How to Build a Kitchen Island in 9 Steps

Take a measuring tape and measure your kitchen’s total area from end to end, using length and width measurements. Next, place the measuring tape on the floor and measure from the base of the cabinets to determine the amount of available floor space. As a good rule of thumb, the island’s total area should only take up 10% of the kitchen. So, for example, if your entire kitchen measures 130 square feet, your island should be a maximum of 13 square feet.

Give yourself at least 42 inches between the countertops and the island. If you plan to add a breakfast bar overhang, allow at least 44 inches of space. Take painter’s tape, and tape the outline of your kitchen island on the floor.

This step is only necessary if you purchased unassembled cabinets. However, many big-box hardware stores sell pre-assembled cabinet bases. Afterward, you’ll want to place the cabinets in the taped area and lay them out where you want them to go.

Start by cutting two-by-fours into five pieces with a table saw—these should match your cabinets' length and width measurements. Next, lay out all the pieces, ensuring they sit flush. Assemble the base frame using wood glue, wood screws, and a nail gun. When finished, place the cabinets on top of the base frame and nail them into the base.

Measure your cabinets' length, width, and back height. Cut a piece of plywood with a table saw and attach it to the back of the cabinets with adhesive glue. Clamp the plywood to the back of the cabinets and use wood screws to fasten it. Optionally, add shiplap, beadboard, wainscoting, or a geometric pattern to the back of the plywood base for a decorative effect. Next, glue and drill your side panels with an electric brad nailer.

To ensure the cabinets stay together properly, drill a pilot hole through the cabinet box face frame with a countersink drill bit. Use a 2½-inch wood screw and screwdriver and put the nail from one cabinet to another, holding them together.

Next, cut the wood trim with a table saw to the height of your base frame and your chosen width. Glue and nail in the trim with a nail gun. At this point, you can also miter the edges of the baseboard molding and add it to the bottom of the cabinet base at the toe kick with a nail gun and 1-inch nail gun brad nails. Put the clamps on the back of the frame and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. You can fill in nail holes with a wood filler and caulk during the waiting period.

You don’t need to pre-order a countertop. Instead, you can wait to see your kitchen island’s total measurements before contacting a local kitchen countertop installer. If you’re handy and installing the countertop yourself, use glue and screw in the countertop—use clamps to secure the countertop to dry correctly for 24 hours. To ensure the countertop has extra support, you can add additional framing to the cabinet backing—around six inches of extra framing will stick out from the island—with two-by-four pieces of wood and a nail gun.

You’ll typically want to paint your entire kitchen island once the countertop is installed. Grab your painter’s tape and place it around the island area you’ll be painting. However, some pros like to pre-paint the cabinets, trim, and molding before starting this project to ensure everything is neat and dry. Pick an on-trend paint color for your kitchen island, like off-white, beige, or blue.

Once the cabinets are fully dry, use a level to draw holes where you plan to install the kitchen cabinet hardware. Then, attach your chosen cabinet hardware by drilling holes and screwing in the handles with a screwdriver.