How to Install Cupboard Hinges: Step-by-Step

Fitting new doors or replacing worn fittings can completely revitalise kitchen cabinets and wardrobes. Concealed hinges, often referred to as European or cup hinges, provide a neat finish and allow for multi-directional adjustment. Understanding how to install cupboard hinges properly ensures doors hang straight, open smoothly, and do not bind against the cabinet frame.

Tools and Materials Required

Before beginning the installation, ensure you have the correct equipment on hand. Having accurate marking and drilling tools prevents misaligned screw holes and damaged timber.

• Concealed cup hinges and matching mounting plates
• Wood screws suitable for your cabinet carcass thickness
• Tape measure and combination square
• Pencil for clear marking
• Cordless drill or drill driver
• 35 mm Forstner bit (standard cup size for most concealed hinges)
• 2 mm pilot drill bit
• Pozi screwdriver for fine adjustments

Step 1: Measuring and Marking the Cup Locations

Standard practice dictates placing hinge cups approximately 70 mm to 100 mm from the top and bottom edges of the cabinet door. For taller wardrobe doors or heavier timber, adding a third or fourth hinge spaced evenly between the top and bottom provides essential support.

Use a combination square to draw a straight line inward from the door edge. The centre of the 35 mm hinge cup hole is typically set at 21 mm to 22.5 mm from the edge, leaving a small lip (tab) of around 4 mm to 5 mm between the cup edge and the door perimeter. Double-check your specific hinge specifications before drilling, as this distance dictates the door overlay.

Step 2: Drilling the 35 mm Cup Holes

Place the door flat on a stable work surface. Fit the 35 mm Forstner bit into your drill. Position the centre point of the bit exactly on your marked crosshair.

1. Hold the drill perpendicular (at a strict 90-degree angle) to the door face.
2. Drill steadily to a standard depth of roughly 11.5 mm to 12.5 mm. Be careful not to drill completely through the front face of the door.
3. Clear out wood shavings regularly to check your depth.
4. Drill shallow pilot holes for the hinge retaining screws using a 2 mm bit, taking care not to pierce the decorative side of the panel.

Step 3: Fitting the Hinges to the Door

Insert the circular hinge body into the newly drilled cup hole. Place a straight edge, such as a metal ruler or spirit level, against the straight back edge of all hinges on the door. This aligns them perfectly parallel to each other. Once aligned, drive the fixing screws into the pilot holes until the hinges sit flush against the timber.

Step 4: Mounting Plates on the Cabinet Carcass

The mounting plate attaches directly to the inside wall of the cabinet carcass. In modern modular cabinetry, standard 32 mm system holes are often pre-drilled. If drilling your own, measure the vertical distance from the top and bottom of the cabinet carcass to match your door hinges, accounting for any top or bottom door overhang.

Secure the mounting plates securely into the carcass using wood screws. Ensure the plates sit square to prevent tension on the hinge arms when attached.

Step 5: Hanging the Door and Final Adjustments

For clip-on hinges, align the hinge arm with the front of the mounting plate and press firmly until you hear a solid click. For slide-on hinges, slide the hinge arm over the plate and tighten the securing screw loosely before final positioning.

Once hung, use the adjustment screws on the hinge arm to achieve uniform gaps around the door:

• Side-to-side adjustment: The front screw shifts the door left or right to align parallel edges.
• Height adjustment: Loosen the mounting plate screws slightly to slide the entire door up or down.
• Depth adjustment: The rear screw adjusts the gap between the door and the cabinet carcass, preventing rubbing when the door opens.