How to Adjust or Change Kitchen Cabinet Hinges Properly (And Fix Stripped Hinge Holes)

Kitchen cabinet doors rarely stay perfectly aligned forever.

Over time they start to:

• drop slightly

• catch each other

• rub on the cabinet

• leave uneven gaps

• stop closing properly

Most of the time, the hinges don’t actually need replacing.

They just need adjusting correctly.

And surprisingly, many people don’t realise modern kitchen hinges are designed to be adjusted in multiple directions.

The Two Main Adjustment Screws Explained

Most concealed kitchen hinges have two adjustment screws on the cabinet side of the hinge.

Understanding what each one does makes the whole job much easier.

1. Depth Adjustment Screw (In and Out)

This is usually the screw at the very end of the hinge arm.

It controls:

• how far the door sits away from the cabinet

• how tightly the door closes against the cabinet

• the gap between the door and the cabinet box

Ideally, you want roughly a 1mm gap between the hinge side of the door and the cabinet carcass.

A simple trick is to:

• place a 1mm spacer in the gap

• gently hold the door in position

• tighten the hinge

That gives a far cleaner and more consistent finish.

If this adjustment is wrong:

• doors can bind

• soft close hinges may not work properly

• the door can sit twisted when closed

2. Side-to-Side Adjustment Screw

This screw moves the face of the door left or right when closed. It is located closer to the hinge section

This is the adjustment you use to:

• line doors up evenly

• correct uneven gaps

• stop doors rubbing together

On all hinges:

• tightening clockwise on the top hinge moves the door closer to the cabinet edge

• loosening anti-clockwise brings it back inward

You normally need to adjust:

• both the top hinge

• and the bottom hinge

to get the door sitting straight and plumb.

Very small changes make a big difference here.

Half a turn can completely change the alignment.

Using Hinge Adjustments for Small Height Corrections

You can also make tiny height corrections using the side adjustment screws.

For example:

• increasing the adjustment difference between the top and bottom hinge can slightly raise or lower the outer edge of the door

But there’s a trade-off.

The more you do this:

• the less plumb the door becomes

So this should only be used for:

• micro adjustments

• final alignment tweaks

—not major height corrections.

If a door is badly dropped:

• the mounting plate screws usually need loosening

• and the whole hinge repositioned properly

A Tool That Makes Hinge Installation Much Easier

There are now cabinet door mounting jigs available that hold the door steady while you fix it into place.

These are especially useful when:

• working alone

• fitting larger doors

• trying to keep consistent hinge heights

• adjusting multiple doors in a kitchen

They stop the door twisting or dropping while tightening the screws and can make installations much faster and cleaner.

For DIYers especially, they remove a lot of the frustration.

Not All Kitchen Hinges Are the Same

One mistake people make is assuming all concealed hinges are interchangeable.

They aren’t.

You usually need to replace the hinge with:

• the exact same type

• the same fixing pattern

• the same opening angle

• and the same cup size

Otherwise:

• the screw holes may not line up

• the door may sit incorrectly

• the hinge may foul the cabinet

Common Kitchen Hinge Sizes

A 64mm mounting pattern is very common in kitchens, but there are several different hinge styles and sizes available.

The hinge cup size also matters.

If you buy the wrong one:

• it may not fit the existing hole in the door

• or the hinge arm geometry may be wrong

Always compare:

• screw hole spacing

• hinge arm shape

• opening angle

• and cup diameter

before ordering replacements.

Different Opening Angle Hinges

Kitchen hinges also come with different opening angles.

Common ones include:

• 95°

• 110°

• 130°

A 95° hinge opens roughly to a right angle.

A 130° hinge opens much further outward, giving more room to manoeuvre — especially useful on:

• corner cabinets

• pull-out storage units

• tight kitchen layouts

Using the wrong opening angle can make doors clash with nearby units or reduce usable access space.

Soft Close Hinges

Many modern kitchens now use soft close hinges.

These contain a small damper mechanism that slows the door down just before shutting.

Benefits include:

• less slamming

• quieter kitchens

• reduced wear on hinges and cabinets

If a soft close hinge stops damping properly:

• the internal mechanism may have failed

• or the hinge may simply need replacing

What Causes Kitchen Doors to Drop?

Usually one of these:

• loose hinge screws

• stripped MDF/chipboard holes

• heavy doors over time

• moisture damage

• people leaning on open doors

• poor original installation

The top hinge almost always takes the most strain.

That’s usually where problems start first.

What to Do if the Hinge Screw Holes Are Damaged

This is extremely common in chipboard kitchen units.

Especially on older kitchens.

You tighten the screw…and it just spins.

At that point the screw has lost its grip inside the cabinet panel.

Quick Fix for Slightly Loose Holes

If the hole is only slightly worn:

You can sometimes:

• insert cocktail sticks or wooden sticks to tighten the hole

• If the damage is wide fill it with 2 part wood filler, wait 30 mins to dry and drill another hole

• then reinstall the screw

This gives the screw fresh material to bite into.

For light kitchen doors, this often works surprisingly well.

Proper Repair for Badly Damaged Hinge Holes

If the hinge area is badly damaged, the proper repair is often:

• cutting a fresh hinge cup hole

• slightly repositioning the hinge

• and filling the old damaged hole

This is usually done using:

• a concealed hinge jig

• and a standard drill with a hinge cutter bit

The old damaged area can then be filled with white wood filler for a cleaner finish.

This is often a better long-term repair than repeatedly overtightening loose screws into damaged chipboard.

Common Mistakes People Make

Overtightening Screws

Especially into MDF or chipboard.

This strips the fixing quickly and weakens the cabinet permanently.

Adjusting Hinges Randomly

People often turn every screw without knowing what each one does.

That usually makes alignment worse.

Adjust:

• one direction at a time

• in small increments

Ignoring the Cabinet Itself

Sometimes the cabinet is actually leaning.

If the carcass is out of level:

• perfect hinge adjustment becomes impossible

FAQ

Why does my kitchen cabinet door keep dropping?

Usually because:

• the hinge screws are loose

• the chipboard holes are stripped

• or the top hinge is carrying too much weight.

The top hinge almost always fails first.

Can kitchen cabinet hinges be adjusted?

Yes.

Most concealed kitchen hinges allow:

• side-to-side adjustment

• depth adjustment

• and small alignment corrections.

Very small turns make a big difference.

Why won’t my cabinet door line up properly?

Often because:

• only one hinge has been adjusted

• the cabinet itself is out of level

• or the hinge mounting holes are damaged.

Both hinges normally need adjusting together.

Are all kitchen cabinet hinges the same size?

No.

Different hinges have:

• different fixing patterns

• different cup sizes

• and different opening angles.

Always match the replacement hinge to the existing one.

What opening angle hinge do I need?

95° hinges open roughly square.

130° hinges open further outward and are useful for:

• corner cabinets

• pull-out storage

• tighter kitchen spaces

Can stripped hinge holes be repaired?

Yes.

Minor damage can sometimes be repaired with:

• wood glue

• and timber splints or matchsticks.

More serious damage may need:

• a hinge repair plate

• or a fresh hinge hole cut with a jig.

Why are my soft close hinges slamming shut?

Usually because:

• the soft close damper has failed

• or the hinge is worn out.

Most soft close hinges are replaced rather than repaired.

Final Thoughts

Kitchen cabinet hinges are far more adjustable than most people realise.

Once you understand:

• depth adjustment

• side adjustment

• hinge interaction

you can usually fix:

• uneven gaps

• rubbing doors

• dropped corners

• poor closing

in just a few minutes.

And if the screw holes are damaged, don’t keep overtightening them.

That only destroys the cabinet further.

A proper repair — whether that’s:

• repositioning the hinge

• using a jig

• or cutting a fresh hinge hole

will last far longer and give a much cleaner finish.