The breeding season takes place from mid-March to mid-May in Turkey, the date depending on the location and altitude. In southern Anatolia, egg laying begins at the end of March; in the Caucasus, it takes place in April–May. There is only one brood per year. The nest is often placed in the hole of a conifer and far from the ground. A study conducted out over four breeding seasons in southern Turkey showed that nests were built to a height of nearly , with extremes between and , and were often facing east. The Krüper's nuthatch usually uses already existing cavities that have been simply cleaned out, especially by the female, but can dig its own hole in dead trunks and branches. Eggs have been observed on the top of a stump or on a pile of twigs at the fork of a tree, but these unusual nesting sites may only be used when cavities are unavailable.
