How to Measure for Cabinet Doors

You are going to install new cabinet doors in your kitchen, and you need to know what size you will need to purchase. Here’s how to measure accurately so that your cabinet doors will fit perfectly and look beautiful.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tape Pencil/Paper Sturdy stepladder (you will probably only need a two- or three-step ladder)

1. Number a sheet of paper with as many numerals as you have cabinet door spaces. (See “Tips” Section for more information).

2. Next to each number, write down the particular cabinet that you are measuring for. For instance, you might say, “First cabinet on left, as you face the stove, second cabinet on left as you face the stove, etc.” (See “Tips” Section for more information.)

3. Beginning at the cabinet you have labeled “#1, measure width and height FIRST, and write down those numbers.

4. Now, measure for the door itself. Measure the door opening. If it is not exact, round up to the nearest 1/8” inch. (See “Tips” Section for more information.) Take two initial measurements; if they are the same, the write those figures down. If they differ, measure again until you are sure your measurements are correct, and then write down the correct measurements.

5. Continue measuring each cabinet, checking often to make sure you are writing the correct measurement down by the number it should correspond with.

6. Take your measurements, and purchase your cabinet doors and hardware. (See Tips Section for more information.)

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that if you are going to be hanging two doors in the same cabinet space, you will need to allow for that. Once you have determined the width, add 1” to both the height and width, divide by two, and subtract 1/16”.
• You might also want to stick a small piece of removable tape or a removable sticker with the corresponding number on the cabinet frame.
• A school-age child, who knows how to write fractions, can be a great help when writing down the measurements. This will not only make the child feel like he or she is helping, but it will save you from having to put down the tape measure, pick up the pencil, write the measurement, and repeat.
• Some sources suggest rounding up to nearest 1/32” of an inch. I recommend 1/8”, but if you feel comfortable with the 1/32” measurement, you may do that.
• There are several ways you can purchase cabinet doors now. You can custom-order them from a cabinet shop or cabinet maker, you can purchase them from a home improvement store, or you can even order and purchase your cabinet doors online. Just remember that if you order online, you are ordering from a picture, and sometimes they can look slightly different.
• You may be asking yourself why you should have a numbering system for your cabinet doors. This is why: You may have a very good memory when it comes to details, but this is one time you should NOT rely on it. Even cabinets that are right next to each other may vary enough so that a wrong measurement could result in you purchasing cabinet doors that won’t fit in the space they are intended to go. So, WRITE IT DOWN!
• Be careful when standing on the stepladder. You will be reaching up and out to the sides, and you could become overbalanced.
• If you are ordering online, make sure you don’t transpose numbers when entering them onto the form.

Resources

• Measuring Tips
• A How-To Measuring Guide