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Urban Fresh's
Guide to Measuring
Your Cabinet Doors

How to Measure Cabinet Doors & Drawers for Replacement

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Replacing cabinet doors is a great way to refresh your kitchen or bathroom without a full renovation. Follow these steps to ensure accurate measurements for a perfect fit.

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Tools You’ll Need:

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  • Measuring tape

  • Notepad or measurement chart

  • Pencil or pen

 

Step 1: Determine the Overlay or Inset Style

 

Before measuring, identify whether your cabinet doors are overlay or inset:

  • Overlay Doors: Sit on top of the cabinet frame, partially or fully covering the opening.

  • Inset Doors: Fit flush inside the cabinet opening, requiring precise measurements.

 

If your cabinets have overlay doors, determine how much they overlap the cabinet frame. Standard overlays are ½" or 1".

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Step 2: Measure the Cabinet Openings

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For each cabinet opening (where the door will cover), measure:

  1. Width: Measure across the opening from left to right.

  2. Height: Measure from top to bottom.

  3. Double-check your measurements to ensure accuracy.
     

Step 3: Calculate the Door Size

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For Overlay Doors:

  1. Add the desired overlay amount to each measurement.

    • Example: If your cabinet opening is 14” wide and you want a ½” overlay, the door width should be 15” (14” + ½” + ½”).

    • Do the same for height.

 

For Inset Doors:

  • Use the exact cabinet opening size.

  • Subtract 1/8” from both width and height for a small gap, allowing the door to open smoothly.

 

Step 4: Consider Double Doors (for Wider Openings)

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For cabinet openings wider than 24 inches, you may need two doors instead of one.

  • To size double doors, divide the opening width by two, then add the overlay (if applicable).

  • Example: A 30” opening with a ½” overlay per side needs two doors, each 15 ¼” wide (30 ÷ 2 + ½”).

 

Step 5: Check for Hinge Boring Requirements

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If you plan to order pre-drilled doors for European-style hinges:

  • Determine hinge placement (typically 3” from the top and bottom).

  • Ensure the hinge bore hole size matches your hardware.

 

Step 6: Record Your Final Measurements

Write down all measurements clearly and double-check before placing an order. If unsure, consult with a professional to avoid ordering the wrong sizes.

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How to Measure Drawer Fronts for Replacement

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Drawer fronts should be measured carefully to ensure they fit properly within the cabinet layout. Follow these steps to get accurate measurements:

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  1. Measure the Drawer Opening:

    • Measure the width of the drawer opening from left to right.

    • Measure the height from top to bottom.
       

  2. Determine the Overlay or Inset Style:

    • Overlay Drawer Fronts: Add the overlay amount (typically ½” or 1” per side) to both width and height.

    • Inset Drawer Fronts: Use the exact opening dimensions and subtract 1/8” for clearance.
       

  3. Consider Clearance and Spacing:

    • Leave enough space between adjacent drawer fronts to allow for smooth opening and closing.

    • For stacked drawers, maintain an even gap of about 1/8” between fronts.
       

  4. Confirm Final Measurements:

    • Double-check all measurements before placing an order.

    • Ensure consistency with cabinet door sizes if ordering a full set.

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Ready New Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts?

Urban Fresh Services offers budget-friendly MDF cabinet doors with fast shipping! Contact us for a free virtual estimate.

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