Fix a broken cabinet hinge
Save £30–60 today
20 mins · Beginner · Saves £30–60 vs a carpenter
Last updated: March 2025
Before you start
Most kitchen and bathroom cabinets use concealed cup hinges — the kind with a large round cup pressed into the door. These are designed to be adjusted and replaced without tools beyond a screwdriver.
Before buying a new hinge, try the adjustment screws. Most drooping or misaligned cabinet doors just need a small tweak with a cross-head screwdriver — no new parts required.
Tools needed
- ✓Cross-head screwdriver — for all hinge screws
- !Replacement hinge — buy: buy: £2–5 — take the old hinge to match the cup diameter, usually 35mm, and the arm length
Identify the hinge type
Modern kitchen cabinets use concealed cup hinges. Older furniture may use butt hinges (flat, visible on the door edge). This guide covers cup hinges — the most common type.
Where beginners go wrong
Buying a replacement before trying the adjustment screws — most sagging doors just need a half-turn.
Buying the wrong cup size — 35mm is standard but not universal. Take the old hinge to match it.
Overtightening — the screws seat into soft MDF in most flat-pack cabinets. Use firm but gentle pressure.
Stop and call a carpenter if...
The screw holes in the door are completely stripped and the wood is crumbling
Multiple hinges have failed on the same cabinet — may indicate the cabinet is damaged beyond repair
Cost breakdown
What you just learned
You now understand how concealed cup hinges work and how to adjust them. This applies to every kitchen, bathroom, and wardrobe cabinet with this hinge type — which is most of them.
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⚠️ Watch out if you rent
Cabinet hinges in a rented property are the landlord's responsibility to fix. Adjusting hinges is harmless maintenance; replacing a hinge is a minor repair your landlord should fund — report it in writing first.