Skip to content
logo The DIY portal for home and garden
Simple Instructions

How to Adjust Hinges Correctly for Crooked Wardrobe Doors

Adjusting the hinges
Photo: JOHN GOMEZ/Getty Images

December 25, 2024, 4:24 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Does your cupboard door no longer close properly, or is it hanging crooked? No problem. A few simple steps and a screwdriver will help you readjust the hinges. myHOMEBOOK explains how to do it.

Share article

In most cases, a cupboard door is held in position by hinges. In the best-case scenario, you can adjust the hinge from the outset so that the door closes properly and there is no gap. However, if this is not the case, it is very easy to readjust. Adjustment is necessary anyway when assembling furniture. This is not difficult, as the cup hinges – as they are also known – all have the same design and can be adjusted in three directions.

How Are Hinges Constructed?

As a rule, door hinges all work according to the same principle. They are made of metal and consist of three different components that are held together with screws – the cup, the base plate, and the hinge arm that connects the parts. The base plate is usually attached to the inside of the cabinet, while the cup sits in a recess in the door.

Ein Scharnier besteht in der Regel aus drei Bauteilen. Auf der linken Seite befindet sich die bewegliche Schranktür
A hinge usually consists of three components. The movable cabinet door is located on the left-hand side

How Can a Hinge Be Adjusted?

If the door is crooked or sagging, you should first check whether the base plate and the cup of the hinge are screwed together properly. If not, they should be tightened with a Phillips screwdriver. In some cases, this can help the door to hang straight again.

Tip: The easiest way to adjust the door hinges is with two people. One person holds the door, the other screws.

More on the topic

The Correct Sequence for Adjusting a Hinge

If tightening the screws has not had the desired effect, you can lock the hinges one after the other. You should follow this sequence:

  1. Adjust height
  2. Adjust the depth
  3. Adjust the slope

1. Adjust the Height of the Hinge Correctly

When adjusting the height, it is important that the distances between the bottom edge of the door and the base of the cupboard and between the top edge of the door and the cupboard lid are the same. To adjust the height, it is sufficient to slightly loosen the two screws between the hinge arm and the base plate. The two slotted holes in which the screws are located allow the height to be locked continuously. Once the correct height has been found, tighten the screws again. If there are two doors next to each other, they should be at the same height.

2. Adjust the Depth of the Hinge Correctly

When setting the correct depth, the door must already be hung. The gap between the door and the cupboard or chest of drawers should be around one to two millimeters. Under no circumstances should the door touch the cabinet when it is closed or open. If the gap is too small or too large, you can slightly loosen the locking screw at the back towards the cup and pull the door out or push it in until the door is parallel to the cabinet. Then tighten the screw again and do the same with the other hinge.

3. Adjust the Angle of the Hinge Correctly

If the door hangs at an angle, you can adjust it using the locking screw at the front towards the cup. The gap above and below the door should be the same size, as should the gap to the neighboring door, if present. When the front screw is tightened, the door moves towards the hinge; when it is loosened, it moves away from it. The misalignment can be easily corrected with a few turns of the top and bottom screws.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics #amazon Video
Your data privacy when using the share function
To share this article or other content via social networks, we need your consent for this .
You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.