Once your new doors are stained or painted, fully dry and cured, it’s time to install and start adjusting the cabinet door hinges in order to get the doors sitting at just the right spot.
Before jumping in, we’ve gathered the proper tools and materials needed for this project in this post, and we’d recommend starting there. As soon as you have everything you need, we’ll begin with installing the hinges themselves, then work through adjusting them to make your doors fit right.
Cabinet Door
The installation starts off rather simply: just insert the hinge arm into the bored hole on your cabinet.
Using the screw holes on the plate of the hinge arm, screw into place using the correct drill bit.
Measure Cabinet Box
Now to measure where to install the base plate for your hinge or where you will attach one side of your compact hinge. This will depend on which style of hinge you purchased. See the instructions below for each type of hinge. We recommend measuring both the top and bottom hinges at once to make for a smoother install process.
105 and 120 Degree Hinges
- On the frame of your cabinets measure from the top of the inside to 1 9/16th inches and 3 7/16th inches and mark with your pencil.
- Repeat step one, measuring now from the bottom of the inside of the cabinet.
- Use a drill to screw base plates to cabinet base lining the holes on the plate with the marks made in step 1.
- Slide hinge arms into base plate one by one while holding the door for support.
Compact Hinges
Your measurements will vary slightly depending on which compact hinge you have purchased. Use our guide below to determine where to measure and mark depending on which hinge you purchased.
Salice Standard Compact Hinge
- On the frame of your cabinets measure from the top of the inside to 1 5/8 inches and 3 3/8 inches and mark with your pencil.
- Repeat step one, measuring now from the bottom of the inside of the cabinet.
Salice Excentra Soft-Close Hinge
- On the frame of your cabinets measure from the top of the inside to 1 7/8 inches and 3 1/8 inches and mark with your pencil.
- Repeat step one, measuring now from the bottom of the inside of the cabinet.
Once you’ve completed steps 1 and 2 from above for the correct hinge, continue below to step 3 to finish installing your compact hinge.
Quick Tip:
Having an extra set of hands may be helpful during this process. The door can sometimes be heavy and having some backup could make the install go smoother.
- Place hinges in bored holes so the arms pivot over the edge. Using a straight edge, ensure hinges are straight.
- Drill pilot holes where needed and attache the hinge with wood screws.
- Hold doors parallel to the base cabinets and using wood screws, attach the other side of the hinge where you marked in steps 1 and 2.
Adjustments
When you are done with the install, it’s time to move onto the adjustments. There are three types of adjustments that can be done to the hinges to make your doors sit just right, vertical adjustments, left to right adjustments, and in and out adjustments. Once you have finished installing the cabinet door hinges close the door and take into account how it is sitting. Is it straight? Is it flesh against the face frame or is there a gap?
IMPORTANT! Slowly work through this step, making any needed adjustments to ensure the cabinet doors are aligned precisely the way you want them to be. Not only will it present your kitchen in a more polished manner, but adjusting it correctly the first time is far preferable than having to get your tools back out and adjust the doors again well after the fact.
Quick Tip:
After install, start adjusting while supporting the door with a free hand.
Vertical
Vertical adjustments will move your door from top to bottom. Make this adjustment on both mounting plates if your door is slightly too high or low, or make this adjustment on either the top or bottom of the door if it is slightly crooked.
Open your cabinet door and on the mounting base plate, the part screwed into the cabinet box, insert a screw driver into the opening.
Rotate the screw on the plate clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the height accordingly.
Left To Right
Left To Right adjustments will do exactly what it sounds like, move the door slightly to the left or right of the cabinet base.
Open your cabinet door and on the mounting base plate, the part screwed into the cabinet box, find the screw on the top of the hinge arm.
Rotate the screw on the hinge arm clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the door to the left or right accordingly.
In And Out
If when you close your door you see a gap between the door and face frame, this is the adjustment you want to do. This will bring the door either closer or farther away from the base.
Open your cabinet door and on the mounting base plate, the part screwed into the cabinet box, find the screw at the very back, the point deepest into the cabinet.
Rotate the screw at the back clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the door, bringing the door closer to the base or further away.
Now you know how to install and adjust cabinet hinges! We hope this tutorial was helpful, if you need assistance with the install or adjusting, please do not hesitate to call! Looking for help on measuring your cabinet doors? Head over to this post where we give you all the tips.
