Loose or misaligned cabinet doors can create an everyday hassle. But dealing with cabinet doors that don’t close properly or hang off-center isn’t a problem you have to live with. Adjusting your cabinets doors is a simple project and all you really need to do it is a screwdriver.
Follow this step-by-step guide to get your cabinets in proper working order and fix any cosmetic issues as a result of crooked cabinet doors. As a heads up, consider making small adjustments first. Little tweaks can go a long way to achieve the positioning that you’re looking for.
Step 1: Assess Your Hinges
There are a few different types of hinges. Thankfully, these days most hinges are fully adjustable. This means that they have screws that allow you to move the cabinet doors up and down, side to side, and towards or away from the cabinet. That’s great news for you because it almost guarantees that you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for your cabinet doors. You’ll find these types of hinges on most bathroom and kitchen cabinets.
To double-check that your hinges are fully adjustable, open your cabinet door. In addition to two mounting screws, you should see an additional two screws. If these are in place, you should be working with fully adjustable hinges. Now is a great time to grab your screwdriver. You can move ahead to step two.
Non-Adjustable Hinges
If you don’t see extra screws, that’s ok. You can still adjust the hinges on your doors, but it’s going to be a bit more work. And you’ll probably need a drill. You’re more likely to find non-adjustable hinges on older cabinet doors. For these types of hinges, you’ll have to completely remove the hinge, readjust the door and drill new holes. (Tip: Holding the cabinet door in place, use a marker to mark where you’ll want to make the new holes. You can also put tape on the hinge to make it easier to maneuver around while you’re trying to find the right spot.)
Step 2: Loosen the Adjustable Screws
Figure out where the mounting screws are and leave those alone. As for the other screws, it will be easier to make adjustments with them slightly loose. You don’t have to loosen the screws a ton—just enough to give you a little wiggle room, so you’re able to move the door up and down or side to side slightly.
Step 3: Pick Your Positioning
With the screws loosened, carefully close your cabinet door and try to find the perfect position for it. That might mean bring it to the left or right a little, to avoid hitting a second door as it closes. Or it might mean lifting it up or down, so there is no gap or space above or below the cabinet door once the door is shut. However you need to move it, get a good idea of where you want your cabinet door to be.
Step 4: Tighten Up and Down
With the cabinet door in place, slightly tighten the screws that allow you to move it up and down. Don’t make it too tight yet—just enough to hold it in place. Then shut the door again and make sure you’re satisfied with the position.
Step 5: Tighten Left to Right
Now that you’ve figured out the proper height for your cabinet door, adjust the sides to make sure it isn’t too far right or too far left. Once you think you have it in place, give the screws a slight tightening. Once again, don’t make it too tight. Close the door again to make sure that you’re happy with the adjustments.
Step 6: Tweak
Make any final tweaks to the screws you’ve adjusted so far. Making the screws tighter will continue to make slight adjustments to the position of the door, so make sure you’re only tweaking it exactly as much as you need to make the doors fit properly.
Step 7: Adjust the Depth
The final screw you want to adjust is the one that affects how close or far away the door is from the cabinet. With the door open, tighten this screw so the cabinet door is close enough to touch the cabinet but not so close that it doesn’t have enough clearance to close. Open and close the door until you’ve found the perfect spot.
Step 8: Finishing Touches
Make any final adjustments to ensure your doors are opening and closing properly. To complete the job, you can also eliminate any friction or squeaking from the hinges by applying some WD-40. If you don’t have that on hand, cooking oil or cooking spray will do. But it won’t last as long.
That’s it. Your cabinet doors should be working as good as new. And the great thing about learning to adjust your cabinets is that it sets you up for other small improvements in your kitchen or bathroom. If you decide your cabinets need a new look, consider painting them or sanding and refinishing them. You can remove the hinges to do this by unscrewing the mounting screws, all without changing the adjustments you’ve just made.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.