How to Install Cabinet Hinges

Whether you are replacing damaged cabinet hinges or simply replacing them to match the doorknob, installing cabinet hinges is not an easy task. There are many kinds of cabinet hinges, including European style hinges, overlay hinges, and others that are installed differently.

But don’t worry! In this article, we will explain how to install cabinet hinges. Below, wee have mentioned the installation steps for all the popular types of cabinet hinges.

How to Install European Style Cabinet Hinges?

European style hinges are very easy to install. You can adjust them along three axes using a screwdriver and your cabinet door will be fit.

First, mark the door’s back with a line that is parallel to the hinge-side edge and 7/8^th inch of the inset. Now put marks across this line by measuring 3 and a half inches from both the top and the bottom corners. The intersection point is where the hole will be drilled.
Now drill the hole for the cups using a 35 mm bit. Once drilled, blow away the wood shavings and see if the cup fits. In the same way, drill all the holes.
Next, insert the hinge cups making sure that the hinge is aligned. Drill pilot holes using the 7/64-inch drill bit through the screw holes on each side of the cup. Now insert the 5/8^th-inch #6 screws into these pilot holes.
Now wedge the cabinet door in place maintaining an even gap and measure it (it should be 1/16 inch).
Now put the door away and draw a vertical line using a combination square on the cabinet’s side panel, making sure that it is 2 ¼ inches away from the front corner. Next, draw a horizontal line that is 3 ½ inches from each opening, in addition to the gap.
Now pull apart the mounting plate from the hinge and put it along the side panel in such a way that its three screw holes are aligned with the intersecting layout marks on the side panel.
Drill pilot holes into the plate’s holes with a self-centering bit and then connect the mounting plate using 5/8-inch #6 screws. Follow this step for all hinges.
Now mount the door by holding it open and hooking the hinges onto their plates. In order to put the bars in place against the plates, press on them and close the door.
If the door is not adjusted correctly, fine tune its position using a #2 Phillips-head.

That’s how you install European-style cabinet hinges.

How to Install Overlay Cabinet Hinges

Overlay cabinet hinges are very common cabinet hinges easy to install. They are typically available with features like Self Closing, Soft Closing, or Demountable Options. Here’s how you can install overlay cabinet hinges:

Measure the overlay by measuring the width of your cabinet door minus the width of the cabinet’s opening. Now divide the result by two.
Remove the cabinets and all the hardware and paint the part where your previous hinge was installed.
Once the paint has dried, use an alignment template that comes with the biggest drill bit.
Now align this template to the edge of the door and drill a hole into the center until you reach the bit’s depth.
Now use the screws to screw the hinge back into the cabinet’s frame.
The remaining screws are for adjusting the cabinet door side to side and up to down. Make sure you level the door well using the adjustments.

And that’s how simple it is to install overlay cabinet hinges.

How to Install Butt Hinges

Butt hinges are the most common hinges used in cabinet doors. The two sections of these hinges are mortised into the cabinet doors and their frames.

Here’s how you can install butt cabinet hinges:

Measure the width of the butt hinge from the center to the edge and subtract 1/32-inch. This is how much you will measure in for the mortise’s width from the edge of the cabinet frame.
Put marks on the edge of the frame and align your hinge while its longer edge is against these marks. Draw the outline of the hinge.
Now measure the depth of the hinge flange and mark it on the exterior corner of the cabinet face frame.
Once the marks are aligned, carve into them using a knife. Make sure you mortise them cleanly.
Get rid of the shavings using a plunge router or a bevel-edged chisel until all the scored pieces are removed.
Now put the hinge into the mortise and see if it fits evenly inside the mortise.
Once it sits in perfectly, put the hinge on the hollowed mortise and then fit it in place by hammering nails into the screw holes.
Now drill a pilot hole using a small bit for each screw. Position the mortise and insert the screws into the holes to ensure that the hinge is secure.
To wrap it up, hold the cabinet door in place while the hinge is installed to one half and then mark the spots to repeat the process so that the hinge is attached to both the cabinet door and the frame.

That is how you can install butt hinges in your cabinet doors.

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