Are Cabinet Doors Drilled For Blum Hinges An Option?
Can you order cabinet doors pre-drilled for Blum hinges? Yes – learn when it’s a smart move (and when it’s not).
You’re looking to save yourself or your team some time when your cabinet doors arrive. Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor, or cabinet maker, getting your doors pre-drilled for Blum hinges sounds like a win. But will the holes be accurate? Can you trust your supplier to get it right? What if something changes mid-project?
At Cutting Edge, we’ve offered hinge drilled cabinet doors for over 20 years. We understand that even a small drilling error can cause big problems down the line. That’s why we work closely with contractors, cabinetmakers, and builders to ensure every drilled door is correct.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Most Suppliers Offer Cabinet Doors Drilled for Blum Hinges
If you’re wondering whether you can get your cabinet doors pre-drilled for Blum hinges, the answer is yes. However, you must request hinge drilling; suppliers don’t automatically include it.
The reason is simple. Hinge placement depends on many project-specific details. Door height, cabinet style, the type of hinge, and your installation method all affect where the holes need to go. Because of that, most shops won’t assume your specs; they wait for your direction.
When you request hinge drilling, you’ll usually need to provide specific measurements or follow a drilling template. Some suppliers may offer drilling based on a standard pattern, but even then, you’ll need to confirm whether it suits your build.
You Must Request Hinge Drilling In Advance
Hinge drilling isn’t something you can tack on at the last minute. Once your cabinet doors are in production, making changes is hard. Adding hinge boring at that point risks delaying your order.
This is why we always recommend requesting hinge drilling when placing your order, not after. It’s also important to submit your drilling specs or ask for help finalizing them before production starts. Once your order enters production, there’s very little room to pivot.
Changing your mind mid-process slows things down and creates a risk of error.
Problems With Ordering Cabinet Doors Drilled for Blum Hinges
While hinge drilling can save you time and effort, there are a few common pitfalls that can turn this convenience into a complication. Let’s walk through the most important ones to keep in mind before you order.
You Need Precise Hinge Hole Locations Before You Order
Hinge drilling works best when you know your layout inside and out. That means having your cabinet style, door sizes, and hinge type fully confirmed before placing the order. Blum hinges usually require a 35mm cup hole set a specific distance from the edge. Even a few millimetres off can cause problems during installation.
If you’re unsure about final measurements or the type of hinge you’ll use, it’s better to skip pre-drilling. Guessing or using placeholder measurements often leads to misalignment issues later.
Communicating Drilling Specs Is Difficult
Ensuring your supplier understands your hinge drilling requirements is one of the trickiest parts of hinge drilling. Even with templates or diagrams, it’s easy to mislabel door heights, forget orientation, or skip over details like press-in vs. screw-on hinges.
Back-and-forth communication takes time and increases the chance of a misstep. Clear drawings and double-checking your notes can help, but even then, there’s always some risk.
If you’re placing a large order, this step becomes even more critical. A single miscommunication can affect dozens of doors and delay your entire project.
Drilled Doors Offer Less Flexibility on Install Day
Sometimes, the jobsite throws you a curveball. Maybe a wall isn’t plumb, the overlay needs adjusting, or you have to use different hardware. Whatever the reason, pre-drilled cabinet doors make it hard to shift directions.
Adjusting hinge locations after the fact is difficult and risky. Re-drilling can damage the finish, and filling old holes rarely looks professional. This lack of flexibility is especially limiting in custom or remodel situations where measurements aren’t standard.
Drilling on-site may be the best choice if you require flexibility when installing your cabinet doors.
But there are advantages to ordering drilled cabinet doors.
Advantages of Ordering Cabinet Doors Drilled for Blum Hinges
Now that you know the potential challenges, let’s look at why so many professionals still choose to order doors with hinge drilling. In the right situation, it can save you serious time and deliver a more polished final product.
Save Time On-Site With Drilled Cabinet Doors
When your doors arrive already drilled for Blum hinges, you skip at least one step. There’s no need to measure, mark, set up jigs, or double-check placements on site. This saves time, especially for multi-project installs or full kitchen renovations.
Less work on-site also means fewer chances to make mistakes. You can move quickly and confidently, knowing the hinge drilling is correct.
Suppliers Have Specialized Equipment For Accurately Drilled Doors
Most professional suppliers, including Cutting Edge, use hinge boring presses or CNC machines to complete hinge drilling with a high level of precision. These machines ensure each hole is clean, centred, and drilled correctly without chipping or blowout.
While you may have the tools to drill on-site, matching this level of consistency is hard, especially on large orders or when working in tight spaces. Letting your supplier handle this step means fewer surprises when it’s time to install.
Cleaner Results Create a More Professional Finish
There’s something satisfying about cabinet doors that arrive perfectly drilled, finished, and ready to go. You avoid dust, mess, and rushed measurements on site. The finished product looks polished, something your clients will notice.
It also reduces the risk of callbacks due to misaligned doors, hinge issues, or doors that don’t close smoothly. A cleaner install helps protect your reputation for quality work.
Questions To Ask Before Ordering Cabinet Doors Drilled For Blum Hinges
Ordering cabinet doors pre-drilled for Blum hinges can be a time-saver if the timing and specs are right. Before you decide, ask yourself a few key questions:
- Have you finalized the cabinet layouts? If your install plan is still evolving, it might be safer to drill on-site.
- Are you using standard hinge placement? If your hinge positions fall outside typical drilling patterns, you’ll need to provide clear specs or templates.
- Are you confident that your hardware won’t change? Even a switch from screw-on to press-in hinges can change the drilling requirements.
- Do you need flexibility on install day? If so, having undrilled doors might give you more room to adjust on-site.
If these questions reveal any unknowns, consider leaving the doors undrilled for now. You’ll have more control and flexibility when it counts.
On the other hand, hinge drilled cabinet doors work well if your specs are locked in and you’re looking to save time.
Learn How To Order Cabinet Doors Drilled For Blum Hinges
At the end of the day, we’ve all encountered frustrating, avoidable delays. This is especially true when something as small as a misplaced hinge hole throws off an entire install. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or tackling your first custom build, the decision to order pre-drilled cabinet doors should never be rushed. Now that you understand the benefits, the risks, and what to look out for, you’re in a stronger position to make the right call for your project.
Now that you know the pros and cons of hinge drilling, you’re ready to take the next step. Learn how to order cabinet doors pre-drilled for Blum hinges so your next project runs smoother, installs faster, and reflects the quality your reputation depends on.
