How To Measure Cabinet Doors

Updating your kitchen or bathroom can sometimes be as simple as replacing cabinet doors. You might also decide to change up the style of your doors a bit. No matter what you choose, it’s essential to know how to measure cabinet doors correctly.

For new cabinet doors, first, you need to measure the frame from the inside edge to the inside edge. If you want cabinet doors to extend beyond the opening, you need to add one inch to both the width and height measurements. For inset cabinets, you need to subtract 1/4” from each measurement. You’ll also need special measurements for split or Lazy Susan cabinets.

How you measure replacement cabinet doors depends on the type of doors you plan to get. You’ll measure differently for inset cabinets, Lazy Susan cabinets, double doors, and ones with an overlay.

If you have a larger cabinet frame, you might opt for double doors that meet in the middle. The usual recommendation is to go with two doors for rough openings greater than 22 inches wide.

In this case, the door will only extend over the frame on three sides. These are sometimes referred to as split cabinet doors.

So, you will add two times the overlay to the frame height measurement. However, things change for the width.

First, you must divide the width in half since you’re getting two doors. Then, you will only add the single overlay measurement to the frame’s width.

You also need to subtract 1/16 of an inch from the total width. This 1/16 of an inch allows for a slight gap between the doors so they don’t scrape against each other.

Here’s a handy formula to help you determine your cabinet door size for an overlay.

Overlay Cabinet Doors Formula

Door Width = Rough Opening Width + (2 x overlay)

Door Height = Rough Opening Height + ( 2 x overlay)

Therefore, if your cabinet frame is 22” x 36”, your door would need to be 23” x 37”.

For double cabinet doors with overlay, use this formula:

Overlay Cabinet Double Doors Formula

Door Width = ½ the Rough Opening Width + overlay – 1/16

Door Height = Rough Opening Height + ( 2 x overlay)

Therefore, if your cabinet frame is 36” x 24”, each door would need to be 18.4375” x 25”.

Inset cabinet doors need to be ⅛” smaller than the opening all around. If you’re going for a more modern or minimalist vibe, you might opt for inset cabinet doors.

These types of doors sit inside the frame and are flush with the front of it. Some may use exposed hinges or go with hidden ones.

Measuring for inset doors means you need to take the rough opening frame measurements and subtract a little. The standard amount to deduct from all sides is ⅛ of an inch total. This lesser amount allows the doors to open and close and fit nicely inside the frame.

If you’re planning a corner cabinet with a Lazy Susan, you’ll need a particular cabinet door. You’ll likely have two doors that make a 90-degree angle to each other, joining with a butt joint.

You’ll need the rough opening of both sides but will only have an overlay on one side of the width. Typically, one door’s width will be slightly shorter to account for the joint. This shortness should equal the thickness of the door.

You can use this formula for a Lazy Susan cabinet door.

Lazy Susan Cabinet Door Formula

Left Side Door = (Rough opening width + overlay) x (Rough opening height + 2overlay)

Right Side Door = (Rough opening width + overlay – door thickness) x (Rough opening height + 2overlay)

Therefore, consider a left side opening of 18” x 29” and a right side opening of 18” x 29”. Also, imagine you are using cabinet doors that are ¾” thick and have a ½” overlay.

Based on the above formulas, your left door would need to be 18.5” x 30”, and the right door, 17.75” x 30”.

(You can swap the right and left side formulas depending on your particular arrangement.)

Measuring for new or replacement cabinet doors is all about double and triple checking measurements and knowing what style of cabinets you want. If you’re replacing doors with the same kind, you can simply measure your existing doors.

But for new or different style doors, things get a little different. With overlay doors, you need to add two times the overlay to the rough opening width and height. The typical overlay is ½”, but it depends on your hinges. If using double doors, only add the overlay to the width once.

For inset doors, you subtract ⅛” around all sides, so ¼” from the width and the height. For double inset doors, only subtract ⅛” from the width to account for the gap on the hinge side. And subtract 1/16 to account for a gap between the doors.

Lazy Susan cabinets use yet another formula, so make sure to do the correct measurement for your door style. If you’re unsure, it’s best to get a pro to measure for you before you order your cabinets. Many companies will calculate the dimensions of your new cabinets as part of the overall service when you purchase from them.