How to Adjust Your Cabinet Door Hinges in 4 Easy Steps

It’s important to start off by determining what’s wrong with your cabinetry before you start adjusting the hinges. Often, the issue is simply that the mounting screws have become loose (which is an easy fix). However, you could also be dealing with loose hinge holes or cabinet doors that are too heavy for the existing hinges. These issues will require a bigger fix.

When you open the cabinet door, you should see two screws on the part of the hinge that’s attached to the door and two screws on the part of the hinge that’s attached to the cabinet. Use your Phillips-head screwdriver to tighten these screws clockwise until the door is secure.

If tightening the mounting screws didn’t solve the problem, then you need to make adjustments to the hinges. If your door is lower or higher than it should be, look for the screws on the hinge that let you move the door. To move the door up, turn the screw clockwise; to move it down, turn the screw counterclockwise. 

If you need to move the doors sideways, turn the screw on the mounting plate that’s closest to the door. Keep closing the door as you work to check the alignment and make adjustments as needed. Alternatively, if the depth of your doors is off somehow, adjust the screw that’s farthest from the cabinet door (the one that’s located between the two mounting screws). Turn it clockwise if you need to move the door inward or counterclockwise if you need to move the door outward.

If you’ve tried to make the proper adjustments and your cabinets are still misaligned or sagging, it may be time to consider replacing the hinges. Some cabinet hinges are too old for adjustments, or the current hinges may not be able to support the weight of the door. Either way, it’s likely a good idea to replace the kitchen cabinet hardware altogether.

To replace the old hinges with new ones, you’ll need to remove the entire cabinet door. Use your screwdriver to remove all of the hardware, and then remove the screws from each hinge that attaches to the door. Remove the hinges from the cabinet frame and gently pull the door away.

Then, you can attach the new hinges to the door. Measure 2 inches up from the bottom of the door and 2 inches down from the top of the door, and mark both of these spots. Then you can use these marks to ensure that the new hinges are straight. Finish by re-attaching the doors.