Made to measure doors · Guide
How to measure for replacement kitchen doors
Seven steps to measuring your doors, drawer fronts and hinge holes so the new doors fit first time. It takes about ten minutes in most kitchens, with a tape measure, a pencil and paper.
- You needA tape measure, pencil and paper
- TimeAbout 10 minutes
- UnitsMillimetres, height × width
- We checkEvery size before anything is made
Step by step
Measuring your kitchen doors
- Measure the door, not the cabinet
Measure each door and drawer front itself, edge to edge, in millimetres. Doors are a little smaller than the cabinet so they can open, which is why a 500mm cabinet usually has a 496mm or 497mm door.
- Height first, then width
Write each size as height × width, for example 715 × 496. Measure in two places; if they differ by a millimetre, use the larger.
- Measure every door and drawer front
Even the ones that look identical. Older kitchens, corner units and appliance doors are often a few millimetres different. Number them on a quick sketch of the kitchen as you go.
- Note the hinge side and positions
Open each door and note which side the hinges are on. Measure from the top and bottom edges of the door to the centre of each round hinge cup. Doors over 900mm high usually have three hinges; tall doors have four or more.
- Check the hinge cups
Most UK kitchens use concealed hinges in a 35mm cup hole. Bella doors are drilled with the cup centre 22.5mm in from the door edge, which suits most hinges; if yours are different, tell us.
- Add drawer fronts, panels and plinth
Measure drawer fronts the same way. Note any end panels, plinth (kickboard) lengths and cornice you want in the same colour.
- Price it or send it to us
Add the sizes to the door builder for an instant price, or send us the list with a photo of your kitchen. We check every size before anything is made.
Hinge positions are measured from the top and bottom edges of the door to the centre of each hinge cup.
Common sizes
Door sizes most UK kitchens use
If your doors measure one of these, they’re a standard size, which costs less than a size in between.
| Where | Usual door height | Usual widths |
|---|---|---|
| Base units (720mm high) | 715mm | 296, 396, 446, 496, 596mm |
| Wall units (720mm high) | 715mm | 296, 396, 446, 496, 596mm |
| Tall wall units (900mm high) | 895mm | 296, 396, 496, 596mm |
| Pan drawers | 283mm or 355mm | 496, 596mm and wider |
| Top drawers | 140mm or 175mm | 396–996mm |
| IKEA METOD base units | 797mm | 397, 597mm |
Sizes vary by maker and age of kitchen, so always measure your own doors.
Questions
Measuring for new doors: questions
Should I measure the door or the cabinet?
The door. Doors are slightly smaller than the cabinet so they open freely, and the gap varies between kitchens. If a door is missing, measure the cabinet, take 4mm off the width and 5mm off the height, and ask us to check.
What if my sizes are a millimetre or two out?
That’s normal: use the larger figure. If you’re not sure, send us photos with the tape measure in shot and we’ll help.
How do I measure the hinge positions?
With the door open, measure from the top edge to the centre of the top hinge cup, and from the bottom edge to the centre of the bottom one. Most are about 100mm in.
Do you drill the hinge holes?
Yes, if you’d like. 35mm hinge cups are drilled with the centre 22.5mm in from the edge, at the positions you give us. You can order the doors undrilled instead.
Can I reuse my old hinges?
Usually, as long as they’re concealed hinges with a 35mm cup, which almost all UK and European kitchens use.
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