Drilling for knobs and pulls is one of those small jobs that can ruin a finished piece fast. You can build a cabinet door cleanly, sand it well, finish it carefully, and still end up staring at one crooked handle hole.
For most small-shop projects, the Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig is the cabinet hardware jig I would look at first. It is simple, easy to understand, and built around the actual problem: putting repeatable holes in finished doors, drawer fronts, shop cabinets, and small furniture projects.
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Quick verdict
The Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig is a good fit if you need a practical jig for knobs and common cabinet pulls without stepping up to a full pro installation system.
Its best use is repeatable layout on small woodworking projects: drawer fronts, cabinet doors, shop storage, built-ins, nightstands, entry tables, and similar pieces where the hardware goes on after the finish is already done.
It is not magic. You still need to set the jig carefully, clamp or hold it consistently, use the right drill bit, and test your setup before drilling the real part. But compared with measuring every hole from scratch, a jig gives you a better chance of getting matching hardware in the right place.
Who should buy the Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig
Buy this jig if you build or update smaller cabinet-style projects and want a repeatable way to drill hardware holes.
It makes the most sense for:
- Beginner woodworkers installing knobs or pulls for the first time.
- Etsy sellers or small-shop makers adding hardware to repeat products.
- DIYers refreshing cabinets, drawer fronts, or shop storage.
- Woodworkers who care more about clean, consistent layout than owning the biggest pro jig.
- Anyone who gets nervous drilling into a finished door or drawer face.
That last point matters. Hardware is usually a final step. By the time you pick up the drill, the part already has your time, material, sanding, and finish in it. A jig cannot remove all risk, but it does make the job less dependent on a tape measure, pencil marks, and luck.
Who should skip it
Skip this style of jig if you install cabinet hardware every day, work on large kitchen jobs, or need a more rigid commercial setup with broader adjustment range and faster repeat setup.
You may also want a different option if your pulls have unusual spacing, your work depends on oversized hardware, or you need a jig that handles a wide range of door and drawer setups with less reconfiguration.
For occasional cabinet hardware jobs, though, a simple jig is usually enough. The mistake to avoid is buying a cheap template that flexes, slips, or forces you into hole positions that do not match your hardware.
What the Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig does well
Kreg lists the Cabinet Hardware Jig as item KHI-PULL. The official product information describes adjustable drill guides, built-in measuring scales, an adjustable edge guide, hardened-steel drill guides, and imperial/metric compatibility.
That combination is what you want in a basic cabinet hardware jig. The edge guide helps you keep a consistent setback from the edge. The drill guides help keep the bit where it belongs. The measuring scales help when you need to repeat the same setup across more than one door or drawer front.
The published capacity covers common pull spacing, including 2 1/2 inches, 3 inches, 3 1/2 inches, 4 inches, 4 1/2 inches, 5 inches, and metric spacing such as 64 mm, 96 mm, and 128 mm. Kreg also lists edge-guide-to-hole-center spacing from 1 inch to 5 inches.
That is enough for a lot of small projects. It will not cover every hardware layout ever made, so check your pull spacing before buying.
What to know before buying
The detail I would not miss: Kreg says a 3/16 inch, or 5 mm, drill bit is required and not included.
That is not a dealbreaker, but it does matter. Do not open the package five minutes before installing hardware and assume every bit you need is in the box. Check your hardware screws, confirm the hole size you need, and use a sharp bit.
Also pay attention to your workpiece surface. Finished wood can tear out on the back side if you drill carelessly. For cleaner holes, use a backer board when you can, keep the drill straight, and do not force a dull bit through finished stock.
Pros
- Easier repeat layout than measuring each hole by hand.
- Good match for knobs and common pull sizes.
- Built-in imperial and metric reference points.
- Hardened-steel drill guides are better than drilling through plain plastic.
- Simple enough for beginners to understand quickly.
- Useful for shop cabinets, furniture projects, drawer fronts, and cabinet doors.
Cons
- The required 3/16 inch / 5 mm drill bit is not included.
- It still depends on careful setup and test drilling.
- It may not cover unusual hardware spacing.
- A heavier pro jig may be better for frequent cabinet installers.
- It is focused on hardware holes, not full cabinet construction.
Setup mistakes to avoid
Do not make your first hole in the finished drawer front.
Set the jig, drill a scrap piece, and hold the hardware up to the test holes. Make sure the pull fits. Make sure the setback looks right. Make sure the screw holes line up without forcing anything.
Also mark your project parts before drilling. It sounds basic, but doors can flip, drawer fronts can rotate, and a left/right mistake can happen fast when you are doing repeated work.
If you are drilling multiple pieces, tighten the adjustable guides and check them between parts. A jig only helps if the settings stay put.
Alternatives to consider
If you only need to install one or two knobs, a basic template may be fine. A simple plastic cabinet hardware template can work for a quick DIY job if the template matches your hardware and you are careful about keeping it square.
If you install hardware often or want a more serious setup, look at a pro-grade option such as a True Position Tools cabinet hardware jig or Kreg's larger Cabinet Hardware Jig Pro. Those are better comparisons for repeated installation work than for a small one-off project.
For most small-shop woodworkers, the question is simpler: do you need a repeatable jig that handles common knobs and pulls without overcomplicating the job? If yes, the standard Kreg jig is the cleaner starting point.
Final recommendation
The Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig is a strong choice for small woodworking projects where clean, repeatable hardware placement matters more than pro installer speed.
I would buy it for drawer fronts, cabinet doors, shop storage, and small furniture builds where the hardware goes on near the end and a bad hole would be painful to fix.
Before ordering, check your hardware spacing against the jig's range, make sure you have the right drill bit, and plan to test on scrap. Do that, and this is the kind of small jig that can save a finished project from one very annoying mistake.