How To Choose The Right Hinge Location For Cabinet Doors
Ready to order pre-drilled cabinet doors for your kitchen project? Learn how to confirm the hinge location and offset for your supplier.
You’re working on your own cabinet door project, and your cabinet door supplier has asked you to confirm the hinge location for your cabinet doors. You freeze. What does that even mean? Do they want to know how far from the edge? How far from the top and bottom? Will you need to redrill the doors if you get the dimensions wrong? These are valid concerns for homeowners and contractors who don’t often deal with hinge drilling. Mistakes here can lead to misaligned doors, wasted materials, and extra costs.
At Cutting Edge, we’ve offered hinge drilling services for over 15 years. Every year, we drill thousands of cabinet doors for Blum European-style hinges, which means we’ve seen just about every scenario. We understand what information your supplier needs, and how small details can affect the way your doors open, close, and last over time.
By the end of this article, you’ll know how to:
- Confirm your supplier can drill for the hinges you’re using
- Determine how many hinges each cabinet door needs
- Choose the correct hinge offset based on cabinet box thickness
- Set the proper top and bottom hinge locations for your doors
- Get the help you need if you’re still unsure about the hinge location
But first, let’s discover what the hinge location means and why it matters.
Why Hinge Location Matters
When suppliers ask for your hinge location, they aren’t just looking for one number. They require several connected measurements and details that ensure your cabinet doors will open smoothly, stay aligned, and close properly. These include your hinge type, the number of hinges per door, the offset (distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the hinge cup), and the vertical placement (how far from the top and bottom the hinges should be drilled).
Even a few millimetres of error can throw off your install. Hinges placed too high or low can interfere with interior shelves or drawer boxes. Holes too close to the door edge may weaken the wood or cause the hinge to sit unevenly. Getting these locations right means fewer issues during installation and longer-lasting doors.
First, Confirm Your Supplier Can Drill for the Hinges You're Using
Before you start measuring, it’s important to confirm that your supplier can actually drill for the hinge type you plan to use. Many cabinet door suppliers, including Cutting Edge, work with specific hinge systems because their machinery is set up for exact drilling templates. In our case, we drill exclusively for Blum hinges.
If you’re reusing existing hinges, you’ll want to remove one and take some basic measurements:
- Check the diameter of the cup hole – for most European hinges, it’s typically 35mm.
- Measure the distance between the dowel holes (if they exist).
- Determine how far the dowel holes (again, if they exist) are from the edge of the door.
Your cabinet door supplier can use these dimensions to confirm if your hinges are compatible with their system.
If you’re ordering new hinges, contact your supplier before placing the order. They can tell you what types of hinges their drilling templates support, and help you avoid the hassle of ordering hardware that isn’t compatible with their machinery.
Second, Determine How Many Hinges You Need Per Door
The number of hinges you need depends on the height, weight, and construction of your cabinet doors. Tall, wide or heavy doors put more strain on the hinges, which increases the risk of sagging or alignment issues over time. Adding extra hinges helps distribute the load more evenly.
Your cabinet door supplier should have recommended hinge quantities. For example, at Cutting Edge, we recommend:
| Door Height | Number Of Hinge Holes | Location |
|---|---|---|
| <43” | 2 hinges | Placed at the hinge location specified |
| 43" – 65" | 3 hinges | Top and bottom hinges placed at the location specified; third hinge hole located at the centre of the door |
| 65" – 96" | 4 hinges | Top and bottom hinges placed at the location specified; additional hinge holes evenly spaced |
| >96" | 5 hinges | Top and bottom hinges placed at the location specified; additional hinge holes evenly spaced |
Keep in mind that heavier materials such as MDF or solid hardwood add stress to the hinges, as do large door pulls or internal accessories. Even if a door is within height limits, these additional elements may justify an extra hinge for added durability.
When in doubt, more hinges are usually better than too few.
Determine Your Hinge Offset
The hinge offset is one of the most important hinge dimensions. This measurement tells your supplier how far from the edge of the door to drill the hinge cup hole. The correct dimension ensures the hinge sits far enough into the door to function without binding or causing the door to rub.
There are two common ways to measure this:
- Edge to edge — from the edge of the door to the edge of the hinge cup
- Edge to centre — from the edge of the door to the centre of the hinge cup hole
Most standard offsets fall within these ranges:
- 3mm to 6mm (edge to edge)
- 20.5mm to 23.5mm (edge to centre)
In most Blum setups, the correct offset depends on the thickness of your cabinet box. For a ⅝” thick (about 16mm) cabinet box, you’ll need a 20.5mm edge-to-centre offset. For a ¾” thick (about 19mm) cabinet box, the offset should be around 23mm.
Finally, Determine Your Hinge Location
Once your offset is confirmed, the next step is deciding how far the hinges should be placed from the top and bottom edges of the door. This dimension is also known as vertical hinge placement, and it affects both function and fit.
At Cutting Edge, our standard hinge location is 87mm from the top and bottom of the door to the centre of each hinge cup. This position works well for most cabinet designs and avoids interference with common internal components. However, it’s fully customizable, and you should adjust it in some cases.
If you’re using three or more hinges on a door, the top and bottom hinges are placed at your chosen hinge location (like 87mm), and the remaining hinges are spaced evenly between them.
Choosing the Best Hinge Location for Your Cabinet Doors
Every cabinet layout is different. To choose the correct hinge location, consider the following:
- Are you refacing your kitchen? Use the old doors as a guide if you’re replacing doors but keeping your existing cabinet boxes. Measuring the original hinge locations can help your new doors align perfectly with existing hardware and spacing.
- Are there fixed shelves or internal cabinet features? Check inside the cabinet for any permanent shelves, drawer boxes, pull-outs, or organizers. Placing a hinge too close to these features can cause interference or prevent the door from swinging freely.
- Are you working with pre-drilled systems such as IKEA? IKEA cabinet boxes come with a series of pre-drilled holes inside the box walls. Your hinge location must align with those holes to fit properly. There’s no flexibility here, so be sure to measure accurately and notify your supplier before ordering doors.
Each of these factors influences how your doors will operate. Take the time to measure carefully and consider your cabinet type and layout before confirming your hinge locations.
What to Do If You Aren’t Sure What Your Hinge Location Should Be
If all of this still feels a bit overwhelming, that’s completely normal. Choosing the correct hinge location requires precise measurements, and the best placement isn’t always obvious, especially if your cabinets have unusual features or you’re working with a system like IKEA.
If you’re still unsure, we strongly recommend working with a local cabinet maker or contractor – someone who can visit your site, look at your cabinet layout, and confirm all the right details in person. An experienced professional will notice obstacles such as fixed shelves, pre-drilled systems, or installation limitations, and ensure the hinge locations you choose will work with your actual space.
At Cutting Edge, we’re here to help, but we can’t visit your home or job site. What we can do is:
- Offer advice based on your cabinet type or refacing plans
- Provide standard hinge location recommendations
- Review your measurements or photos, if you send them along with your quote
- Ensure your hinge drilling matches the specs you’ve confirmed
Getting hinge placement right the first time means avoiding misalignment, redrilling, or doors that don’t close properly. If you’re not completely sure, don’t guess. Work with a local expert to get hands-on support. Once you have your hinge location, we’ll handle the drilling with precision.
Learn How To Price Out Hinge Drilled Cabinet Doors Online
Now that you’ve learned what your supplier means by hinge location, you’ve got the confidence to make informed decisions about your hinges. You understand how hinge quantity, offset, and placement all work together to ensure your cabinet doors function smoothly, close properly, and hold up over time.
You started this article unsure of what to measure or how to choose, and that’s completely normal. However, you now know what to watch for, how to plan, and when to ask for help. And if you’re still not sure, that’s okay too! Many professionals can guide you through those final steps with accuracy.
At Cutting Edge, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners and contractors submit hinge drilling details that are right the first time. Your next step is to learn how to submit a quote for cabinet doors online.
