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Assembly Instructions
Apex Home Outlet
Cabinet Assembly
Instructions
Complete assembly guides for all Apex European and American style kitchen and bath cabinet types — base, wall, corner, vanity, oven, and drawer configurations — with part lists, hardware counts, and step-by-step sequences.
Available Guides
European Style9 Cabinet Types
American Style11 Cabinet Types
Both Styles2026 Edition
Published byApex Home Outlet
European / Frameless Style
What makes European cabinets different?
European-style (frameless) cabinets have no face frame — the doors and drawers attach directly to the cabinet box sides using cup hinges and connection panels. This gives more interior access, cleaner sight lines, and a contemporary aesthetic. Assembly relies on a screw-and-peg system with connection edges and kick boards.
Frameless Construction Cup Hinges Connection Panels Plywood Back Panel Soft-Close Standard
Key Euro Hardware — What to Know Before You Start
Screw sizes matter — don't mix them up
European cabinets use four distinct screw sizes across different assemblies. The most common mistake is using the wrong length in the wrong location — especially the 9/16" hinge screw vs. the 1-3/5" carcass screw. Lay all hardware out and sort by size before beginning any cabinet assembly.
Screw 1-3/5" — Carcass Screw 9/16" — Hinges Screw 3/8" — Shelf Brackets Screw 1-1/5" — Drawers
European Style Hardware Reference
Sort before assembly — screw lengths are critical
Screw 1-3/5"
Carcass assembly
Screw 9/16"
Hinges & connections
Screw 3/8"
Shelf brackets
Screw 1-1/5"
Drawer assembly
Wooden Pegs
Panel alignment
Connection Panel
Cabinet joining
Cup Hinges
165° standard; 180° for Lazy Susan
Shelf Brackets
Adjustable shelf support
Rubber Stoppers
Door shockproof bumpers
Drawer Slides
Soft-close undermount
⛔ Before You Begin — Read All Instructions First
Lay out all parts and match them against the part list before driving a single screw. Assembling panels in the wrong order on European frameless cabinets — especially back panels and connection edges — can require disassembly. The step sequence exists for a reason: follow it exactly.
European Style
Cabinet types & assembly reference
All European-style cabinet types carried by Apex Home Outlet, with part counts, hardware requirements, and model number ranges. Click the full PDF for illustrated diagrams.
Base
Base Cabinet — Single Door
B09
Side Panels (L&R)2
Bottom/Top Panel1
Back Panel1
Door1
Kick Board1
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 9/16"12
Hinges / Stoppers2 / 2
Connection Panel2
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Base
Base Cabinet — Drawer + Door
B12–B21
Side Panels (L&R)2
Back Panel1
Door + Shelf1 ea.
Drawer Box PartsFront, Side ×2, Back, Bottom, Face
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 9/16" / 1-1/5"12 / 4
Drawer Slides1 set
Hinges / Shelf Brackets2 / 4
Wooden Pegs3
1
2
3
4
5
6
6 Steps
Wooden Pegs: drawer box only
Base
Base Cabinet — Drawer + 2 Doors
B24–B42
Doors2
Shelf1
Drawer Box PartsFull set ×1
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 9/16"24
Hinges4
Drawer Slides1 set
1
2
3
4
5
6
6 Steps
Base
Double Drawer Bank
2DB24–2DB36
Drawer Assemblies2 full sets
Connection Panel2
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 1-1/5"24
Drawer Slides2 sets
1
2
3
4
4 Steps (×2 drawers)
Base
Triple Drawer Bank
DB/VDB12–DB/VDB36
Drawer Assemblies3 full sets
Drawer Side Panels6 total
Connection Panel3
Screw 1-3/5"18
Screw 1-1/5"32
Drawer Slides3 sets
1
2
3
4
4 Steps (×3 drawers)
Corner Base
Blind Corner Base Cabinet
BBC
Side Panels (L&R)2
Door / Shelf1 each
Finished Panel1
Screw 1-3/5"22
Screw 9/16" / 3/8"12 / 4
Wooden Pegs / Hinges3 / 2
Shelf Brackets4
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Corner Base
Lazy Susan Corner Base
BLS
Back Panels2 (+ Back Plank)
Doors / Shelves2 / 2
Top Connection Panel1
Screw 1-3/5"27
180° Hinges2
165° Hinges2
Shelf Brackets8
1
2
3
4
5
6
6 Steps
Note: Uses both 180° and 165° hinges
Bath
Vanity Cabinet
SB/VS 12–42
1-door config (12–21)2 hinges, 12× 9/16"
2-door config (24–42)4 hinges, 24× 9/16"
Connection Panel2
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 1-1/5"4
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Tall
Oven Cabinet
WMC 2730–OVD
Bottom/Top PanelsMultiple (tall config)
Doors (basic)4
Drawer assemblies (w/drawer)2
Screw 1-3/5"16–34
Screw 9/16"24
Hinges4
Connection Panel2–3
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Wall
Wall Cabinet — All Configs
W0930–W4242
1-door (short)2 hinges, 12× 9/16"
2-door standard4 hinges, 24× 9/16"
2-door tall (42")6 hinges, 36× 9/16"
Shelves1–3 depending on height
Screw 1-3/5"12–16
Screw 3/8"4–8
Shelf Brackets4–8
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Includes 30", 39", 42" height configs Also 24" depth variants
Wall Corner
Wall Diagonal Corner Cabinet
WDC 2430–WDC 2442
Back Panels2 (C1 + C2)
Shelves1 (30") / 2 (39") / 3 (42")
Shelf Brackets4 per shelf
Screw 1-3/5" / 1-1/8"22–30 / 6
Screw 3/8"8–24
Hinges2
1
2
3
4
5
6
6 Steps
Wall Corner
Wall Blind Corner Cabinet
WBC 2730–WBC 3639
Door / Shelf1–2 / 1–2
Connection Panel2
Screw 1-3/5"16
Screw 9/16" / 3/8"12 / 4–8
Hinges / Wooden Pegs2 / 4
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Wall Corner
Easy Reach Cabinet
ERC 2439
Back Panels2 (C1 + C2)
Doors2
Shelves / Shelf Brackets2 / 16
Screw 1-3/5"30
Screw 9/16" / 3/8"18 / 16
Hinges3
1
2
3
4
5
6
6 Steps
American / Face Frame Style
What makes American cabinets different?
American-style (face frame) cabinets have a solid wood or plywood face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. This frame provides additional structural rigidity and a traditional, classic aesthetic. Assembly uses a steel H-frame structure, L-shape brackets, and metal corner brackets rather than connection panels and wooden pegs.
Face Frame Construction H-Frame Structure L-Shape Brackets Metal Corner Brackets Soft-Close Slides
Key American Hardware — Critical Notes
Dowels go in the drawer box first — not the face
The most critical note across all American-style drawer assemblies: insert dowels into the drawer box panel first, never into the drawer face panel. This is called out in every drawer section of the manual. Reversing this step forces disassembly. Also note the L-shape brackets (80× ½" screws) hold the entire carcass structure — under-driving these will cause racking.
Screw 1" — Carcass/Drawer Screw ½" — L-Shape Brackets Screw ¾" — Hinge Plates Screw 9/16" — Shelf/Hinge
American Style Hardware Reference
All American cabinets share the same core bracket system
Screw 1"
Drawer & carcass bumper
Screw ½"
L-shape & metal corner brackets
Screw ¾"
Hinge plates to door
Screw 9/16"
Shelf brackets & hinges
L-Shape Brackets
16–22 per cabinet
Metal Corner Brackets
4 per cabinet (base)
H-Frame
1 per cabinet — structural
Dowels
Drawer box alignment
Soft-Close Slides
Per drawer
Rubber Bumpers
Door shockproof
⚠ Drawer Assembly Critical Note
Always insert the dowel into the drawer box panel first — never into the drawer face panel. This instruction appears on every drawer page of the American Style manual. Reversing this step makes the drawer face impossible to align correctly without full disassembly.
American Style
Cabinet types & assembly reference
All American face-frame cabinet types from Apex Home Outlet, 2026 edition — with hardware counts, part lists, and step sequences.
Base
Base Cabinet — 1 Door + 1 Drawer
B12–B21
Side Panels2
Door / Shelf1 each
Drawer Box Full Set1
Kick Board1
L-Shape Brackets16
Screw ½" (brackets)80
Hinges / Bumper2 / 4
Soft-Close Slide1
Metal Corner Brackets4
Dowels2
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps + Drawer Sub-Steps
Base
Base Cabinet — 2 Doors + 1 Drawer
B24–B42
Doors / Shelf2 / 1
Drawer Box Full Set1
L-Shape Brackets16
Screw ½"80
Hinges4
Screw 9/16" (hinge)8
Soft-Close Slide1
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Base
Base 3 Drawers
3DB/VDB 12–36
Drawer Assemblies3 full sets
Drawer Faces3
Drawer Side Panels6
Kick Board1
Screw 1" / Bumper14–15 / 10
L-Shape Brackets16
Soft-Close Slides3
Dowels6
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps + ×3 Drawer Sub-Steps
Dowel: drawer box only — never face panel
Corner Base
Blind Corner Base Cabinet
BBC 36–42
BBC 36: Door + Shelf1 each, no drawer
BBC 39–42: + DrawerAdds full drawer set
L-Shape Brackets16
Screw ½"80
Hinges2
Shelf Brackets4
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Corner Base
Lazy Susan Base Cabinet
LSB 33–36
Back Panels2 + Top Connection Panel
Doors / Shelves2 / 1
Kick Boards2
L-Shape Brackets20
Screw ½"80
Hinges2
Shelf Brackets8
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Bath
Vanity Cabinet
VS21 / SB&VS 24–36
VS21: 1-door config2 hinges, 4× 9/16"
SB/VS 24–36: 2-door4 hinges, 8× 9/16"
Kick Board1
L-Shape Brackets16
Screw ½"80
Metal Corner Brackets4
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Corner Base
Diagonal Corner Sink Base
DCSB
Back Panels2 + Top Connection Panel
Door1
Kick Boards2
L-Shape Brackets20
Screw ½"120
Hinges2
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Tall Wall
Wall Microwave Cabinet
WMC (2-door / 3-door)
Back Panels3
2-door config: doors/shelves2 / 0
3-door config: doors/shelves2 / 1
L-Shape Brackets13
Screw ½"52
Hinges4
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Tall
Oven Cabinet
336624
Back Panels3
Drawer Assemblies3 full sets
Kick Board1
Screw 1" / Bumper21 / 10
L-Shape Brackets22
Soft-Close Slides3
Dowels6
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps + Drawer Sub-Steps
Wall
Wall Cabinet — All Configs
W0930–W4242 + Tall W
1-door (short)2 hinges, 12× 9/16"
2-door standard4 hinges, 16× 9/16"
3-door / tall6 hinges, 24× 9/16"
Shelves1–3 depending on config
L-Shape Brackets12–16
Screw ½"48–64
Shelf Brackets4–12
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Wall Corner
Wall Diagonal Corner Cabinet
WDC 2430–WDC 2442
Back Panels2
WDC 2430–36: shelves1 shelf, 16 brackets
WDC 2442: shelves1 shelf, 24 brackets
L-Shape Brackets12
Screw ½"48
Hinges2–3
Screw 9/16"20–30
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
Wall Corner
Wall Blind Corner Cabinet
WBC (30" / 39")
30" config: shelves2 shelves, 8 brackets
39" config: shelves3 shelves, 12 brackets
Hinges2–3
L-Shape Brackets12
Screw ½"48
9/16" Round Head (shelf)8–12
1
2
3
4
4 Steps
Wall Corner
Easy Reach Cabinet
ERC 2430–ERC 2442
Back Panels2
Doors2
Shelf / Brackets1 / 16–24
Special Hinges165° (2–3)
L-Shape Brackets12
Screw ½"48
Screw 9/16"20–30
1
2
3
4
5
5 Steps
165° hinges required — not standard
Pro Tips
Assembly tips that apply to both styles
Whether you're building European or American cabinets, these principles apply across every cabinet type in the Apex line.
Read the Full Instructions First
Before driving a single screw, read all steps for the specific cabinet type you're assembling. The step sequence exists because certain panels can't be added once others are in place. Skipping ahead causes forced disassembly.
Sort Hardware Before Starting
Lay all hardware out and group by type and size. The most common assembly error — on both Euro and American styles — is using the wrong screw length in the wrong location. A few minutes sorting saves hours of extraction.
Check Square After Every Panel
After assembling each box, check it for square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner in both directions. If the measurements aren't equal, gently rack the box before the screws fully seat. A square box means doors and drawers align correctly.
Install Hinges Before Hanging Doors
Cup hinges (Euro) and face-frame hinges (American) should be attached to the door on a flat surface before hanging. This allows you to set the correct mounting depth and adjustment without fighting gravity. Mark hinge positions on all doors before drilling.
Drawer Slide Alignment Is Everything
Soft-close drawer slides must be perfectly level and parallel — even 2mm of misalignment will cause binding. Use a level on each slide before tightening. On American-style, remember: dowel goes into the box panel first, never the face panel.
Don't Fully Tighten Until Assembled
Drive all screws to snug — not fully tight — until the entire cabinet box is assembled and square-checked. This allows small adjustments during the build. Final tightening happens after you've confirmed everything is square and doors/drawers move freely.
Side by Side
European vs. American — Key differences
Understanding these structural differences before you begin helps you anticipate what the assembly process requires for each style.
| Characteristic | European / Frameless | American / Face Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Type | Frameless — door/drawer attach directly to box | Face frame — solid frame on front of box |
| Primary Hardware | Connection panels, wooden pegs, cup hinges | L-shape brackets, H-frame, metal corner brackets |
| Screw Types | 4 sizes: 1-3/5", 9/16", 3/8", 1-1/5" | 4 sizes: 1", ½", ¾", 9/16" round/flat head |
| Hinge Type | Cup hinges (165° standard, 180° for Lazy Susan) | Cup hinges (165° standard, 165° for Easy Reach) |
| Drawer System | Wooden peg alignment + drawer slides | Dowel alignment (box first) + soft-close slides |
| Interior Access | Full-access — no face frame obstruction | Partial-access — face frame slightly reduces opening |
| Aesthetic | Modern, minimalist, contemporary | Traditional, transitional, classic |
| Shelf Adjustment | Shelf brackets into pre-drilled holes (5mm system) | Shelf brackets + 9/16" round-head screws |
| Assembly Complexity | Moderate — peg and panel sequence is strict | Moderate — L-bracket count is high; 80× ½" screws common |
FAQ
Assembly questions answered
Common questions from customers assembling Apex European and American style cabinets for the first time.
What tools do I need to assemble Apex cabinets?
Both styles require a power drill/driver with appropriate bits, a rubber mallet, a carpenter's square, a level, and clamps for holding panels during assembly. For Euro style: have a Phillips head and a flat head bit. For American style: you'll also need a bit for the ½" bracket screws, which are used in high volume (up to 120 per cabinet). A square and level are non-negotiable for door and drawer alignment.
What's the correct order to assemble the cabinet box?
Always follow the numbered steps in the manual exactly. For European cabinets, this typically means: (1) side panels, (2) bottom/top panel, (3) back panel, (4) doors/drawers, (5) kick board and connection hardware. For American cabinets: (1) carcass with L-brackets and H-frame, (2) kick board, (3) doors, (4) drawer assembly. Never skip steps or reorder — the sequence ensures panels can be accessed and fastened correctly.
Why won't my drawer slide smoothly after assembly?
The most common cause is misaligned drawer slides — even a 1–2mm difference between the left and right slides causes binding. Remove the drawer and use a level on each slide independently. Also confirm the drawer box is square (measure diagonally). For American-style cabinets, verify the dowel was inserted into the drawer box panel before the face was attached — reversing this forces the face at an incorrect angle.
My doors aren't aligning — what adjusts them?
All Apex cup hinges have three adjustment screws: (1) the mounting screw adjusts depth (in/out), (2) the adjustment screw on the arm moves the door left/right, and (3) the vertical adjustment comes from shifting the mounting plate up or down before final tightening. Make door adjustments with the cabinet already mounted in its final position, not on a workbench. Small adjustments have a big effect — move in increments of less than 1mm.
Can I use a different hinge than the one provided?
Not recommended. The hinge type specified in the manual is matched to the boring pattern pre-drilled in the door and cabinet side. Standard cup hinges are 35mm boring. The Lazy Susan (Euro) requires 180° hinges. The Easy Reach Cabinet (both styles) requires 165° hinges specifically — using standard hinges will prevent the doors from opening fully past the corner.
What's the difference between the connection panel and the connection edge on Euro cabinets?
The connection panel is a structural joiner used to link the cabinet box to adjacent cabinets during installation — it runs horizontally and is secured with 9/16" screws. The connection edge (sometimes labeled "Connection-Edge" in the part list) is an edge treatment applied during box assembly to finish the exposed interior edge of the side panel. Both are critical — the connection edge must be applied before the back panel in most configurations.
I have extra hardware after assembly — is that a problem?
A few extra rubber bumpers or shelf brackets are typically included as spares and are normal. However, leftover screws, wooden pegs, connection panels, L-brackets, or metal corner brackets indicate a missed step. Cross-reference against the hardware list in the specific cabinet's page in the manual. These structural components are not optional extras — a missing connection panel or bracket means the cabinet will not be structurally complete.
Where can I get replacement hardware or a missing part?
Contact your nearest Apex showroom. Bring your invoice or order number and describe the specific part by name and the cabinet model number (e.g., "connection panel for W2430 Euro wall cabinet"). Our team can assist with replacement components. For screws and standard hardware, the specifications in the manual allow you to source equivalents from any hardware store using the size designations listed. Contact Customer Services →
Need Help?
Questions about
your cabinets?
Visit any Apex showroom — our team can walk you through the assembly process, help identify a missing part, or connect you with an experienced local installer if you'd prefer professional help. We're here before and after the sale.
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