Tips for your Kitchen Cabinets: How to Adjust Cabinet Hinges

December 12, 2022

Whether you’re looking for a way to adjust your kitchen cabinet doors or you’re wondering how to install hinges on a cabinet door, we’ve got you covered with our fixer-upper tips.

We’re here to show you the best NYC renovation tips and today, in particular, the many innovative and unique ways to adjust your cabinet hinges! You have two options – find the right tools, equipment, materials, and a chunk of enthusiasm to make it all work, or let us do the job. 

Check out this article and learn how to adjust cabinet hinges like a pro, or let our MyHome US experts take care of it for you!

Before You Begin

There’re a few things you should keep in mind before you start adjusting your cabinet doors. The first step is to get the right equipment and tools. Furthermore, you’ll have to take the exact measures and stick to the plan while modifying your cabinet. 

Following are some practical tips and tricks on how to properly adjust cabinet door hinges.

What You’ll Need

Adjusting a cabinet door hinge begins with finding the right tools and materials. Locating the right screwdriver and set of screws is the easy part. On the other hand, identifying the problem and acting accordingly is a bit more challenging.

In fact, adjusting a door hinge can sometimes be a tricky and complex process. If that’s the case, you can always contact MyHome US – we vouch for the quality and long-term efficiency of the adjustments.

Equipment/Tools

The primary tool you need is a screwdriver. Before you choose the dimensions and type of screwdriver, take the exact measurements of the hinge screws. 

There’re many types of screwdrivers, and each has unique characteristics depending on the head type, shape, and size. So, ensure to double-check the dimensions of your screws and choose the right screwdriver.

Tightening Loose Cabinet Doors

The most common problem people face is loosened cabinet doors. However, there’s nothing simpler than tightening them by turning the screws in the right direction.

You can start by opening the cabinet door and locating the two screws at the top and bottom of the hinge. The next step is to place the hinge on the cabinet and turn the screws clockwise.

Nonetheless, loosened cabinet door hinges can sometimes be a result of misaligned doors to the kitchen countertops. If that is the case, proceed to our next adjustment tip.

Adjusting Misaligned Doors

Each cabinet door has two vertical screws that keep the hinge attached to the door. They also have two incorporated oval-shaped holes that allow flexibility and interconnectedness between the hinges and the screws. Usually, these hinges are placed too high or low, making the doors look asymmetrical and misaligned.

If you have this problem, the first step you should take is to loosen the mounting screws on the two separate hinges. Do this by turning the screws in the oval-shaped holes counterclockwise. Sometimes it’s enough to make a quarter or a half turn. Then, mount the door to the preferred height and close it gently. 

Once you’ve done this, start tightening the screws by turning them in the reverse direction, now clockwise. In the end, check whether the door is in the desired position. If not, repeat the process till you align the door.

Fixing Cabinet Doors That Don’t Close Properly

There can be many reasons why your cabinet door doesn’t close properly. The most common ones are too-tight or too-loosened screws. 

First of all, locate these screws in the cabinet hinge. For example, try closing your cabinet door and see where the door is binding. Once you find the spot where the door is touching the frame, open it and locate the locking screws on the hinge causing the misalignment.

These screws are usually placed horizontally on one of the hinges. Loosen them and pull the door towards you about 0.04 inches. This way, you’ll be able to notice the exact position and start tightening the locking screws once again.

Tighten Loose Mounting Screws

Loosened mounting screws are the least of your problems when adjusting cabinet hinges! Just open the door and find the two screws placed vertically on each hinge. Take your screwdriver and turn them clockwise until you tighten the door.

Adjust the Door Up or Down

The cabinet doors can sometimes be placed too high or too low. In this instance, you’ll have to look for the screws on the hinge placed in the two oval holes. The first thing you’ll have to do is loosen the two screws until the door becomes movable. Next, you’ll have to pull the door and close it, adjusting it to the proper height.

You can also read our guide on kitchen tiles here.

When you find the desired height, start turning these mounting screws clockwise. Open the door again and try not to shove it out of position. Retighten the mounting screws with your hand and check once more if the door is adequately placed.

Adjust the Door Right or Left

In many cases, kitchen cabinets touch the frame on the right or the left-hand side. You can align them easily by adjusting one or both hinges. Look if the door is leaning to the right and locate the top screw on the upper hinge.

Turn the screw until the door pulls closer to the kitchen cabinet box. Move the door slightly to the left and align it. If this doesn’t work, try to adjust the screw on the bottom hinge. This way, you’ll be able to pull the hinge from the box and move the base of the door to the right.

Adjust the Door In or Out

There’s also a trick for adjusting the door in or out. You can do this by using the depth adjustment screw that you’ll instantly recognize by the plump metal head. This screw will help you move the door in or out till you find its proper distance from the cabinet box.

If the door doesn’t touch the top of the box properly, adjust the top hinge by pulling it closer to the box or the bottom hinge by moving it slightly away. On the other hand, if the door doesn’t meet the bottom of the box, do the reverse. You can regulate the distance between the hinges and the cabinet box by tightening or loosening the screws.

Test the Door

Last but not least, you should test your kitchen cabinet door. After each cabinet hinge adjustment, open and close the door to see if there’s a need for further adjustments. This simple yet effective experiment will help you find the proper height, distance, and alignment of your kitchen cabinet door. See examples of a white kitchen in the image above, and read more about green kitchen cabinets here.

What to Do if Your Cabinet has Old, Surface-Mount Cabinet Hinges

DIYs usually face the problem of old and surface-mount cabinet hinges with poor adjustment features. The surface-mount hinges are often mounted on the front rather than the inside edges of the cabinet box. 

Nonetheless, you can still adjust these old-fashioned hinges by locating the elongated holes where the mounting screws are placed. These antique hinges often provide up-and-down moveability. 

Moreover, you can relocate the hinges and thus enable multiple door movements. Generally, you can do this by relocating the hinges on the inside edges of the door right behind the initial patch. Keep in mind that this may be a daunting task for beginners.

Need Help With Your Kitchen Renovation?

We hope you’ve found these tips and tricks helpful and practical. We’re aware adjusting kitchen cabinet hinges can be a complex and demanding process and is usually a part of a bigger home renovation project. We can help you with all things regarding kitchen renovation, such as installing kitchen islands and making your kitchen trendy, and smart kitchen appliances. Even though we’ve covered different situations, you may still encounter a challenging condition.

So, if you’re still wondering how to adjust cabinet hinges, you can always contact us and get high-quality services. Don’t hesitate to contact us and get your kitchen cabinets adjusted in no time!