ideally, this is a piece of equipment that will last for years, and I want to make the right decision for my kind of work.

When it comes to deciding what cabinet hardware jig to put into my tool kit, it helps to know what I am looking for in this particular tool. The kind of cabinet jig varies with each of us. Here are some factors I should consider while shopping for a cabinet hardware jig:

Wooden cabinets

1. What Kind of Projects Will You Use the Cabinet Jig For?

For me who need a cabinet jig to install long handles or pull bars, it’s best to get a jig with extensions. Extensions come with the kit in some cases, while others are only available for purchase separately.

2. How Often Will You Use the Cabinet Jig?

If I am professionals and plan to use my cabinet jig regularly, it’s best to spend a little bit more money on it. This will make up for the investment in the long run. Professional woodworkers should spend a little bit more money on their jig, while casual renovations around the house just need a tool to get the job done properly. 

3. Measurement Accuracy

There’s a phrase I am probably all familiar with in the world of carpentry: “measure twice, cut once.” In other words, check your work, because once you’ve cut something, you can’t undo it. 

I can say that about drilling a fitting for a cabinet, too. Once I drill a hole, there’s no going back. I have to either start over with a new piece of wood or live with a wonky knob or handle on a drawer or cabinet door. With a cabinet jig, I don’t have to worry about inaccurate measurements.

When I install cabinet doors or even build my kitchen hardware from scratch, I want my drawers to be centered, my handles straight, and the hardware for each cabinet identical.

Precision is key, and a cabinet hardware jig ensures that your holes are drilled in exactly the right place. Some jigs even come with metal bushings to guide drilling.

Using a jig during a woodworking project will help me keep my cuts consistent when I have to cut multiple pieces of wood to the same dimensions.

The jig serves as a template so that I don’t have to measure every board. It’s a major time-saver, and I can rest assured that each measurement is identical.

4. Durability

Some woodworkers are perfectly content with a lower-quality jig that gets the job done. Others want their jig to survive falling off the back of a truck if necessary. For those kinds of woodworkers, durability is paramount.

I want a jig that’s virtually indestructible. This is the jig that my descendants will use for the next 100 years, and it’s worth the investment.

A durable jig is the tool of choice for professionals who may install cabinets regularly. If I’m going to be doing the same job all the time, I want a trusty tool in my kit that won’t need to be replaced any time soon.

5. Efficiency

I used the phrase, “measure twice,” earlier in this section, but when I’m using a cabinet hardware jig, you only have to measure once, and the result is just as accurate. I want a tool that gets the job done more quickly so I can crack open a cold one and admire my handiwork.

With the adjustable guides on a cabinet jig, once I’ve measured for one cabinet door, I can use the jig as a template for all of the other cabinets.

No need to measure and do the math for every door. A tool that eliminates the need for math? Yes, please.

When I renovate my kitchen, I want all the knobs on my drawers to be perfectly centered and my cabinet handles to be in the same location on each door.

With a cabinet hardware jig, I take the measurements once with the jig, then use the jig as the template for all the rest of the mounting holes. It makes the project go much more quickly.

6. Easy to Use and Adaptable

A tool is of no use if I can’t figure out how to work it. For me, the simpler the better. As long as it does a simple task for me, I am content with a slightly lower-quality piece of equipment.

I want a jig that needs no explanation. I could turn a ten-year-old loose with this jig and not worry. 

Adaptability is also important when choosing the best cabinet jig. For fans of the multitool and the swiss army knife, adaptability is the most important feature.

Every project is different, and a one-size-fits-all tool isn’t going to cut it. No matter how whacky the cabinet handles are, the measuring guides of the perfect jig can adjust to accommodate.

7. Safety

On top of the fact that it’s easier, quicker, and more accurate to use a cabinet jig than drilling holes freehand, using a jig is also safer. It’s hard to drill a hole and hold the wood still at the same time.

With the wood held in place by a jig, I’m less likely to slip and injure myself or damage my cabinets. The best project is one that doesn’t end in a trip to the emergency room.

Make sure to also take a look at my crown molding jig reviews for other types of jigs you might need.

How To Use a Pocket Hole Jig

Conclusion

A good cabinet hardware jig is essential for anyone who plans to remodel a kitchen. Using a cabinet hardware jig streamlines the process of fitting handles and knobs and improves the overall quality of the work. When planning to install cabinet hardware, it can be difficult to choose the right cabinet jig for the job.

No matter the project, I am confident one of these cabinet jigs will do the trick.

Raised with a fix-it and improvement mindset, my wife and I completely restored our Craftsman-style home. Learning how to DIY a variety of home improvement projects, I started SawsHub with my father. He's the fine woodworker, I'm the DIYer!