Enter cabinet opening dimensions, overlay style, and door count to instantly get exact cut sizes, hinge count per door, total hinges to order, and a ready-to-cut project list.
Free Tool · Cut Dimensions · Overlay · Inset · Hinge Count · Cut List
Cabinet Style & Overlay
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Face-frame cabinets are standard in U.S. kitchens. Frameless (European) cabinets have no front frame — the door mounts directly to the box side.
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Partial overlay (1/2 in) is the most common U.S. style. Inset requires the most precision. Frameless full overlay covers the cabinet box with only 1/8 in showing at edges.
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For replacement doors, match the existing overlay exactly. Changing overlay requires matching hinge type.
ininches per side
Cabinet Openings
Measure the inside opening of each cabinet — width from left to right edge, height from top to bottom edge. Measure to the nearest 1/16 in. Leave unused openings at 0.
Results
Total Doors to Cut
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across all openings
Total Hinges Needed
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order this many
Overlay Style
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applied to all openings
Hinge Type
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concealed cup hinge
Hinge Note
Cut List
Opening
Doors
Cut W
Cut H
Hinges
Settings Summary
Settings Applied
Cabinet type
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Door style
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Overlay per side
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Center gap (double doors)
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Inset clearance per side
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Totals
Total openings entered
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Total doors to cut
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Total hinges to order
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Hinge type required
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How Cabinet Door Sizes Are Calculated
Cabinet door sizing is driven by one key decision: overlay style. For overlay doors, you add the overlay amount to the opening; for inset doors, you subtract a clearance gap. The formula changes slightly for double (split) doors because two doors share one opening and need a 1/8 in gap between them to prevent binding. Always measure the inside of the opening — not the face frame width — and measure to the nearest 1/16 in.
1 Single Overlay
Add the overlay to all four sides of the opening. Standard 1/2 in overlay adds 1 in to both width and height. The door extends past the opening onto the face frame on all sides.
Two doors share one opening. Width is calculated for both together, then split in half. Subtract 1/8 in for the center gap between doors so they don't bind when humidity causes expansion.
Each door width =
(Opening W + (overlay × 2)
− 1/8″) ÷ 2
Height = same as single
Example: 24″ wide, 1/2 in overlay
= (24 + 1 − 0.125) ÷ 2
= 24.875 ÷ 2
= 12-7/16″ per door
3 Inset Doors
Inset doors sit flush inside the opening. Subtract 1/8 in from all four sides (1/4 in total from width and height) to create a 1/16 in reveal on every edge for clearance and wood movement.
Width = Opening W − 1/4″
Height = Opening H − 1/4″
(1/8″ clearance each side)
Example: 12″ × 30″ opening →
Width = 11-3/4″
Height = 29-3/4″
Double inset: subtract
extra 1/8″ for center gap
4 Hinge Count
Use the door's cut height (after overlay is added) to determine hinge count. Standard rule: 2 hinges up to 40 in, 3 hinges 40–60 in, 4 hinges 60–80 in, 5 hinges above 80 in.
Door height ≤ 40″ → 2 hinges
Door height 40–60″ → 3 hinges
Door height 60–80″ → 4 hinges
Door height > 80″ → 5 hinges
Hinge type matches overlay:
1/2 in overlay → 1/2 in hinge
1-1/4 in overlay → 1-1/4 in
Inset → inset cup hinge
Measure Twice, Cut Once — and Check Your Hinges
The most common DIY cabinet mistake is ordering hinges that don't match the overlay. A 1/2 in overlay door needs a 1/2 in concealed cup hinge — using a 1-1/4 in hinge on a 1/2 in overlay door will leave a visible gap. For replacement doors, measure the existing door from back edge to back edge. For double doors, verify the center gap is 1/8 in — too tight and the doors bind in summer; too wide looks sloppy. Pre-drill 35mm cup holes in doors before mounting (standard: 3–5mm from the door edge).
Example Calculations — 3 Real-World Projects
🟢 Kitchen Upper Cabinet
Single door, partial overlay, face-frame
Cabinet type: Face-frame
Style: Partial overlay
Overlay: 1/2 in per side
Opening: 14″ W × 30″ H
Doors: 1 (single door)
Cut size: 15″ × 31″ Hinges: 2 × 1/2 in concealed
Width 14 + (0.5 × 2) = 15 in. Height 30 + (0.5 × 2) = 31 in. Door height 31 in is under 40 in threshold → 2 hinges. Use 1/2 in overlay concealed cup hinges (35mm bore).
🟡 Base Cabinet — Double Door
Double doors, partial overlay, face-frame
Cabinet type: Face-frame
Style: Partial overlay
Overlay: 1/2 in per side
Opening: 30″ W × 24″ H
Doors: 2 (split/double)
Each door: 15-7/16″ × 25″ Hinges: 4 total (2 per door)
Width = (30 + 1 − 0.125) ÷ 2 = 15.4375 = 15-7/16 in. Each door is 25 in tall (under 40 in) → 2 hinges per door = 4 total. Use 1/2 in overlay hinges on both doors.
🔴 Tall Pantry — Inset
Single door, inset style, face-frame
Cabinet type: Face-frame
Style: Inset (flush)
Clearance: 1/8 in per side
Opening: 18″ W × 72″ H
Doors: 1 (single door)
Cut size: 17-3/4″ × 71-3/4″ Hinges: 4 inset cup hinges
Width = 18 − 0.25 = 17.75 = 17-3/4 in. Height = 72 − 0.25 = 71.75 = 71-3/4 in. Door height falls in 60–80 in range → 4 hinges. Use inset-style cup hinges (not overlay hinges).
Cabinet Door Overlay Styles — Quick Reference
Door Style
Formula (Single)
Formula (Double)
Hinge Type
Best For
Partial OverlayMost Common
Open + (1/2″ × 2)
(Open + 1″ − 1/8″) ÷ 2
1/2″ concealed overlay
Traditional U.S. kitchens
Full Overlay (face-frame)Modern
Open + (1-1/4″ × 2)
(Open + 2.5″ − 1/8″) ÷ 2
1-1/4″ concealed overlay
Seamless look, wide frame
Frameless Full Overlay
Box W − 1/4″
(Box W − 1/4″ − 1/8″) ÷ 2
Full-overlay clip hinge
European-style boxes
InsetPrecision
Open − 1/4″
(Open − 1/4″ − 1/8″) ÷ 2
Inset cup hinge
Shaker, fine furniture
Partial Overlay
Add to opening+1″ (W & H)
Hinge type1/2″ concealed
Best forTraditional kitchen
Inset
Subtract from opening−1/4″ (W & H)
Hinge typeInset cup hinge
Best forShaker, fine furniture
Frameless Full
FormulaBox W/H − 1/4″
Hinge typeFull-overlay clip
Best forEuropean-style
Frequently Asked Questions
Overlay is the amount the door extends past the cabinet opening onto the face frame. To measure your existing overlay, open the cabinet door and measure from the edge of the opening to the edge of the door — that measurement is your overlay. Standard partial overlay is 1/2 in per side (the most common U.S. residential overlay). If you're replacing existing doors, match the current overlay exactly — changing overlay also requires changing hinges to a matching specification.
Wood and MDF expand slightly with humidity changes. Without a center gap, two doors sized too close together will press against each other and bind, eventually warping the doors or stripping hinge screws. The standard gap is 1/8 in between double doors. For painted MDF or solid wood doors in humid climates, some cabinetmakers prefer a 3/16 in gap as added insurance.
Face-frame cabinets have a solid wood frame (typically 1-1/2 in wide) attached to the front of the plywood box. The door overlays or insets into this frame, and hinges mount to the frame. This is the dominant cabinet construction style in the U.S. Frameless cabinets have no front frame — the plywood box sides are exposed at the front and edge-banded. The door covers most of the box front with only about 1/8 in visible at each edge. Hinges for frameless cabinets mount directly to the interior side of the box.
Cabinet door dimensions are always expressed in 1/16 in increments. To convert a decimal to a fraction: multiply the decimal portion by 16 to get the numerator over 16, then simplify. For example, 0.4375 in = 0.4375 × 16 = 7, so 7/16 in. Common ones: 0.125 = 1/8, 0.25 = 1/4, 0.375 = 3/8, 0.5 = 1/2, 0.625 = 5/8, 0.75 = 3/4, 0.875 = 7/8. This calculator displays all results in fractions automatically.
Standard rule based on door cut height: up to 40 in needs 2 hinges, 40–60 in needs 3 hinges, 60–80 in needs 4 hinges, and over 80 in needs 5 hinges. For placement, put the top hinge 2–4 in from the top edge and the bottom hinge 2–4 in from the bottom. For 3 or more hinges, space the remaining hinges evenly between them. Always use the door's final cut height (after adding overlay) for this calculation.