Once you install your beautiful dream kitchen, the cabinet doors may need to be adjusted occasionally to stay in line and open and close smoothly. If you understand how to do it, you can do this on your own. With a screwdriver, you can make height, depth, and vertical adjustments via specific screws within the hinge.
Follow this simple four-step guide to DIY your kitchen cabinet hinge adjustments.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
Phillips-head screwdriver
Hammer
Screws (if old ones need replacing)
Level
A helping hand, if needed
Step 2: Identify Your Type of Hinge and the Issue
There are several types of kitchen cabinet hinges. Understanding the hinge type and the nature of the problem will guide your adjustments. Here are the most common hinges:
- Face frame hinges- These are attached directly to the cabinet's frame, allowing the door to sit flush with the frame when closed.
- Flush hinges- Designed to be completely concealed within the door and frame, these hinges provide a seamless look when the door is closed.
- Full overlay hinges- These are used for cabinet doors that cover the entire face of the cabinet, providing a clean and continuous appearance.
- Half overlay hinges- Suitable for cabinets where the door partially covers the cabinet frame, typically seen in paired cabinetry where two doors share a single partition wall.
- Inset hinges- These are used for doors that sit inside the cabinet frame, flush with the surface of the cabinet body, creating a smooth, consistent line.
- Partial overlay hinges- These hinges allow the door to cover only part of the cabinet frame, ideal for traditional-style cabinetry. Learn more about the different types of cabinet overlays here.
- Surface mount hinges- Mounted directly on the surface of the cabinet and the door, these hinges are fully visible when the door is closed.
- Soft-close hinges- These hinges are equipped with a mechanism that prevents the cabinet door from slamming shut and eases the door closed softly and quietly. All Fabuwood cabinetry is equipped with BLUM soft-close hinges.
- Pie-cut hinges- Specifically designed for corner cabinet doors, these hinges allow the door to open wide enough to allow access to the entire cabinet.
- Semi-concealed hinges- These hinges are partly visible when the cabinet door is closed, often featuring decorative elements that complement the cabinetry’s style.
Common types of kitchen cabinet alignment issues are doors sagging, not closing properly, and misalignment.
Step 3: Adjust Your Hinges
There are three ways to adjust your kitchen cabinet hinges: Side-to-side, up and down, and in and out. If you are adjusting larger doors, having an assistant help you hold up the doors while you adjust the hinges is easier. This will prevent strain on the hinges themselves.
Side-to-side adjustments
If your cabinet door is too far or too close to the side of the cabinet frame, you’ll need to adjust it horizontally.
- Locate the side-to-side adjustment screw on the hinge.
- Loosen the screw and gently slide the door left or right as needed.
- Tighten the screw to secure the door in its new position.
Up and down adjustment
Vertical adjustment is sometimes needed due to normal wear and tear and the weight of the door itself, which causes the hinges to strain over time.
- Locate the screw on the hinge to adjust the height.
- Loosen the screw slightly to allow movement.
- If the door needs to be raised, lift the door at the required hinge point and tighten the screw. To lower the door, press down.
- Use a level to ensure the door is even across the top.
Depth adjustment
Adjusting the depth of the door ensures it will be flush with the cabinet frame.
- Find the screw controlling the depth, typically located toward the back of the hinge.
- Loosen the screw slightly and either pull the door closer to or push it away from the cabinet frame.
- Tighten the screw once the desired depth is achieved.
Step 4: Test Your Cabinet Door
After making the adjustments, open and close the door several times to ensure they work smoothly. Make any minor adjustments if necessary and double-check that all the screws are screwed in properly and tightly.
Common Door Hinge Problems That Cause Misalignment
Look out for these common signs that indicate cabinet door misalignment. If you identify these problems early on, you can easily realign your doors.
- Gaps around the door when it is closed
- Scuff marks around the door or face frame of the cabinet
- Creaky doors when you open and close them
- Doors appear uneven
- Door appears to be sagging
- Difficulty in opening the cabinet door
- Loose hinges
How to Maintain Your Cabinet Doors
You can extend the life of your cabinets and reduce the need for frequent hinge adjustments if you take proper care of your cabinets. Here are some simple tips to extend the life of your cabinets:
- Keep cabinet doors clean and frequently wipe them down
- Tighten your screws periodically. Screws can come loose simply from constantly opening and closing the cabinets
- Check for wear and tear to prevent more significant issues over time
- Avoid opening and closing cabinet doors with excessive force
- Consider installing door stoppers. These will absorb the impact when doors open, reducing hinge stress
To adjust your cabinet hinges, all you need is a screwdriver, a level, and knowledge of the type of hinge your doors have. By adjusting the cabinet horizontally and vertically along with the depth of the hinge, you can easily increase the longevity of your kitchen cabinets. To learn more about our cabinets which come complete with BLUM hinges, reach out to your local dealer.
