How to Adjust Cabinet Hinges
Concealed cabinet hinges have three adjustments: a side screw that moves the door left and right, a depth screw that moves it in and out, and the mounting plate, which moves it up and down. All you need is a #2 Phillips or PZ2 screwdriver. Turn each screw a quarter turn at a time and close the door to check.
Find the three adjustments
Open the door and look at the hinge arm, the part screwed to the cabinet side:
- Side screw: the screw closest to the door. It moves the door sideways, which closes or opens the gap to the next door and lifts a drooping corner.
- Depth screw: the screw further back on the arm, or a cam on newer hinges. It pulls the door towards the cabinet or pushes it out, so it closes flush.
- Height: the mounting plate under the arm. Loosen its two screws, which sit in slotted holes, slide the door up or down and tighten again. Some plates have a cam instead.
Do not confuse these with the screws that hold the hinge to the door and the plate to the cabinet: those only need to be tight. On clip-on hinges, the small lever or button at the back of the arm releases the door; it is not an adjustment.
What to adjust for each problem
| Problem | Adjust |
|---|---|
| Doors touch each other, or the gap is uneven | Side screw, on both hinges |
| Door is crooked (one corner high) | Side screw, on one hinge only |
| Door higher or lower than its neighbour | Height, at the mounting plates |
| Door sticks out at the top or bottom | Depth screw, on that hinge |
| Door rubs the cabinet edge | Side screw, then depth |
| Door will not stay shut | Depth, soft-close setting, and the cabinet itself |
| Door sags and the hinges are loose | Tighten all fixing screws; fix stripped holes |
There is no universal rule for which way to turn: it depends on the brand and on whether the hinge is on the left or right. Make a quarter turn, close the door, and if the gap gets worse, turn the other way.
Step by step
- Close the door and look at the gaps. Aim for 2–3 mm (1/8 in) between doors and an even line along the tops.
- Set the height first. Loosen both mounting plates, line the door up with its neighbours and tighten.
- Then the side. Turn the side screws on both hinges by the same amount to move the door sideways, or one hinge only to straighten a tilted door.
- Then the depth. Adjust until the door closes flat against the cabinet at the top and the bottom.
- Check the soft close. Many hinges have a small switch or slider on the damper to set its strength; doors that close too slowly or slam need it changed.
When adjusting is not enough
- Stripped screw holes: fill with glue and toothpicks or a 5 mm dowel, or use a euro screw or plastic insert made for particle board.
- A cabinet that is twisted: if no adjustment closes the door, check that the cabinet is level and not racked. A shim under one corner often closes the gap at once.
- A warped door: add a hinge in the middle, or replace the door.
- Wrong hinge: a half overlay hinge on a full overlay door (or the reverse) leaves a gap no screw can fix. See cabinet hinge types.
Building new cabinets
On new cabinets, most adjusting is avoided by drilling the hinge cups and plates accurately, with the plate line 37 mm from the front edge on both sides. Our cabinet plans give door sizes for a 3 mm gap, so the doors start close to right:
Frequently asked questions
Which screw does what on a cabinet hinge?
On most concealed hinges, the screw nearest the door moves it left and right, the screw further back (or a cam) moves it in and out, and the screws or cam on the mounting plate move it up and down.
Why won't my cabinet door close?
Usually the door is hitting its neighbour or the cabinet: adjust the side screw. If it springs back open, check the depth screw, the soft-close setting and that nothing inside blocks it.
How do I fix a stripped cabinet hinge screw hole?
Fill the hole with wooden toothpicks or a dowel dipped in wood glue, let it dry, trim it flush and drive the screw again. For hinges on particle board, use a euro screw or a plastic insert.
How big should the gap between cabinet doors be?
2–3 mm (about 1/8 in), the same between doors and at the top and bottom.