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

Installing cupboard doors requires accuracy, but fitting hinges correctly is straightforward once you understand the basic geometry. Concealed cup hinges, often referred to as Euro hinges, are the standard choice for modern kitchens, wardrobes, and utility units. When carried out methodically, fitting a hinge ensures doors hang straight, close smoothly, and stay properly aligned over years of daily use.

Tools and Materials Required

Before starting your hinge fitting project, gather the right equipment to ensure clean, accurate cuts and fixings:

• Concealed hinges and mounting plates: Standard European hinges with the appropriate overlay for your cabinet frame.
• 35 mm Forstner bit: Essential for cutting flat-bottomed hinge cup recesses without piercing through the face of the door.
• Combi drill and pilot bits: For pre-drilling screw holes (typically 2 mm or 2.5 mm).
• Pozi screwdriver: A manual screwdriver prevents stripping screw heads during final adjustments.
• Measuring tape, combination square, and sharp pencil: For precise marking.
• Quick-grip clamps: Helpful for holding doors steady while drilling or aligning.

Marking and Drilling the Hinge Cup Recesses

Proper positioning is crucial when fitting hinges. Standard practice is to position hinge centres between 70 mm and 100 mm from the top and bottom edges of the cabinet door. For taller doors over 1 metre, a third or fourth hinge should be added with equal spacing in between.

1. Mark the setback: For standard 35 mm hinge fittings, the edge of the drilled cup hole usually sits between 3 mm and 5 mm from the edge of the door (the 'drilling distance' or 'k-dimension'). Mark your centre point accurately using a combination square.
2. Set the drilling depth: Most hinge cups require a depth of 11.5 mm to 12.5 mm. Wrap a piece of masking tape around your Forstner bit at the correct depth to act as a visual stop.
3. Drill the recess: Keep the drill perpendicular to the door face and drill steadily until you reach the tape line. Clear out wood shavings to check the depth.

Securing the Hinge into the Door

Once the recesses are clean and flat, drop the hinge cups into the holes. Use a straight edge laid across the backs of both hinge arms to ensure they are perfectly square to the edge of the door. If a hinge sits at an angle, the door will bind when closing.

Pre-drill pilot holes for the retaining screws using a drill bit with a depth stop, taking care not to drill through the front face. Secure the hinge cups firmly using wood screws, avoiding overtightening which could strip the timber or chipboard core.

Installing the Mounting Plates onto the Carcase

The mounting plates fix to the internal side walls of the cabinet carcase. On standard modular units, these align with pre-drilled 32 mm system holes set 37 mm back from the front edge. If you are fitting plates to a blank carcase:

• Measure the distance from the top and bottom of the carcase to correspond with your door hinge positions, factoring in the desired door overlay.
• Mark the vertical setback line (standard overlay typically requires 37 mm).
• Pre-drill shallow pilot holes and screw the mounting plates firmly into place.

Once the plates are secured, attach the door by clipping or sliding the hinge arms onto the plates until they lock into position.

Fine-Tuning and Door Alignment

Modern hinge fittings feature built-in micro-adjustment screws that allow you to correct uneven gaps and misaligned doors:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hinges do I need per door?

As a general rule, use two hinges for doors up to 900 mm high (under 5 kg), three hinges for doors up to 1600 mm (around 6 to 10 kg), and four hinges for full-height wardrobe doors up to 2200 mm high.

What is the standard cup size for kitchen cabinet hinges?

The vast majority of modern kitchen and bedroom cabinetry uses 35 mm diameter hinge cups, drilled to a depth of roughly 12 mm.