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.
Last reviewed 2026-09-15 · General facility-maintenance information, not a substitute for site procedures, manufacturer instructions, codes, or qualified professional judgment.
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Safety boundary
Likely causes
- Hinge out of adjustment side-to-side, in-and-out or up-and-down
- Loose hinge screws or mounting plate
- Bent, cracked or worn hinge
- Stripped cabinet material at the screw holes
- Warped or swollen door
Symptom → cause → first move
Uneven center gap between two doors
Check: Compare the reveal along the full length of both door edges
First move: Make a small side-to-side adjustment on one hinge, then recheck
One door sits higher than the other
Check: Check top and bottom alignment against the cabinet face
First move: Use the mounting-plate slots or the hinge height adjustment
Corner sticks out or rubs the cabinet
Check: Check depth adjustment and hinge condition
First move: Adjust in-and-out slightly; inspect the hinge for damage
What to check first
Bring these
- Screwdriver set
- Flashlight
- Magnetic parts tray
Before touching 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.
Step-by-step procedure
- 1Diagnose the directionIf 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.
- 2Make one small changeTurn the appropriate adjustment screw only a small amount—often a quarter turn or less. Do not remove screws just to see what they do.
- 3Coordinate upper and lower hingesSide-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.
- 4Close and compareAfter every change, close both doors and inspect the reveals from normal viewing distance. Aim for even gaps without binding.
- 5Test the full swingOpen and close the door several times. Confirm it clears the neighboring door, cabinet edge, shelves and hardware and stays where intended.
Routine fixes that make sense here
- Tighten loose hinge and mounting-plate screws before adjusting anything.
- Correct one direction at a time in quarter-turn increments.
Leave a useful maintenance record
Record the cabinet location, which hinges were adjusted, whether hardware was replaced, and any damaged cabinet material that still needs repair.
Stop and call a licensed professional 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 — repair or replace the hardware instead of adjusting.
Common mistakes
- Turning several screws at once so no change can be evaluated.
- Removing adjustment screws to see what they do.
- Using an impact driver on small hinge screws in particleboard.
Parts for this repair
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