Adjust wardrobe and cabinet door hinges

Fix sagging, misaligned or detached wardrobe and cabinet doors by adjusting hinge screws, rehanging clip-on hinges, or repairing worn screw holes.

WH-01Identify your hinge type and gather toolsOpen the door and look at the hinge. A concealed cup hinge has a round cup sunk into the inside face of the door, hidden when the door is shut, with a metal mounting plate screwed to the cabinet side. A clip-on surface hinge sits visible on the door edge and has a small release lever or catch. Most flatpack wardrobes use cup hinges. For kitchen units, use HomeGraft's guide 'Adjust kitchen cupboard doors that don't line up' instead, as the plates and screws differ slightly.

1 each · Pozidriv No.2 screwdriver

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WH-02Work out exactly what's wrongClose the door and check the gap at the top, bottom and sides, comparing it to its neighbour if there's a pair. A gap that's wider at the top or bottom means the door needs height or tilt adjustment. A door that doesn't sit flush, or sticks out, needs in-and-out adjustment. A door hanging loose, drooping, or fallen off completely usually means the hinge arm has popped off its mounting plate rather than a broken hinge.

WH-03Adjust the side-to-side gap between doorsOn a standard cup hinge, the screw nearest the hinge cup (running across, not along the arm) controls the side-to-side position. Turn it clockwise to pull the door towards the hinge side and close up the gap between a pair of doors, anticlockwise to open the gap. Make small quarter-turns and check the gap each time, on both hinges of the door, so it closes evenly top and bottom.

WH-04Adjust how far the door sits from the cabinetThe second screw sits along the hinge arm itself. Turning this moves the door in and out, correcting a door that sticks out proud of the cabinet frame or sits too far in and catches on its neighbour. Adjust both hinges on the door by the same small amount so the door stays level rather than tilting.

WH-05Adjust the door's heightHeight is usually fixed at the mounting plate, not the hinge arm. Loosen the mounting plate screws slightly with the screwdriver, slide the door up or down to level it, then retighten. Some mounting plates have a separate small height-adjustment screw instead of a slot, so check both hinges for one before loosening anything.

WH-06Rehang a clip-on hinge that's come offMost clip-on hinges have a small lever or spring clip that releases the arm from the mounting plate on purpose, for cleaning or removing the door. Line the hinge arm back up with the mounting plate, press it in until it clicks, and check the lever has flipped back to its locked position. If it won't click home, check the mounting plate hasn't come loose from the cabinet and tighten its screws first.

WH-07Fit an extra hinge to a tall, sagging doorA tall wardrobe door with only two hinges often sags over time because the weight pulls on just the top and bottom fixing points. Fit a third hinge roughly midway between the existing two, matching the same distance in from the door edge. Mark the position, drill a shallow pilot hole to avoid splitting the door edge, then screw the new hinge and its mounting plate in place using the same screws supplied with the wardrobe hinges.

1 each · Concealed cabinet hinge (matching existing set)

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1 each · 2mm pilot drill bit

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1 pack of 10 · Wood screws 4mm x 16mm

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WH-08Repair worn or stripped screw holesIf a hinge screw spins without tightening, the hole is worn. For a small amount of wear, remove the screw and try the next size up gauge of screw in the same hole. For a hole that's badly stripped, dab wood glue into the hole, push in a wooden dowel cut slightly proud, and leave it to dry fully, usually a few hours. Once dry, trim the dowel flush with a craft knife, drill a fresh pilot hole through its centre, and refit the original screw.

1 length · Wooden dowel, 8mm diameter

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1 small bottle · Wood glue

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1 pack of 10 · Wood screws, next size up gauge

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WH-09Final check and tidy upOpen and close every adjusted door several times to check it swings freely, closes flush, and doesn't catch on its neighbour. Wipe away any dust from drilling and put spare screws somewhere you'll find them, in case the hinge needs a tweak again later.

PART OF A BIGGER PROJECT

Furnish a room from flatpack · Repair and restore tired furniture

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