Cabinet door hinges wear out, stick, or break — and replacing them yourself takes about 30 minutes per door

Cabinet hinges fail because they carry weight every time you open and close the door. Over years, the screws loosen, the hinge bends, or the mounting holes strip. You do not need a carpenter. You need a screwdriver, a tape measure, and hinges that match your existing ones — either the same model or a universal replacement that fits the same holes.

The job breaks into five steps: identify your hinge type, buy the right replacement, remove the old hinge, fill any damaged holes if needed, and install the new one. Most cabinet doors use one of two hinge styles — cup hinges (the round kind that sit in a hole drilled into the door) or butt hinges (the flat rectangular kind screwed to the edge). Knowing which you have tells you what to buy and how to install it.

Key Takeaways

  • Cup hinges and butt hinges require different replacement parts and installation methods, so photograph your hinge before you shop.
  • Most replacement hinges cost between $3 and $15 each, and you need one hinge per door unless the door is very wide or heavy.
  • Stripped screw holes can be fixed by filling them with wooden toothpicks and wood glue, then drilling a new pilot hole in the same spot.
  • The entire job — removing the old hinge, filling holes if needed, and installing the new one — takes 20 to 30 minutes per door.

Identify which type of hinge you have

Cup hinges are round or oval and sit inside a hole drilled into the back or side of the door. The hinge cup itself is hidden; only the arm and mounting plate show. They are common on modern cabinets and are straightforward to spot because the door closes flush against the frame with no visible hinge hardware.

Butt hinges are flat and rectangular, screwed directly to the edge of the door and the cabinet frame. Both halves of the hinge are visible when the door is open. They are older and less common in new cabinets but still appear in many kitchens.

Take a photo of your hinge with your phone, including the screw holes and the overall shape. Bring the photo to a hardware store or use it to search online. If you cannot find the exact model, a universal cup hinge or butt hinge in the same size will work as long as the screw holes line up.

Buy the correct replacement hinges

Hinges come in different sizes and load ratings. A standard cabinet door hinge costs $3 to $15 per hinge. You need one hinge per door unless the door is wider than 24 inches or very heavy — in that case, use two hinges spaced evenly.

When you buy, check that the screw hole spacing matches your old hinge. Measure the distance between the screw holes on your existing hinge and compare it to the replacement. The holes must line up, or you will have to drill new ones and fill the old ones. Most standard cabinet hinges have holes spaced 32 millimeters apart, but some older cabinets use 35 or 40 millimeters.

If your hinge has a soft-close feature (the door closes slowly instead of slamming), the replacement will cost more — usually $10 to $25 — but the installation is the same.

Remove the old hinge

Close the cabinet door and locate the screws holding the hinge to the door. Use a screwdriver that fits the screw head snugly — a loose fit will strip the screw and make removal harder. Turn counterclockwise slowly. If a screw is stuck, spray it with penetrating oil and wait 10 minutes before trying again.

Once the screws are out, the hinge will come free. If the hinge is mounted to the cabinet frame instead of the door, remove those screws the same way. Set the old hinge aside.

Look at the screw holes left behind. If they are clean and the wood is not splintered or crushed, you can reuse them. If the holes are enlarged, stripped, or the wood is damaged, you will need to fill them before installing the new hinge.

Fill stripped or damaged screw holes

Stripped holes happen when screws have been removed and reinstalled many times, or when the wrong size screw was used. The wood no longer grips the screw, and the hinge will not stay tight.

To fix a stripped hole, break wooden toothpicks into short pieces and push them into the hole with wood glue. Pack the hole full. Let the glue dry for 30 minutes, then use a utility knife to trim the toothpicks flush with the surface. Drill a new pilot hole in the same spot — a pilot hole is a small hole that guides the screw and prevents splitting. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than the screw diameter.

If the hole is very large or the wood is splintered, fill it with wooden dowels and glue instead. Drill out the damaged hole to 1/4 inch diameter, glue in a 1/4-inch wooden dowel, let it dry, then drill your pilot hole in the center of the dowel.

Install the new hinge

Line up the new hinge with the screw holes. If the holes are in the same place as the old hinge, this is straightforward. If you had to fill holes and drill new ones, make sure the new pilot holes line up with the hinge mounting holes before you screw it down.

Insert the screws by hand first to make sure they thread smoothly. If a screw is hard to turn, stop and check that the hole is aligned and that you are using the right size screw. Once all screws are hand-tight, use the screwdriver to tighten them firmly — tight enough that the hinge does not move, but not so tight that you strip the screw or crack the wood.

Close the door and check that it hangs straight and closes smoothly. If the door sags or does not close evenly, the hinge may not be fully seated. Open the door, tighten the screws a bit more, and test again.

Adjust the door if it does not hang straight

If the door sags at the bottom or leans away from the cabinet, the hinge may not be seated all the way. Most cup hinges have an adjustment screw that lets you move the door side to side or up and down without removing the hinge. Check your hinge for a small screw or hex key slot and turn it slightly to move the door into position.

If your hinge has no adjustment, or if adjusting does not fix the problem, the hinge itself may be bent or the mounting surface may not be flat. Remove the hinge, inspect it for damage, and replace it if needed. If the mounting surface is not flat, you may need to shim it — place a thin piece of wood or plastic behind the hinge to level it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to replace all the hinges on my cabinet at once?

No. You can replace one hinge at a time. However, if multiple hinges are failing, replacing them all at once ensures the door hangs evenly and prevents one new hinge from wearing out faster than the others.

What if the screw holes do not line up with my new hinge?

Fill the old holes with wooden toothpicks and glue, let them dry, then drill new pilot holes in the locations where your new hinge needs them. This takes an extra 20 minutes but is simpler than trying to force a hinge that does not fit.

Can I use a cup hinge to replace a butt hinge?

No. Cup hinges require a hole drilled into the door, while butt hinges screw to the edge. The mounting methods are different, and the holes will not line up. Stick with the same type you have, or choose a universal hinge designed for your cabinet style.

How tight should I screw the hinge?

Tight enough that the hinge does not move when you open and close the door, but not so tight that you see the wood compress or the screw head sinks into the wood. If you over-tighten, you risk stripping the screw or cracking the wood around the hole.

Why does my new hinge squeak?

A squeaking hinge usually means the hinge is dry or the screw is slightly loose. explore a small amount of silicone-based lubricant to the hinge pin and the moving parts. Avoid oil-based lubricants, which attract dust. If squeaking continues, tighten the mounting screws slightly.