How to Install a Medicine Cabinet: Inset or Surface Mount in 4 Easy Steps

Do you ever feel like the items in your bathroom are multiplying? If you spend your weekend cleaning your bathroom, only to find the counters cluttered by mid-week, you may be in need of some additional storage. But if you’re working with limited square footage, you may not know the most effective way to improve your clutter problem. We have a solution: an inset or surface mount medicine cabinet.

Installing a medicine cabinet is an effective way to store odds and ends, as well as the toiletries you use every single day, such as your toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and more. The best part is installing a medicine cabinet is a relatively simple do-it-yourself project for the average homeowner — although there are some complexities depending on how you plan to mount it.

Follow along as Kitchen Cabinet Kings explores two ways to install a medicine cabinet in your bathroom. We will cover installing a recessed medicine cabinet into the wall, as well as using a surface mount.

Inset vs. Surface Mounted Medicine Cabinet

After browsing the aisles at your local department store, you’ve probably realized you have a choice to make. Your home improvement project isn’t as simple as selecting the design of a medicine cabinet but how you plan to mount it in your small bathroom. You need to decide between an inset or surface mounted medicine cabinet.

An inset medicine cabinet is installed inside of the wall, allowing the door of the cabinet to be nearly flush with the wall. To install this style medicine cabinet, you need to cut into the drywall to create a hole the size of the cabinet that allows it to be recessed into the wall.

Another option is a surface mounted medicine cabinet, which is the perfect home improvement project for a beginner. Instead of being installed inside of the wall, the cabinet is mounted to the wall — making it the ideal option for homeowners not ready to tackle a larger project or for homes with plumbing pipes inside the wall where it is being installed.

Installing a Surface Mount Medicine Cabinet

For those that are new to home improvement projects, a surface mounted medicine cabinet is a great place to start. It’s easier and less time-consuming. Here are our four steps to installing a medicine cabinet with a surface mount.

1. Locate the Studs

Because you are mounting the medicine cabinet to your bathroom wall, you need to locate the studs in the wall. This will allow you to adhere the cabinet in the most secure manner (and help you avoid accidentally hitting any pipes or electrical elements behind the wall). We recommend using a stud finder to slowly scan the wall and mark where the finder beeps to indicate the start and stop of the stud.

2. Determine the Placement

Determine the placement of the medicine cabinet on the wall. Take into consideration its height and where it should be optimally placed for easy access. If it has a mirror on the front, you also need to be mindful of being able to see yourself in the mirror when standing in front of it.

Once you have the general placement figured out, have a helper hold the medicine cabinet in its place. Use a level to ensure the cabinet is straight and adjust as needed until it’s properly placed. Once you’re satisfied with the location, use a pencil to draw lines lighty on the wall to indicate where it is going.

3. Create Mounting Holes

While the cabinet is being held in position, open the cabinet door and mark the wall where the mounting holes are. Then, pull the cabinet away from the wall and put it to the side. Using your drill, you will need to drill holes where you made marks for the cabinet holes. Be mindful of the size — if they are drilled too wide your cabinet may not be sturdy.

4. Mount the Medicine Cabinet

Now that you’ve created the mounting holes for your medicine cabinet, position the cabinet in the desired place aligning the cabinet holes with the drilled holes in the wall. While the cabinet is being held in place, screw the fasteners through the hole to secure the cabinet into the wall. Start by tightening each fastener loosely, slowly tightening them once you’re happy with the placement.

Installing a Recessed Medicine Cabinet

If you’re looking for a medicine cabinet that feels a bit more elevated, then you may be considering an inset medicine cabinet. While this project can still be completed by yourself, it will be quite a bit harder and more time-consuming than a surface-mounted medicine cabinet. But we promise that the hard work will be worth it.

1. Inspect the Wall

Do you know what is underneath your drywall? It’s important to understand how your bathroom’s plumbing and electrical is set up because a recessed medicine cabinet requires you to cut a hole in the wall where the cabinet will be placed inside. We always recommend starting with a stud finder to understand where the studs are, marking their start and end with a pencil.

Once you’ve located the studs, outline a 5 inch square between two studs and cut it out with a drywall saw. Note: turn off the electrical to the bathroom before cutting into the wall. This hole allows you to peer into the wall and get a better idea about what’s hiring underneath. Use a flashlight to look for electrical wires, pipes, or anything else that may be hiding back there. If the area is empty, you’re good to move forward with installing your medicine cabinet.

2. Determine the Placement

Using your hole as a frame of reference, hold up your medicine cabinet to the wall to better understand the best placement for it. Using your pencil, mark the wall where you want the cabinet to be installed.

Next, you need to measure your cabinet box. We recommend adding ¼ inch to this measurement to give yourself a bit of wiggle room and placing the cabinet inside the wall. Take those measurements and use your pencil to lightly add them to the wall around the hole. Make sure you use a level on your outline to ensure the cabinet will be installed level. Once you have the outline added to the wall, hold up the cabinet to make sure it looks like it will fit within the opening.

3. Cut the Drywall

Reminder: your bathroom’s electricity should be turned off for this step. Using a drywall saw, cut along the outline you created and remove the section of drywall where the inset medicine cabinet will be installed.

Place the medicine cabinet into the hole to ensure that it fits properly and that the door can open and close. Trim any drywall as needed to improve the fit. Once you’re satisfied with the fit, set the cabinet aside.

4. Secure the Medicine Cabinet in Place

To securely fasten the cabinet in place, you need to take two pieces of 2×4 wood that is cut to be two inches longer than the height of the medicine cabinet. Place the 2x4s into the hole vertically on either side of the opening and secure them in place with drywall screws.

Then, place the inset medicine cabinet into the hole, working it into place so it is secure and level. Once it’s in place, drive screws through the medicine cabinet wall into the wood blockings. Tighten the screws to secure the cabinet in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is installing a medicine cabinet a cost-effective project?

Adding storage to your bathroom doesn’t have to be expensive. The cost of installing a medicine cabinet can vary depending on the type of cabinet and if you opt for a do-it-yourself approach or professional installation. On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $300 for installation.

Where is the best place to put a medicine cabinet?

We typically recommend installing a medicine cabinet directly above the sink or toilet, as it provides easy access to your personal toiletries and medications. However, the exact location will depend on the layout and size of your bathroom.

If you have a smaller bathroom, a recessed medicine cabinet can be a good option since it can help maximize space and provide a seamless appearance. Larger bathroom with ample wall space are ideal for a surface-mounted medicine cabinet. However, there are no hard rules to the placement of your medicine cabinet and should be installed based on your personal needs and preferences, as well as the layout and size of your bathroom.

Do medicine cabinets add value to a home?

A medicine cabinet itself doesn’t necessarily impact the overall value of your home. However, storage, especially in the bathroom,is often sought after and can increase your home price. A medicine cabinet offers convenient storage space and can elevate the overall aesthetic of a bathroom, which will in turn attract buyers.

What styles of medicine cabinets are available?

There is never a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to bathroom storage, which is why there are many different types of medicine cabinets available. Depending on your needs and bathroom layout, you may consider installing a surface-mounted, recessed, corner-mounted, or mirrored medicine cabinets.