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How to Install a Medicine Cabinet
Tackle your bathroom clutter and add some stylish storage
Photo: Tinatin / Adobe Stock
Photo: Tinatin / Adobe Stock
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Learning how to install a medicine cabinet can add much-needed storage to your bathroom, keeping your vanity neat and clutter-free. While you’ll need some tools to accomplish the job, adding a medicine cabinet is an accessible DIY project with the right instructions. Here’s what you need to know to successfully hang a medicine cabinet.
Why Install A Medicine Cabinet?
If you don’t already have a medicine cabinet in the bathroom, adding one gives you some low-profile, convenient storage. If you already have an outdated one, updating your medicine cabinet is a cost-effective way to upgrade your bathroom without needing to replace the more expensive fixtures like a bathroom cabinet.
How Much Does It Cost To Install a Medicine Cabinet?
The cost of a medicine cabinet varies widely depending on the type. A simple medicine cabinet typically costs between $55 and $300, with smart LED mirrored models ranging from $400 to $800. Features like lighted mirrors, built-in LED displays, and smart connectivity will all affect the cost of the cabinet.
How to Prep For Installing a Medicine Cabinet
To prepare your bathroom for a medicine cabinet installation, you should clear all cosmetics and toiletries off of the vanity and other surfaces nearby. It’s a good idea to use a drop cloth to cover the sink to avoid getting dust or debris in the drain if you need to cut or drill holes for your cabinet. Before you proceed with installation, locating the paths for plumbing and wiring in the wall is a good idea.
It’s also helpful before you begin to remove the door of the medicine cabinet and take out the shelves. This step will help make the cabinet easier to maneuver while you're installing it. If you can’t take the door off, you can also try taping it shut for the first part of install to make it more manageable.
How to Choose a Medicine Cabinet
Choosing a medicine cabinet depends on a few factors. While recessed cabinets are a popular choice because they save space, depending on placement, they can be more difficult to install because of the need to cut into the wall and avoid plumbing, wiring, and structural studs. Surface mounted medicine cabinets are simpler to install, but they take up more space. If you choose an LED, smart, or lighted medicine cabinet, you will need a power source and the installation might require the help of a licensed electrician to complete safely.
How to Install a Medicine Cabinet
Photo: Bolesaw / Adobe Stock
There are two major types of medicine cabinets: surface mounted and recessed cabinets. These require different methods, so we’ll cover both kinds to prepare you for whatever type you choose.
Surface Mounted Medicine Cabinets
Use a stud finder to locate the studs.
Mark the studs.
Measure the back of the cabinet, taking note of the brackets locations.
Mark where the brackets should go on the wall.
Use a level to double check your marks.
Mark and drill pilot holes for cabinet brackets.
Screw in the brackets.
Slide the cabinet onto the brackets.
Reattach the cabinet door and replace the shelves.
Recessed Medicine Cabinets
A recessed cabinet is more complicated to install than a surface mounted version because it requires a hole to be cut in the wall to accommodate it. This step will require either choosing a cabinet the same size as the one you’re replacing or cutting a new or larger hole in the wall for the size cabinet you choose.
Measure the size of your cabinet.
Use a stud finder to locate and mark the studs.
Measure and mark the wall to the size of the cabinet.
Cut a small three- to four-inch square hole between studs inside the area of the cabinet marking to investigate the inside of the wall.
Check your marks with a level.
Cut a hole for the cabinet using an oscillating tool or drywall saw.
Cut the stud flush with the top and bottom edges of the hole, if there is one.
Screw in a horizontal two by four on the top and bottom edges of the opening.
If the edges of the opening don’t have studs next to them, install bocking or a two by four on edge at each side of the opening.
Mount the cabinet using the hardware provided by the manufacturer.
Reattach the cabinet door and replace the shelves.
Tips For Mounting a Medicine Cabinet
Since medicine cabinets get a lot of use in our homes, attaching them securely is important. Here are some ways to make sure your cabinet is mounted tightly.
Double check your measurements to make sure that your brackets or opening are level.
Make sure that you are screwing hardware into the blocking you installed or into a stud.
Most medicine cabinets look best if they are hung with the top of the cabinet box at six feet from the floor.
When you’re cutting a hole for the cabinet opening, use a hand saw to go the last quarter inch or so into the corner to get a crisp, square cut.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Hanging most simple medicine cabinets can be a DIY project, but if your cabinet requires cutting more than one stud, wiring for lights or LED power, or moving plumbing or wiring, you will need help from a pro. The cost of a simple medicine cabinet is between $55 and $300 and the cost of higher-end LED and lighted models can range from $400 to $800.
For a simple installation, the cost to hire a pro is between $60 and $80, so you can save yourself some money by doing it yourself. For a more complicated installation, you should hire a cabinet contractor pro near you to avoid costly mistakes, to assure that codes are being followed, and to keep yourself safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Drywall anchors aren’t a good choice for hanging a cabinet because the opening and closing of the cabinet door can cause things to shift, the weight of a mirror is more than most drywall anchors can accommodate, and adding the weight of items stored in the cabinet will make this an even more precarious option. Using the correct mounting bracket for the cabinet you choose is the best way to hang a medicine cabinet.
A medicine cabinet on its own won’t add a lot of value, but is in general considered to be a good feature to have. Since any added storage is desirable, a medicine cabinet can improve resale value some. Making your bathroom more functional is appealing to buyers if you’re looking to sell your home.
While there is no standard size for a medicine cabinet, they can range in size from 15 inches to 24 inches wide and are typically between 20 and 22 inches tall. There are plenty of medicine cabinet types that fall outside these parameters though, so it’s a good idea to measure your space before you go searching for the perfect cabinet.
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