Cabinet doors that sag, rub, won't close or sit crooked are usually not broken. Most modern cabinets use adjustable concealed hinges, and a few turns of a screwdriver can bring doors back into line. This guide explains how to adjust cabinet hinges: how to identify your hinge type, what each adjustment screw does, how to fix common problems, and how to repair stripped screws.
Identify Your Hinge Type
| Hinge type | How to recognize it | Adjustable? |
|---|---|---|
| Concealed (European or cup) hinge | Hidden when the door is closed; a round cup sits in the door and an arm attaches to a plate on the cabinet | Yes: side, depth and height |
| Soft-close concealed hinge | Same as above, with a built-in damper | Yes, and some have a damper switch |
| Exposed butt hinge | Visible knuckle and pin on the outside | Limited; shim or reposition |
| Glass-door or pivot hinge | Clamps the glass or sits at the top and bottom of the door | Varies by design |
This guide focuses on concealed hinges, the type found on most kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and storage furniture.
What You'll Need
- A Phillips screwdriver (a hand screwdriver, not a drill, to avoid stripping screws)
- A small level
- Painter's tape or a pencil to mark the starting position
- Wood glue and wooden toothpicks for stripped holes
- The cabinet's manual, if you have it
The Three Adjustments
Most concealed hinges adjust in three directions. Screw positions vary by brand, so check the manual, but this layout is common:
- Side-to-side (lateral): Usually the screw on the hinge arm nearest the door. It moves the door left or right, which closes uneven gaps and straightens a tilted door.
- Depth (in and out): Usually the screw further back on the arm, or a cam on the mounting plate. It moves the door closer to or away from the cabinet frame.
- Height (up and down): Usually made at the mounting plate, through slotted screw holes or a cam. It raises or lowers the door to line it up with its neighbors.
Step 1: Tighten Everything First
Before adjusting anything, tighten the screws that hold the hinge plate to the cabinet and the hinge cup to the door. A loose mounting screw is the most common reason a door sags, and tightening it alone often fixes the problem.
Step 2: Fix Uneven Gaps and Tilted Doors
- Close the door and look at the gap between it and the next door or the cabinet edge.
- Open the door and turn the side-to-side screw a quarter turn on one hinge.
- Close the door and check. Repeat in small steps.
- If the door is tilted, adjust only one hinge: moving the top hinge sideways tilts the door one way, and moving the bottom hinge tilts it the other.
Step 3: Fix Doors That Stick Out or Rub
If the door doesn't sit flush or rubs the frame, use the depth adjustment. Turn both hinges by the same amount so the door moves evenly. Check after every quarter turn.
Step 4: Line Up the Height
If one door sits higher than its neighbor, loosen the mounting-plate screws slightly (or turn the height cam), slide the door up or down, and retighten. Adjust both hinges equally so the door stays straight.
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Door sags at the handle side | Tighten screws; adjust the top hinge side-to-side |
| Uneven gap between two doors | Side-to-side screws on one or both doors |
| Door won't close fully | Check for obstructions; adjust depth |
| Door rubs the frame | Depth, then side-to-side |
| Door sits higher than its neighbor | Height at the mounting plate |
| Door springs back open | Depth; check that nothing inside blocks it |
| Soft-close slams or closes too slowly | Damper setting, if the hinge has one; replace a worn damper |
Fixing Stripped Screw Holes
If a hinge screw turns without tightening, the hole is stripped. Remove the screw, push a few wooden toothpicks dipped in wood glue into the hole, snap them off flush and let the glue dry. Then drive the screw back in by hand. On particleboard and MDF, a slightly larger screw or a repair insert may hold better. Don't overtighten screws in engineered wood.
Glass Doors
Glass doors are heavier and less forgiving, so adjust in very small steps and support the door while you work. Keep the gaps even so the glass never touches the frame or another door. The 5-Tier Glass Display Cabinet with LED Light, for example, has tempered glass doors, and its care instructions recommend using care when opening the doors and checking hinges and shelf supports periodically. See our guide on how to choose a glass display cabinet.
Adjusting Hinges on New Furniture
After assembling flat-pack cabinets and wardrobes, doors almost always need a final adjustment. Level the cabinet first (an unlevel cabinet twists the frame and throws doors out of line), anchor tall pieces to the wall, then adjust the hinges. See our guides on assembling flat-pack furniture and anchoring furniture to a wall.
When to Replace a Hinge
- The hinge arm is bent or cracked.
- The soft-close damper no longer slows the door.
- The cup has pulled out of the door and the hole is damaged.
- Adjustments no longer hold.
Take the old hinge with you when buying a replacement, and match the cup diameter, overlay and opening angle.
Keeping Cabinet Doors Aligned
- Don't hang heavy bags or towels on cabinet doors.
- Don't let children swing on doors.
- Check hinge screws once or twice a year.
- Keep the cabinet level, especially after moving it.
- Clean hinges gently when you clean the doors. See how to clean kitchen cabinets.
FAQ
How do I adjust a cabinet door that won't close?
Check for anything blocking it, tighten the hinge screws, then adjust the depth screw on both hinges by the same amount.
Which screw adjusts a cabinet door left and right?
On most concealed hinges it's the screw on the hinge arm closest to the door, but check your hinge maker's instructions.
How do I fix a sagging cabinet door?
Tighten all mounting screws first, repair any stripped holes, then use the side-to-side adjustment on the top hinge.
Can you adjust soft-close hinges?
Yes. They adjust the same way as standard concealed hinges, and some have a switch or dial to change the closing speed.