MEASURING GUIDE
How to Measure for Cabinet Doors
Getting accurate measurements is the most important step in ordering replacement cabinet doors. Follow this guide and you'll get a perfect fit — every time.
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BEFORE YOU START
What You'll Need
Gather these tools before you begin to ensure accurate, consistent measurements.
Tape Measure
A standard 25-ft tape measure works perfectly.
Pencil & Paper
Record each measurement immediately after taking it.
Calculator
Double-check your math before placing your order.
STEP-BY-STEP
How to Measure Your Cabinet Openings
Measure each cabinet opening individually — even openings that look the same can vary slightly. Always measure twice.
1
Measure the Opening Width
Place your tape measure across the inside of the cabinet frame, from the left edge to the right edge of the opening. Record the measurement in inches, to the nearest 1/8 inch.
2
Measure the Opening Height
Measure from the top of the opening down to the bottom. Do this on the left side, center, and right side of the opening and use the smallest measurement.
3
Determine Your Overlay
Overlay is how much the door extends beyond the opening on each side. Standard half-inch overlay means the door is 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller than the opening.
4
Calculate Your Door Size
Add your overlay to each side of the measured opening. For a 1/2" overlay: Door Width = Opening Width + 1". Door Height = Opening Height + 1".
5
Measure for Hinges
Note the number of hinges per door based on door height: up to 40" uses 2 hinges, 40"–60" uses 3 hinges, 60"+ uses 4 hinges.
OVERLAY OPTIONS
Understanding Door Overlay
The overlay is how much the door overlaps the cabinet face frame. Choosing the right overlay ensures a clean, consistent look across all your doors.
TRADITIONAL STYLE
Inset / No Overlay
The door sits flush inside the cabinet opening with no overlap. Requires very precise measurements — usually used on traditional or shaker-style cabinetry.
FORMULA
Door = Opening − 1/8" each side
MOST COMMON
Standard 1/2" Overlay
The door covers 1/2" of the face frame on all four sides. Add 1" to both the width and height of the cabinet opening.
FORMULA
Door = Opening + 1"
FRAMELESS CABINETS
Full Overlay
The door covers nearly the entire face frame, leaving only a small gap between adjacent doors. Common in European-style frameless cabinets.
FORMULA
Door = Opening − 1/4" to 1/2"
QUICK REFERENCE
Measurement Reference Chart
Use this quick-reference chart to find the correct door size based on your cabinet opening. All dimensions are in inches.
OVERLAY EACH SIDE
1/2" standard
ADD TO WIDTH
+1" total
ADD TO HEIGHT
+1" total
MEASUREMENT UNIT
Inches, to nearest 1/8"
Fig. 1 — Cabinet opening measurements with standard 1/2" overlay shown.
TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING
Common Measuring Mistakes
Even experienced DIYers make these mistakes. Read through before you start to avoid costly re-orders.
Always measure the cabinet opening (the hole in the face frame), not the old door. Old doors may have been cut incorrectly or have warped over time.
Cabinets can be out of square. Measure width at top, middle, and bottom. Measure height on left, center, and right. Always use the smallest measurement.
Your door size should be larger than your opening. If you order a door to match the opening exactly, it will fall inside the cabinet. Add your overlay to all four sides.
Cabinet doors are ordered in 1/8" increments. Always round down to the nearest 1/8" to avoid doors that are too large. Do not round up.
Width is always the horizontal dimension (left to right). Height is always the vertical dimension (top to bottom). Label your measurements clearly on paper as you go.
If two doors share a face frame rail, each door overlays by 1/2" onto that rail. Make sure your combined overlay does not exceed the rail width.
READY TO ORDER?
You've Got Your Measurements.
Now let's build your perfect doors.
Our team is here if you have any questions. Every door is custom-cut to your exact measurements, crafted from quality materials, and shipped directly to your door.
✓ Custom-cut to order · ✓ Ships in 14-21 business days
