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
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Notepad or measurement chart
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Pencil or pen
Step 1: Determine the Overlay or Inset Style
Before measuring, identify whether your cabinet doors are overlay or inset:
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Overlay Doors: Sit on top of the cabinet frame, partially or fully covering the opening.
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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:
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Width: Measure across the opening from left to right.
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Height: Measure from top to bottom.
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Double-check your measurements to ensure accuracy.
Step 3: Calculate the Door Size
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For Overlay Doors:
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Add the desired overlay amount to each measurement.
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Example: If your cabinet opening is 14” wide and you want a ½” overlay, the door width should be 15” (14” + ½” + ½”).
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Do the same for height.
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For Inset Doors:
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Use the exact cabinet opening size.
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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.
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To size double doors, divide the opening width by two, then add the overlay (if applicable).
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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:
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Determine hinge placement (typically 3” from the top and bottom).
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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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Measure the Drawer Opening:
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Measure the width of the drawer opening from left to right.
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Measure the height from top to bottom.
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Determine the Overlay or Inset Style:
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Overlay Drawer Fronts: Add the overlay amount (typically ½” or 1” per side) to both width and height.
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Inset Drawer Fronts: Use the exact opening dimensions and subtract 1/8” for clearance.
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Consider Clearance and Spacing:
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Leave enough space between adjacent drawer fronts to allow for smooth opening and closing.
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For stacked drawers, maintain an even gap of about 1/8” between fronts.
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Confirm Final Measurements:
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Double-check all measurements before placing an order.
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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.