How to Adjust Cabinet Hinges: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 25, 2026

Cabinet doors often drop, rub against the carcass, or sit at odd angles over time due to frequent use, settling foundations, or loose fixings. Fortunately, modern concealed kitchen and wardrobe hinges are designed with three-way adjustment mechanisms that allow you to realign doors with millimetre precision. With a standard manual screwdriver and a basic understanding of how these mechanisms work, you can easily restore clean sightlines and smooth operation throughout your home.

Understanding the Anatomy of Concealed Hinges

Standard concealed hinges—commonly known as European-style or cup hinges—consist of two main components: the hinge cup recessed into the back of the door (typically with a standard 35 mm diameter) and the mounting plate fixed to the internal carcass wall. The connecting arm between these two sections houses the adjustment screws.

Before you begin, inspect the hinge arm to identify the three core adjustment points:

Lateral screw (side-to-side): Located nearest to the hinge cup on the arm, this screw controls the horizontal gap between adjacent doors or the distance to the outer edge of the carcass.
Depth screw (in-and-out): Positioned towards the rear of the hinge arm, this sets how closely the door sits against the front face of the cabinet frame.
Height screws (vertical): Located on the mounting plate fixed to the cabinet carcass, usually sitting in slotted holes at the top and bottom.

Step 1: Correcting Vertical Alignment (Height)

If a door is sagging, scraping against the floor of the cabinet, or sitting noticeably lower than the adjacent unit, you must adjust the vertical height. This adjustment is made directly at the mounting plate.

Support the weight of the door from beneath to take the strain off the fixings.
Loosen the two mounting plate screws on all hinges fitted to that specific door by half a turn. Do not remove them completely.
Shift the door upwards or downwards to align its top and bottom edges with neighbouring units.
Retighten the mounting plate screws firmly whilst holding the door in the desired position.

Step 2: Correcting Side-to-Side Gaps (Lateral)

When doors clash in the middle of a double unit, or when the gap between units is visibly uneven, you need to adjust hinges along the horizontal axis. This is the most common fix for crooked doors.

Locate the front-most screw on the hinge arm. Turning this screw clockwise moves the door closer to the cabinet edge (away from the adjacent door), whilst turning it anti-clockwise draws the door inwards. If the door hangs diagonally, you will usually need to adjust only one hinge—such as turning the top hinge clockwise to pull the upper corner back into line.

Step 3: Adjusting In-and-Out Gaps (Depth)

A door that stands proud of the carcass when closed, or one that binds against the carcass edge when opening, requires depth adjustment. This ensures the door closes flush with the front face of the unit.

Loosen the rear screw on the hinge arm slightly.
Gently push the door inwards towards the carcass or pull it outwards until a uniform 1 to 2 mm gap is achieved around the perimeter.
Hold the door at the correct depth and retighten the screw securely.

Tips for Soft-Close and Integrated Mechanisms

Many modern concealed fittings include integrated soft-close dampers. When you adjust hinge positions on soft-close systems, ensure that both hinges on a door share the load equally. If one hinge is tilted or under excessive tension, the soft-close piston may not engage smoothly, leading to incomplete closure or premature wear on the damper mechanism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of screwdriver should I use to adjust hinges?

Always use a manual Pozi-drive screwdriver (typically PZ2) rather than an electric drill. Power tools easily strip the delicate adjustment threads inside the hinge arm, making further fine-tuning impossible.

Why won't my cabinet door stay aligned after adjustment?

If a door drops again shortly after you adjust hinges, the mounting screws in the carcass wood may be stripped or loose. Remove the screws, insert a wooden dowel or matchstick with wood glue into the enlarged hole, allow it to cure, and refit the screws into solid material.