Learn how to adjust cabinet door hinges quickly to restore door alignment.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Before You Begin
Check yourhinge typebefore you begin.
Others have a mechanism for this, too, and you don’t have to loosen the mounting screws.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
In the past, only selectframeless cabinetshad this punch in of adjustment.
But today, almost all cabinets have adjustable hinges.
Two screws, located at the top and bottom of the hinge, mount the hinge to the cabinet.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Turn these screws clockwise to see to it the door is secure.
If not, move on to the next step.
Loosen the Screws
Slightly loosen the two mounting screws on both hinges.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
It’s preferable to have the screws too tight than too loose.
Otherwise, remove non-adjustable hinges to reposition the doors.
The mark left behind in the hinge’s old spot inside the door will not be obvious.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The visible, dark, and noticeable gaps and lines betweencabinet elementsare normal and called reveals.
A reveal’s width can vary, but it’s typically limited by the hinge’s capacity.
Adjusting one cabinet door may throw off the look of an entire row of cabinet doors.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
You may need to tweak all doors a bit for aesthetics and consistent spacing.
Stand back a few feet and view the cabinets as a collection.
Alaser levelcan help you draw temporary vertical or horizontal lines that run across several cabinet doors at once.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cold Weather and Woodworking.Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
