General MaintenanceBuildingWrench field guide · Sep 2026

Cabinet Doors Don’t Close Right: How to Adjust Concealed Hinges

Crooked cabinet doors are usually an alignment problem, a loose mounting plate, or damaged hinge hardware. A few controlled adjustments can often restore an even gap and smooth closing without replacing the cabinet.

Commercial wall cabinet with two doors slightly out of alignment — Field example: when two cabinet doors do not meet evenly, inspect the reveal and door height before turning adjustment screws.

Quick answer

Most modern concealed cabinet hinges provide three adjustments: side-to-side, in-and-out, and up-and-down. Identify which direction is wrong, make a very small adjustment on one hinge at a time, close the door, and recheck the gaps.

Before you adjust anything

Empty or support a heavily loaded door if needed.
Confirm hinge screws and mounting plates are tight and the hinge is not bent or broken.
Look at the gap between the two doors, the top/bottom alignment, and whether a door sits proud of the cabinet.
Use a hand screwdriver when possible; an impact driver can strip particleboard or overdrive small hinge screws.

Close view of a concealed European-style cabinet hinge — A common concealed hinge. Screw positions vary by manufacturer, so identify the hinge's adjustment features before turning anything.

Adjust the door

1. Diagnose the direction

If the center gap is uneven, you likely need side-to-side adjustment. If one door is higher, correct height. If a corner sticks out or rubs the cabinet, check depth and hinge condition.

2. Make one small change

Turn the appropriate adjustment screw only a small amount—often a quarter turn or less. Do not remove screws just to see what they do.

3. Coordinate upper and lower hinges

Side-to-side changes may require small corrections at both hinges to keep the door vertical. Height adjustments may use mounting-plate slots or a dedicated adjustment depending on the hinge.

4. Close and compare

After every change, close both doors and inspect the reveals from normal viewing distance. Aim for even gaps without binding.

5. Test the full swing

Open and close the door several times. Confirm it clears the neighboring door, cabinet edge, shelves and hardware and stays where intended.

Concealed cabinet hinge viewed from below — Use the door position—not guesswork—to decide which adjustment is needed. Different concealed hinges place their adjustment screws differently.

Cabinet hinge and door gap showing alignment — Check the reveal along the full door edge. A tapered gap can indicate the upper and lower hinges need different small corrections.

When adjustment will not fix it

Repair or replace hardware instead when:

The hinge is bent, cracked or separating.
Screws spin because the cabinet material is stripped or damaged.
The door itself is warped or swollen.
The mounting plate is pulling out of the cabinet.
The hinge no longer holds its adjustment.

Technician tip: Take a quick before photo of the door gaps. It makes it much easier to tell whether each adjustment actually improved the alignment.

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