How to Repair or Replace Cabinet Door Hinges

Hinges are the unsung workhorses of your kitchen, enduring thousands of cycles of opening and closing until they eventually sag, bind, or simply quit. When a cabinet door starts rubbing against its neighbor or hanging at an odd angle, it is usually a sign that the mounting screws have worked loose or the internal spring mechanism has lost its tension. A door that won't sit flush isn't a disaster, but it is a project that requires a steady hand and a bit of patience to get the alignment back to factory precision. Done well, this project makes your cabinets feel brand new. You don't need to rebuild the frame; you just need to understand the three-axis adjustment points found on most modern concealed hinges. By mastering the depth, side-to-side, and height adjustments, you can fix 90% of cabinet issues without spending a dime on parts. If the hinge is broken, swapping it out is straightforward, provided you match the hinge cup diameter and the overlay measurements perfectly.

  1. Spot the Three-Axis Points. Open the cabinet door and inspect the hinge arm. Look for the three distinct screws: one for lateral (side-to-side) adjustment, one for depth (in-and-out), and the mounting screws that hold the plate to the cabinet wall.
  2. Tighten What's Loose. If the door is drooping, the mounting plate screws are likely loose. Tighten the screws holding the hinge plate to the inside of the cabinet frame using a manual screwdriver.
  3. Center the Door Perfectly. Adjust the lateral screw to center the door in the opening. Turn the screw clockwise to move the door toward the hinge side and counter-clockwise to move it away.
  4. Extract the Old Hinge. If a replacement is necessary, remove the hinge screws from both the cabinet wall and the door cup. Keep a firm grip on the door so it does not fall and damage the finished edge.
  5. Install the New Mechanism. Place the new hinge cup into the circular mortise on the cabinet door. Secure it with the original screws, ensuring the hinge arm sits perfectly flush against the door surface.
  6. Perfect the Final Alignment. Once the door is re-attached, perform the final micro-adjustments for depth and height. Close the door slowly to ensure it does not strike the frame or adjacent cabinets.