The best cabinet hardware jigs are those that are sturdy, precise and easy to use.
After comparing ten of the latest cabinet hardware jigs from top manufacturers, we've found out that the best jig is the original cabinet hardware jig: TP-1934 with .001 accuracy, while TP-1935 is best for long handles and Kreg's cabinet jig is the most affordable one.
We've come out with this list of cabinet jigs after spending eleven hours researching on different cabinet making forums, customer feedbacks, facebook groups and asking the experts. The three thing we mainly focused were the built quality, accuracy and ease of using it.
There are a number of good cabinet hardware jig but the best for you will depend on the type of installation you will be doing.
Let's have a look at the top ten cabinet hardware jigs of 2021. Here we go...
Photo | Cabinet Hardware Jigs | Our Verdict | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | 1.The Original Cabinet Hardware Jig (TP-1934) | The best with with .001 accuracy | |
  | 2. True Position TP-1935 | Best for long handles | |
  | 3. Kreg Cabinet Jig
| Most affordable |
Table Of Contents
Top 10 Best Cabinet Hardware Jig Reviews
Based on our experience and research here's the list of the best cabinet hardware jigs that will help you installing handles and knobs accurately. You can also diy cabinet jigs.
1. Trueposition TP1934 Cabinet Hardware Jig - The Best
Our Thought: True Position a true winner?
For me, yes.
If you’re not doing the full range of cabinetry and your tasks are limited to installing smaller handles on cabinets and doors, then this is a great option.
It’s just as well made as the bigger version TP-1935 that does more stuff. Great jig!
What we have here is the nearly perfect cabinet hardware jig according to us.
This is the True Position's original cabinet hardware jig, and even though it isn’t as large and comprehensive as the TP-1935 – this jig is just as good at doing what it does.
- Steel bushings
- Robust and easy to use
- Accurate
- Great easy to see markings
What’s to shout about? -
A lot, is the simple answer to that question.
This is a jig that has been made to highly professional standards and that shows from the moment you get this tool out of the box that it came in.
There’s zero wobble or play – anywhere, in any of the moving parts and this thing will get you great results, over and over.
Fit handles of all shapes and sizes:
This will help you fit handles of all shapes and sizes, to all types and shapes of cabinetry.
One of the greatest features of the True Position tools budget version jig is that you can just flip it over when you’re fitting handles to cabinets on opposite doors.
Nice touch! And extremely good at saving you precious time too.
LOOKING TO UPGRADE OR FINISH THE CABINET INSTALLATION? HERE'S SOME TRICKS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT:
2. True Position TP-1935 - Best For Long Handles
Our Thought : Best For Professonial Cabinet Installers
If you need to get a hole bunch of work done. And you want to save a whole bunch of time – then this is the cabinet hardware jig for you.
Not only does it make hardware installation easy, it does it all and it’s super accurate and well made. This is the perfect jig for installing long handles.
This is the only cabinet hardware jig you will only need. Here's why -
Solid state
The first thing you notice about the True Position tools cabinet jig is that it’s well made.
And I mean extremely well made.
This tool is manufactured like an aircraft part. Everything is solid, there’s no unnecessary play in any of the moving parts, and it just feels great to hold.
Install Everything: From smaller to longer handle.
This hardware jig does everything.
It will do shelf pin holes all day and it cuts out that time consuming need for finding centres repeatedly.
Set it up and do as many kitchen drawers as you want to do.
You can also use it to do long runs of shelf pin holes for taller cabinets. Amazing.
This thing doesn’t stop there either.
A perfect long handle jig. In fact, you can actually fit handles as long as 38-inches!
3. Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig - Best For The Money
Our Thought: What’s the score with the Kreg jig?
The simple answer to that is it’s a really cheap piece of equipment and it does have some uses.
If you’re an amateur that wants to do their own kitchen or bathroom refurb, or both, then this could save you a little bit of time.
If you’re a professional and you do this stuff for a living – day in and day out, then you’ll probably be way, way quicker using a ruler and a tape to hand measure.
Then you can spend the money this costs on a couple of six packs of beer.
This Kreg tools company cabinet jig is the most affordable kit you can have. Obviously there's some caveats.
Whether or not you like this piece of kit is going to come down to two things.
The first thing is how advanced your woodworking, or at least your cabinetry skills are.
The second thing is what sort of jobs you’re going to need this little jig to help you to do.
- Budget option
- Good for fitting cabinet handles and knobs
- Not for handles
- Not for shelves
- Limited use
What’s it for?
The Kreg tool company jig doesn’t do that many functions.
It’s designed purely and utterly to help you to fit door knobs and drawer front knobs, and you can use it to fit simple pulls and knobs too.
This is not – repeat not an all round cabinet hardware jig.
You can’t do the range of things with this piece of equipment that you can with the first two items on this list.
4. Kreg Combo: Drawer, Hinge and Cabinet Hardware jig
Our Thought: Does this hit the spot or not?
It kind of does.
The way to look at the Kreg jig kit is that for a one-time user, or a serious hobbyist that wants to save some money and do a self-refurb, this will do exactly that for you – save you money.
The outlay here is minimal, and this thing can get stuff done. It’s just maybe not going to be quite so well received by the professional cabinet installers out there.
This one is a combo kit from Kreg tool company. You can use it to install cabinet door hardwares, door hinges, drawer pulls and knobs.
They’re a manufacturer with a great reputation for making professional quality equipment for woodworkers.
I can’t help feeling that they’ve missed the mark a little bit here, though.
This kit isn’t exactly professional quality and I think most tradesmen will probably consider it to be inferior to a lot of the other kits out there. It’s a mixed bag.
- Fit drawer runners
- Fit drawer pulls and handles
- Includes a forstner bit kit
The versatile combo kit:
Well, this is a versatile kit.
The best thing about it really is that for the money the whole hardware jig kit costs, you get a forstner bit kit included.
That’s pretty good value, because kits like that can be very expensive and it’s a great addition to any tool box.
The concealed hinge capabilities of this kit will be attractive to a heck of a lot of people.
Someone that wanted the kit for that reason and was doing some DIY project at home could save many dollars with this kit.
5. Ascendons Cabinet Hardware Jig
Our Thoughts: You can buy this if you are on a tight budget.
Unless you’re on a really, really tight budget and you only have one project to do with it. If you do projects frequently buy the True position tools jig.
It’ll pay for itself in the space of a few jobs and the only way it’ll stop doing a job for you is if you die – or just misplace it.
This cabinet hardware jig is basically a far, far cheaper version of the True position tools cabinet jig that’s made of aluminum alloy. It’s another very mixed bag because it’s cheap for a reason.
That’s not to say that for a one off job or with great care it wouldn’t be ok for very occasional use.
It’s definitely another hardware jig where how much you value it will be down to how many skills you have, how much patience you possess, and what you want to do with it.
- Fits handles
- Fits drawer handles
- Does a job
What’s the lowdown here?
Well, the main attraction with this cabinet hardware jig is simple.
It’s the cost.
You’re not getting something that’s particularly well made.
And you’re certainly not getting a jig that’s robust or hard wearing here – it won’t last very long at all.
The drill guide is plastic – which isn’t a good thing at all. Not in any small way, shape or form.
Make no mistake about that – it’s a bad thing. You might not be paying a lot for this piece of kit, but you’ll definitely pay for the plastic elements of this jig later.
6. Valiant Cabinet Hardware Jig
The valiant cabinet hardware jig is made from aluminum alloys that are industry graded. This hardware jig is capable of outlasting your mounting needs. Valiant cabinet hardware consists of a ruler made from stainless steel of high quality.
This jig made our list of best cabinet hardware jig because of the following reasons:
- Readable templates using both inches and cm
- It saves time during installation
- It requires little skill to use
- Zero experience needed
- It has a long life span
Valiant cabinet hardware comes with a storage bag for storing attachment components.
This tool allows you to work with different cabinet hardware length.
It maintains its shape and resists bending because it is made of metal.
7. Tourace Cabinet Hardware Jig
This is an inexpensive jig option. It is made of aluminum and steel alloy for long shelf life and durability. Tourace cabinet hardware will add a professional look to your room or kitchen during installation.
The measurement is accurate and precise, this leaves you with no iota of doubts when drilling holes. It has three sliding drill guides that make it easy for a beginner to use.
It can be applied in door handles, drawers, and other kitchen hardware.
You will save yourself the stress of using a tape measure because this jig has a measuring scale that makes your work easy.
It is recommended for newbies and professional cabinetmakers. A beginner can accurately measure the point of the drill when installing cabinet knobs.
8. Jelamz Cabinet hardware jig
If you are looking for a cabinet jig with a hole locator, this might be the best jig on the market.
You can easily set up and rapidly install kitchen hardware on your own. It’s designed in a way that allows you to measure accurate hole positions for diverse purposes.
Just like other jigs we have discussed, this jig is made of alloys of stainless steel, aluminum, and ABS.
I call this jig multipurpose because it is widely used for its many functions, such as:
- Drawer handle
- Door lock
- Window lock
- Used for professional and personal use
9. YIZRIO Cabinet Hardware Jig
This is one of the best jig on the market because of it's user-friendliness.
10. Hodrme cabinet hardware jig
This is a hardware jig made from the alloys of aluminum and stainless steel. The horizontal and vertical lengths are 16" and 10" respectively. Hodrme cabinet hardware jig is easy to use, all you need to do are mentioned below:
- Set the handle spacing
- Determine your desired location and adjust
- Tighten with a screw
- Drill hole
This tool also saves time. I love to call it the portable jig because it is easy to carry in a case.
Making hole placement with this jig is very easy, it comes with a drill guide upon purchase. Your best cabinet hardwares can be installed in the shortest time possible.
I will recommend you to get this jig, because of its portability. You can carry it conveniently anywhere. It gets your work done at a small time interval.
How To Find A Good Cabinet Hardware Installation Tool?
I know what it can be like.
You realise you need some new equipment, in this case a cabinet hardware jig.
Then you start to look around and what happens?
Yup. An avalanche of confusing facts, figure, features and information.
Choosing can be difficult.
But I’m here to help…
There are really only a few things you want to look for to get a good cabinet hardware jig.
So, let’s figure out what they are now.
1. Accuracy:
The two main purpose of using a jig is to be precise and save time.
So, it's obvious the best jig must have to be precisely accurate.
2. Ease of use:
Is this jig going to save you more time than a less expensive jig?
A lot of cheaper or inferior jigs will work just fine. But you’ll end up having to do a lot of measuring and setting up to get good results.
Properly read all the available information. Don’t necessarily be seduced just by cost.
A low cost is great to get – if you can get it!
But it doesn’t always make sense to go for something cheap, if it defeats the purpose of buying one in the first place!
Does the jig you’re considering find centre for you? Or are you going to have to carefully measure centre every time you set up?
Think about it.
3. Toughness:
You’ll be using this cabinet hardware jig a lot.
Bear that in mind when you look around for jigs.
In terms of them lasting the distance, they need to be strong.
They need to have measuring scales built in that will help them take the abuse they’ll get through use.
Look for nicely reinforced hole templates. Steel is always better than aluminium and will last longer.
Does the hardware jig that you’re looking at have steel liners and bushings?
4. What’s in the box?
Also remember, not all cabinet hardware jig packages are created equal.
Pay careful attention to what equipment is included in the box.
Will this thing do shelf holes?
Will it easily find centres and do cabinet handles?
Sometimes, you’ll get a basic package, but will need to buy extra parts for different jobs.
Don’t assume you’ll get everything for the basic price. That’s not to rule out packages that require you buy extra parts either.
This can be useful and save you money if you only want the jig to install a certain type of hardware.
It means that you won’t be paying for equipment that’s going to sit in a workshop drawer gathering dust for years.
What is a cabinet hardware template? And the differences between cabinet hardware jig and template?
A cabinet template is basically a sheet of plastic that has some holes for adjusting the drill holes. It has real limitations. You can’t use it for long handles. It’s not easy to use.
Whereas a cabinet hardware jig like True Position provides .001 accuracy, which is really easy to set up and use. You can use it for long handles as well.
The only thing that is in favor is it’s darn cheap. You can use it for a one-off or less essential DIY project. DON'T dare to use it in your expensive cabinets.
Which Are The Best Drill Bits For Cabinet Hardware?
Most of the cabinet knobs come with screws that measure 0.16 inch, or roughly 5/32 inch, in diameter.
In that case, a 3/16 inch drill bit should be ideal for drilling a hole for the knobs. It should fit the screws without binding.
If the screws don't fit correctly, use a drill bit progressively larger by 1/16 inch.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Truepositions Cabinet Hardware Jig Worth It?
If you are doing a lot of cabinet hardware installation then cabinet hardware jig is worth your money. It will make the installation easy precise. The original cabinet hardware jig aka TP-1934 is the best jig. Kreg tool company cabinet jig is the best value for the money
2. What is the best jig for cabinet drawers and handles?
The original cabinet hardware jig (TP 1934) does a great job when installing small to medium size handles. For installing long handles I'll prefer TP 1935.
3. What is a good jig to use for drilling holes for cabinet pulls?
You can buy an adjustable drill guide. Check out this one.
The King of the Jigs?
Undisputedly, the True Position's Original Cabinet Hardware Jig or TP-1934 is the king.
This piece of equipment was really easy to use and gave quick precise installation. It’s engineered like a space station and it’s built to last a long time.
True Position tools is true precision:
This thing is so accurate that it’ll give you perfect results, over and over again.
The spend is a few dollars but how can you put a price on perfection. Buy the True Position jig and prepare for your reputation to go sky high!
