How to Install Concealed Cabinet Door Hinges

When installing new cabinet doors, concealed cabinet door hinges will add to a modern kitchen's sleek contemporary style. Follow the instructions below to attach concealed hinges cleanly and securely to your kitchen cabinet doors.

Tools and Materials:

* Electric drill to make mounting holes
* Phillips x-head screwdriver
* 2-piece concealed European-style hinges, 2 for each door
* Measuring tape and marking pencil
* Hinge-mark template

Step 1: Measure to Determine the Overlay of Your Doors to the Cabinet

If you are using a frameless cabinet box, that has no interior frame to which hinges are attached, measure up 2 inches from the inside bottom of the cabinet box and down from the inside top of the box. Mark these locations with a pencil, as you will attach the mounting brackets for the hinges here.

If you are affixing doors to framed cabinets, measure the depth of the frame and decide how much overlap you want between the doors and frame. You can choose a half-overlay, so the door overlaps half of the frame width, or any distance between that and a full inset, where the door edge is completely inside the frame.

Step 2: Drill Holes in the Door to Attach the Concealed Hinge Hardware

For each door, drill 3 holes for each concealed door hinge, a large 35 mm hole with 2 offset holes above and below it on the left side, 8 mm in diameter for the dowels and screw fasteners. Drill these just 1/2 inch deep into the door. A device called a hinge-mark template will help you mark the hole locations accurately for every door.

Step 3: Lay Down the Door and Slip the Hinge Hardware into the Holes

Separate the mounting brackets from the hinge hardware and set these aside. Place the door on your workbench or kitchen counter, outer face down and slide the hinge hardware snugly into the holes for the hinge and screw fasteners. Use the Philips screwdriver to firmly twist in the screws to secure the hinge hardware.

Step 4: Attach the Mounting Brackets to the Cabinet Body

The mounting brackets are T-shaped metal pieces with three screw holes to fasten it. When you purchase your hinge assembly, bring your frame and overlay measurements to get the correct length and thickness for the main shaft of the mounting bracket. The thickness of the mounting bracket plate will shorten the door overlay by the same amount. Attach the mounting brackets to the places you marked inside the cabinet body. Align the hinge arm into the mounting bracket and test for smoothness and straightness of each door as you open and close it. Use the screwdriver to adjust the height and lateral placement of the hinge in one operation.

Step 5: Check and Tighten All Screws on the Hinge Hardware

Take your time and measure carefully when mounting your concealed hinges. Tighten the screws about 50 percent on both hinges until you check the alignment with the mounting brackets. Once you are confident about the hinge placement, tighten the screws on the hinge hardware fully.