Which screw moves a concealed cabinet door left or right?

On many European-style hinges, the front screw on the metal hinge arm controls sideways overlay. Identify it using the hinge model's instructions, turn only a small amount, close the door and check. Direction varies by hinge and door orientation.

Why does the cabinet door sag again after adjustment?

Check for loose mounting-plate screws, an incompletely clipped-on hinge arm, cracked fittings or stripped holes in the cabinet board. Do not keep winding the adjuster to compensate for damaged hardware; repair or replace the fitting before using the door.

Must I remove the cabinet door to adjust its hinges?

Usually not. Standard concealed hinges can generally be adjusted with the door attached and supported. Avoid removing hinge pins or detaching the door just to change the gap, and never loosen all plate fixing screws at once on an unsupported door.

What if the door closes unevenly or springs open?

First check for obstructions and rubbing against neighbouring doors, drawers or the cabinet. If the edges are level but the front does not sit flush, make a small depth adjustment using the appropriate rear cam or locking screw. Follow the manufacturer if a soft-close mechanism is fitted.

Guides/Home/How to Adjust a Cabinet Door Hinge

How to Adjust a Cabinet Door Hinge

Align an ordinary kitchen cabinet door fitted with adjustable concealed European-style hinges. Check that the hardware is secure, then correct height, side gaps and depth in small steps so the door closes evenly. This method does not cover exposed butt hinges, broken hardware or heavy doors.

Updated Nov 9, 2026

20 min5 stepsBeginnernew

What you need

Tick off what you already have.

Tools

Correctly fitting Pozidriv PZ2 or Phillips screwdriver (check screw heads)
Small ruler or tape measure
Good work light

Open light wood kitchen cabinet with a concealed metal hinge and its mounting plate visible, person gently supporting the door while inspecting the fitting.

AI illustration

Step 01 / 05

Identify the hinges and check for loose fittings

Open the cabinet and support the door with one hand. This guide applies to common concealed European-style hinges: a round cup is fixed into the door, a metal arm joins it to a mounting plate on the cabinet. Compare both hinges and check that each clip-on arm is fully seated. Identify the adjustment screws from the hinge maker’s diagram before turning anything: on many models the front arm screw controls side position, the rear arm screw controls depth, and the mounting plate controls height. Gently snug any genuinely loose fixing screws with a correctly fitting driver, without overtightening the cabinet board. Stop if wood is split, holes are stripped, a hinge is cracked, or the door feels unsafe to support.

Guide progress1 / 5

1. Identify the hinges and check for loose fittings
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Open the cabinet and support the door with one hand. This guide applies to common concealed European-style hinges: a round cup is fixed into the door, a metal arm joins it to a mounting plate on the cabinet. Compare both hinges and check that each clip-on arm is fully seated. Identify the adjustment screws from the hinge maker’s diagram before turning anything: on many models the front arm screw controls side position, the rear arm screw controls depth, and the mounting plate controls height. Gently snug any genuinely loose fixing screws with a correctly fitting driver, without overtightening the cabinet board. Stop if wood is split, holes are stripped, a hinge is cracked, or the door feels unsafe to support.
2. Align the door height
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Close the door and compare its top and bottom edges with adjacent doors or a drawer front. Open it again and support its weight. If the mounting plate has a marked height-adjustment cam, turn that cam a little to raise or lower the door; if it uses slotted fixing holes instead, slightly loosen the plate fixing screws while holding the door, slide the plate to the needed height, then retighten firmly. Make small, equal changes at both hinges to move the whole door vertically. Close and check after each change. Never remove mounting screws while the door hangs unsupported.
3. Make the side gaps even
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
With the door closed, inspect the vertical gaps between doors and cabinet edges. Open the door and find the manufacturer-identified lateral adjustment screw, commonly the front screw on the hinge arm. Turn it about a quarter-turn, close the door and observe which way the edge moved; reverse the direction if necessary. Adjust both hinges similarly to shift the whole door sideways, or adjust one slightly more to correct a tapered gap. Keep a small, even clearance so neither door rubs. Do not use screws fastening the hinge cup to the door as adjusters, and never force a screw beyond its natural stop.
4. Set the door depth so it closes flush
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Close the door gently and check whether its face projects farther than neighbouring doors or touches the cabinet unevenly. On hinges with a rear depth cam, make a small turn, then recheck. Some older hinges instead have a locking screw that must be loosened slightly while the supported door is moved in or out, and then retightened; consult the hinge-specific instructions. Adjust the top and bottom hinge as needed so the door is not twisted. Preserve clearance for the hinges and dampers, and stop if the door binds or the hardware cannot move safely.
5. Test the alignment and secure everything
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Close the door slowly, view it from the front and the side, and check that its edges look level, gaps are even and it sits flush. Open and close it several times to check for rubbing, catching or bounce-back. Recheck that all previously loosened mounting screws are snug, without stripping the cabinet board. A hinge only has a small adjustment range: if the door still sags, swings loose, will not close or has damaged fittings, stop adjusting and repair or replace the hardware using the maker’s instructions rather than forcing it.