A broken or worn-out cabinet hinge can turn smooth cabinet doors into squeaky, sagging frustrations. But finding the right replacement isn’t always simple, especially when your hinge is discontinued or unmarked.
That’s where Woodworker Express comes in. We offer Free Hinge Matching Assistance to help you identify and replace your hinge with confidence. Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Identify Your Hinge Type
Cabinet hinges fall into two main categories:
- Compact Hinges: For face-frame cabinets, small and mounted inside the frame.
- European (Long Arm) Hinges: For frameless cabinets, with an extended arm and side-mounted baseplate.
Knowing which style you have is the first step toward a correct match.
Step 2: Determine the Overlay
The overlay is how much the door covers the cabinet frame when closed.
- A 1½-inch overlay means the door hides 1½ inches of the frame.
- Some hinges have this stamped on them. If not, you’ll need to measure.
Step 3: Measure Overlay Accurately
You can measure overlay two ways:
- Tape Method: Mark the door edge onto the cabinet with painter’s tape, remove the door, and measure from the cabinet edge to the tape line.
- Quick Method: Slide a tape measure behind the door while open, close it, and note the reading at the door spine.
Either method works for pinpointing your overlay.
Step 4: Check the Boring Pattern
The boring pattern is the distance between hinge mounting holes.
- Standard sizes: 42 mm (≈1 9/16 in.) or 45 mm (≈1 ¾ in.).
This ensures your replacement hinge lines up with existing screw holes.
Step 5: Confirm the Tab Distance
The tab distance measures the space from the door spine to the hinge cup edge.
- Usually between 3–5 mm.
This small detail guarantees a precise fit, especially with older hinge models.
Step 6: Replace All Hinges on a Door
When swapping hinges, always replace every hinge on the door. Mixing old and new can lead to uneven movement and poor alignment.
Get Free Hinge Matching Assistance
Still not sure which hinge you need? That’s where we can help. With our Free Hinge Matching Assistance, you’ll get expert support to find the exact replacement hinge:
- Call or text us with a photo of your hinge.
- Share any measurements you’ve taken.
- We’ll match your hinge and recommend the best replacement.
Click here to get started with Free Hinge Matching Assistance.
