Kitchen cabinets

Measuring For Doors & Drawerfronts

Figure 1

Before starting to measure, it is useful to make a sketch of your existing kitchen, clearly marking each opening. Number the openings starting at the upper left doors, then the lower left doors and finally the drawerfronts, also starting on the left (refer to Figure 1 for sketch example). This sketch will allow you to both keep track of figures while measuring, and easily match each custom door and drawerfront with the correct opening during installation. Other useful information to put on your sketch is the location of doorways and, if a drawer opens into the path of the doorway, note the thickness of any moulding surrounding the doorway.

Having this measurement will prevent the drawerfront from being made too wide that it bumps the door moulding. If a valance is desired over the sink, note the measurement between the upper cabinets on each side of the sink. Finally, measure the distance between the top of the opening on your upper cabinets to the ceiling or the bottom of the bulkhead if one is present. This measurement will tell you if there is room for ceiling moulding. Also show location of hinges (Left or Right ) on each door.

Cabinet Door Depot strongly recommends not using your existing hinges. Using Cabinet Door Depot’s hinges with our accompanying reface plate will make installation much easier for either framed or frameless cabinets.

Figure 2

Before ordering, you have to decide what type of hinges you will be installing, as the door measurements will vary according to the type of hinges selected. Note: Door and Drawer Front ordering sizes on the ORDER FORM must be in increments of 1/8”…NO Sixteenths !!

A) FRAMELESS CABINETS (i.e. no Frame on front of the cabinet.) Use the measurements of your existing doors and drawerfronts. Remember, only concealed hinges can be used with Frameless Cabinets.

B) FRAMED CABINETS (i.e. frame on front of the cabinet.) For each door ...

Measure the width of the cabinet opening (as shown in Figure 2) and use the formulas below depending on the hinge type selected. With Framed Cabinets, it is important to measure the cabinet opening, but not existing doors and drawerfronts.

Opening height of cabinet is determined by measuring from the top of the cabinet opening, to the bottom of the cabinet (see Figure 2). This will ensure that you cover the bottom part of the cabinet frame…then use the formulas below.

Determining Door Ordering Sizes - Framed Cabinets

IF USING CONCEALED HINGES:
To determine custom door ordering width...(maximum door ordering width is 22"). For cabinet openings under 20³/₄" wide, add 1¹/₄" to the Opening width. If the opening width is more than 20 ³/₄", add 1" to the Opening width and divide by 2 (if the result is in sixteenths, round down to the nearest ¹/₈") This will give you 2 doors for this opening.

To determine custom door ordering height...Add ¹/₂" or less to the Opening height depending on the clearance you have to the moulding above the door. ( See figure 2 and measuring instructions for opening height. )

Door Measuring Examples - Concealed Hinges

Upper or Lower Door - If ordering European - Oak Bar style with concealed hinges make sure you put the Upper and Lower door measurements in the appropriate section on the Order Form.

Hinge Location - Determine the hinge location (Left or Right side of door), mark that location on your sketch and insert L or R in Location columns in the Order Form. Remember, hinge location is only necessary when using Concealed Hinges since these doors are pre-drilled at your request.

IF USING EXPOSED HINGES
To determine custom door ordering width...For cabinet openings under 21 ¹/₄" wide, add ³/₄" to the Opening width. If the opening width is more than 21 ", add " to the Opening width and divide by 2 (if the result is in sixteenths, round down to the nearest ¹/₈"). This will give you 2 doors for the opening.

To determine custom door ordering height...Add 1/2" or less to the Opening height depending on the clearance you have to the moulding above the door. ( See figure 2 and measuring instructions for opening height )

Door Measuring Examples - Exposed Hinges

Glass Doors - If a Frame for Glass or Mullion Bars is required, clearly note in the Order Form in the appropriate box (Frame & Mullion Doors) and in Mullion Bars. Remember, Glass Frames for Laminated Panel doors come in the Frame & Panel Style and are not available for European Style doors. Glass is not included. Mullion Bars are only available with PVC and MDF Paintable Doors.

*NOTE: Cabinet Door Depot strongly recommends not using your existing hinges. Using our hinges with our accompanying reface plate, makes installation much easier for either framed or frameless cabinets.

Determining Drawerfront Ordering Sizes (Note: Drawerfronts can be a maximum of 40" wide.)

Frameless Cabinets- Use the widths and heights of your existing drawerfronts.

Framed Cabinets - locate the door directly below the particular drawerfront being measured. Use the door width as your drawerfront width and use the height of your existing drawerfront. If there is no door below the drawerfront, such as in a bank of drawers, use the width and height of your existing drawerfront. If you want one long drawerfront to be above two doors such as under a sink, locate the two doors that the drawerfront will be above and add the two door width measurements together plus 1/8". The height will be the same as the existing drawerfront.