Kitchen-Pros
How to Measure Your Kitchen Doors
Getting your measurements right is the most important step. Follow this guide carefully and your replacement doors will fit perfectly first time. Scroll down for our full FAQ too.
Step-by-Step Measuring
Measure the door — not the cabinet
Always measure the existing door itself, not the cabinet opening. This ensures your replacement matches exactly. If you no longer have the door, measure the opening and add 2mm overlap on each side (4mm total to width).
Always measure in millimetres
Use a metal tape measure for accuracy. Always work in millimetres (mm) — never inches or centimetres. Take each measurement at least twice to confirm.
Record height then width
Measure the full height (top to bottom) then the full width (left to right). Standard sizes are always Height × Width — e.g. 715mm H × 596mm W. Double check which way your door hangs before ordering.
Note hinge positions
Measure from the top of the door to the centre of each hinge, and from the bottom to the centre of the lowest hinge. Standard positions are 100mm from top and 100mm from bottom. Record these when ordering hinge hole drilling.
Check for drawer fronts
Drawer fronts are measured differently to doors. Measure the visible face of the existing drawer front — height and width. Drawer fronts don't need hinge positions. Include a photo with your bespoke enquiry if unsure.
Count everything before ordering
Go room by room and count every door and drawer front. Group by size — many kitchens repeat the same few sizes. Order all doors in one go to ensure colour consistency across the batch.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Measuring the cabinet opening instead of the existing door
- Measuring in cm or inches instead of mm
- Only measuring once — always double-check
- Forgetting integrated appliance doors (fridge, dishwasher)
- Ordering in different batches — colour consistency cannot be guaranteed across separate orders
- Not checking if your hinges are 35mm boss or 26mm boss
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace just the kitchen doors without replacing the cabinets?
Yes — that's exactly what Kitchen-Pros is designed for. Our replacement doors fit your existing cabinet carcasses. As long as the cabinets are structurally sound, you can keep them and simply swap the doors for a fraction of the cost of a full kitchen replacement.
How do I know which size to order?
Measure the existing door itself (height × width in mm). If you no longer have the door, measure the cabinet opening and add a 2mm overlap on each edge. Our measuring guide above walks you through this step by step.
What if my size isn't in your standard range?
We offer bespoke sizes across all our configure-to-order ranges. Submit a bespoke enquiry and we'll come back within 24 hours.
Do the doors come with hinges?
Doors are supplied without hinges as standard. We sell soft-close and standard hinges separately in our accessories section.
How long does delivery take?
Stocked ranges are typically 7–10 working days. Made-to-measure and configure-to-order ranges are typically 3–4 weeks from order confirmation. We'll give you a clear lead time with your quote.
Can I order a sample before committing?
Yes — sample doors are available for most ranges. Contact us at info@kitchen-pros.uk or call 0114 463 0090.
What's the difference between stocked and configure-to-order ranges?
Stocked ranges (Waterford, Jayline, Lacarre, Wilton, Thornbury, Hadley, Ora) are available to buy online in fixed standard sizes. Configure-to-order ranges (Bella, Valore, Zurfiz) offer far more flexibility — these are quoted individually and manufactured to order.
Do you offer a fitting service?
We supply the doors — fitting is typically done by the customer or a local kitchen fitter. Replacement door fitting is straightforward for most people with basic DIY skills.
How do I find the exact centre to measure the hinge position from?
Look inside the hinge cut-out (the round recess) on the door you are replacing. In almost every case you will see a small centre hole in the middle of that recess — it is left behind by the cabinet hinge sinking drill used to cut the recess in the factory.
That centre hole is your datum. Measure from the top edge of the door down to that hole, and record the same for every hinge. It is far more accurate than trying to judge the middle of the recess by eye, and it is the measurement we drill to.
Standard hinge positions are usually around 100mm from the top and 100mm from the bottom, but never assume — always measure your own doors and write the figures down.
How do I make sure the hinges go on straight?
Use an engineer's square. Sit the stock (the thick edge) against the edge of the door and line the hinge plate up to the blade — that gives you a true 90° reference so the hinge sits square to the door edge rather than very slightly skewed.
A hinge fitted even a degree or two out is the single most common reason a replacement door will not hang level, and it is very hard to correct once the screw holes are made. Mark your screw positions with a bradawl or centre punch first, check square once more, then drive the screws.
A combination square or a small try square does the same job. What matters is that you are working to a true right angle and not to the eye.
What tools do I need to fit replacement kitchen doors?
Very few. A metal tape measure, a screwdriver or drill-driver, a bradawl or centre punch, and an engineer's square to keep the hinges true. A spirit level is useful for checking the finished run.
If you are drilling your own hinge recesses you will also need a 35mm cabinet hinge sinking drill (sometimes called a Forstner or hinge boring bit) and a drill stand or depth stop, so the recess is cut to a consistent depth. If you would rather not, we can drill the hinge holes for you before despatch.
My existing hinge recess looks a different size — does that matter?
Yes, check it before ordering. Almost all modern UK kitchen doors use a 35mm hinge boss, but some older or continental cabinets use 26mm. Measure the diameter of the round recess in your existing door.
If yours are 26mm, tell us when you order — the replacement will need drilling to suit, and standard 35mm hinges will not fit.
How far in from the edge of the door is the hinge hole?
You don't normally need to measure this one. On UK cabinet doors the hinge hole is a standard 22.5mm from the side edge of the door to the centre of the hole, and the hole itself is a standard 35mm diameter.
Because both are standard, the only figures we actually need from you are how far each hinge sits down from the top or up from the bottom — measured to that small centre hole in the recess.
My door has three or four hinges — how do I measure those?
Three hinges: measure top and bottom as usual, then measure from the top edge down to the centre of the middle hinge. If it sits exactly halfway, just tell us 'centre'.
Four hinges (usually tall doors over about 1700mm): measure the two upper hinges from the top edge and the two lower hinges from the bottom edge. A common factory pattern is 100mm and 750mm from each end — but treat that as a starting point, not a promise.
Measure every door. Hinge positions drift between cabinets, even in the same kitchen, and even where the doors are the same size.
My new doors are on but they don't line up — can I adjust them?
Yes, and you usually can without moving a single screw. A standard European hinge adjusts on three axes:
Side to side — the screw nearest the door closes or opens the gap between neighbouring doors.
In and out (depth) — the rear screw pulls the door closer to the cabinet or pushes it proud.
Up and down — on most hinges this is the mounting plate on the cabinet, not the hinge arm.
Work along a run rather than door by door: get one door right, then match its neighbour to it. Adjust in quarter-turns and close the door to check after each one.
If a door still will not sit square after adjustment, the usual cause is a hinge that went on slightly out of true — which is why it is worth using an engineer's square when you fit them.
Still have a question?
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