The CNCDoors.com Guide to Measuring for Cabinet Doors
Measuring for your new cabinet doors is the most important step in your project. With a few simple tools and careful measurements, you can order with confidence. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Let's get started!
- A quality Tape Measure
- A Notepad
- A Pencil
Before you measure, you need to know how your doors will sit on your cabinets.
Overlay Doors (Most Common):
These doors are larger than the cabinet opening and rest on the outside of the cabinet frame. This is the most popular style for modern kitchens. Our calculator is designed for this.
Inset Doors:
These doors are smaller than the cabinet opening and sit flush inside the cabinet frame, showing the entire frame. This is a more traditional, high-end look.
Diagram showing a cabinet frame with one door sitting on top of the frame (Overlay), and another door sitting flush inside the frame (Inset).
- Open your existing cabinet doors or remove them.
- Carefully measure the Width of the cabinet opening, from inside edge to inside edge.
- Carefully measure the Height of the cabinet opening, from inside edge to inside edge.
- Measure Twice! Write down your measurements as Width x Height (e.g., "18" x 30"). Precision is key, so double-check each measurement.
Diagram of a cabinet opening with arrows indicating where to measure width and height, from inside edge to inside edge.
Now we'll use your opening measurements to determine the final door size. Our Advanced Overlay Calculator on the product page can do this math for you, but here is the formula so you can understand and double-check your work.
For Standard Overlay Doors (Most Common):
The most common "overlay" is 1/2 inch, meaning the door "overlays" the cabinet frame by 1/2 inch on all four sides.
The Formula:
Door Size = Opening Size + 1 inch
Example:
If your cabinet opening is 18" wide x 30" high, you will add 1 inch to both dimensions.
Your Order Size: 19" wide x 31" high
For Inset Doors:
For an inset fit, the door needs to be slightly smaller than the opening to allow for a clean gap around the edges. A standard gap is 1/8 inch on all four sides.
The Formula:
Door Size = Opening Size - 1/4 inch
Example:
If your cabinet opening is 18" wide x 30" high, you will subtract 1/4 inch from both dimensions.
Your Order Size: 17 3/4" wide x 29 3/4" high
If a single large cabinet opening will be covered by two doors that meet in the middle (a "split pair"), the calculation is slightly different to create a small 1/8" gap between them.
First, calculate the height:
Door Height = Opening Height + 1 inch
(This is the same as above)
Then, calculate the width for each door:
Each Door's Width = (Opening Width + 1 inch) / 2 - 1/16 inch
Example: For a 36" wide opening:
(36 + 1) / 2 = 18.5
18.5 - 1/16 = 18 7/16
Your Order Size: You would order two doors, each 18 7/16" wide.
Diagram showing a wide cabinet opening with two doors installed, illustrating the "split pair" concept and the small gap between them.
Ready to Order?
Double-check all your measurements and calculations before ordering. Remember, your doors will be custom-made to the exact dimensions you provide.
If you have any questions about measuring or need help calculating your door sizes, please contact us!
Contact Information
Current Pricing
Nationwide Delivery
$12/sq ft
Includes crating and freight shipping to your address
Local Pickup (Pasadena, TX)
$5/sq ft
Save with pickup at our facility