To adjust wardrobe hinges, use the adjustment screws on the hinge to move the door up and down, left and right, or in and out until it sits correctly. Most modern wardrobes use concealed European hinges, which usually have three adjustment points for accurate door alignment.
You only need a Phillips/Pozidriv screwdriver and around 10–30 minutes depending on how many doors need adjustment.
Tools Required
Before starting, prepare:
Phillips or Pozidriv screwdriver (usually PH2 size)
Spirit level (optional but useful)
Measuring tape (optional)
Soft cloth to protect the wardrobe surface
Using the correct screwdriver size prevents damage to the screw head during adjustment.
1. Check What Needs Adjustment
First, close the wardrobe door and check the problem.
Common Issues:
| Problem | Adjustment Needed |
|---|---|
| Door is higher or lower than the other door | Height adjustment |
| Uneven gap between doors | Side-to-side adjustment |
| Door sticks out or sits too deep | Depth adjustment |
| Door does not close properly | Check hinge tightness and alignment |
Most wardrobe hinge problems are caused by small movements over time from regular opening and closing.
2. Adjust the Wardrobe Door Height (Up and Down)
If the wardrobe door is sitting too low, too high, or the top edges do not line up, adjust the height screws.
Procedure:
- Open the wardrobe door.
- Find the screws where the hinge mounting plate attaches to the wardrobe side panel.
- Slightly loosen these screws by about ½ to 1 turn.
- Lift or lower the door into the correct position.
- Tighten the screws again.
Adjust both the top and bottom hinges equally to prevent the door from becoming tilted. Most concealed hinges allow around 2–3 mm vertical adjustment.
3. Adjust the Door Side-to-Side Position
If the gap between two wardrobe doors is uneven or one door touches the other, adjust the side position.
Procedure:
- Locate the side adjustment screw on the hinge arm.
- Turn the screw slowly:
- Clockwise moves the door in one direction.
- Anti-clockwise moves it back.
- Make small adjustments of around ¼ turn at a time.
- Close the door and check the gap.
- A small adjustment can move the door several millimetres, so avoid turning the screw too much at once.
4. Adjust the Wardrobe Door Depth (In and Out)
Depth adjustment controls how close the door sits against the wardrobe frame
Use this adjustment if:
The door sticks out from the wardrobe.
The door sits too far inside.
The door rubs against the frame when closing.
Procedure:
- Find the depth adjustment screw on the hinge arm.
- Turn it slowly to move the door:
- Closer to the wardrobe frame.
- Further away from the frame.
- Adjust both hinges evenly.
- Check that the door sits flush with the wardrobe surface.
A properly adjusted door should sit evenly with the wardrobe frame without rubbing.
5. Tighten Loose Hinge Screws
Before making fine adjustments, check that all hinge screws are tight.
Loose screws can cause:
Sagging doors
Uneven gaps
Doors that do not close properly
Tighten loose mounting screws carefully, but avoid overtightening because it can damage the screw holes, especially in MDF or particle board wardrobes.
6. Check the Final Alignment
After Adjustments:
- Open and close the door several times.
- Check the gap around all edges.
- Make sure the door closes smoothly.
- Confirm that soft-close hinges work correctly if installed.
A good wardrobe door should have even gaps of around 2–3 mm between doors and surrounding panels for a clean appearance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adjusting Wardrobe Hinges
- Turning adjustment screws too far at once.
- Adjusting only one hinge when both need alignment.
- Forgetting to tighten mounting screws after adjustment.
- Using the wrong screwdriver size.
- Forcing the door instead of checking hinge alignment.
How to Adjust Wardrobes Doors Up and Down?
Wardrobe doors are adjusted up and down by loosening the hinge mounting screws, repositioning the door vertically, and tightening the screws once the correct height is achieved. Most modern concealed hinges allow vertical adjustment through the hinge plate, helping align uneven doors and correct gaps at the top or bottom.
Tools Required
- Phillips screwdriver (usually PH2 size)
- Spirit level (recommended)
- Measuring tape (optional)
Step-by-Step Vertical Adjustment
1. Check The Misalignment
Close the wardrobe doors and measure the difference between the door heights.
- Ideal top/bottom alignment difference: 0–1 mm
- Acceptable adjustment range: up to 3 mm
- If the door is lower by more than 5 mm, the hinge mounting position may need repositioning.
2. Locate The Vertical Adjustment Points
Open the wardrobe door and find the hinges.
On most concealed hinges:
- The two screws holding the hinge plate to the wardrobe side panel control the vertical movement.
- The single screw in the hinge arm usually controls the door depth (in/out).
- The other adjustment screw controls sideways movement (left/right).
3. Loosen The Hinge Mounting Screws
Using a Phillips screwdriver:
- Loosen both hinge plate screws by ½ to 1 full turn.
- Do not remove them completely.
- Keep the door supported while adjusting.
4. Move The Door Up or Down
Adjust the door position:
- To raise the door: lift the door upward by 1–3 mm and retighten.
- To lower the door: allow the door to slide downward by 1–3 mm.
For a standard wardrobe door:
- Top hinge movement controls the upper alignment.
- Bottom hinge movement helps keep the door square.
- Adjust all hinges together if the whole door needs to move vertically.
5. Tighten And Test
After positioning:
- Tighten each hinge screw firmly.
- Close the door.
- Check the gaps.
If the Door Drops Again
If the door moves down after adjustment:
- Tighten hinge screws to approximately 2–3 Nm torque (firm hand-tight using a screwdriver).
- Check if screw holes are damaged.
- Replace worn hinges if the hinge arm is bent or loose.
A heavy wardrobe door (above 20–25 kg) often requires three hinges to maintain alignment. Two hinges may allow the door to sag over time.
For best results, make adjustments in 1 mm increments rather than large movements, because concealed hinges have limited travel.
How To Adjust Wardrobe Doors By Bending?
Wardrobe doors can be adjusted by bending the hinge arm slightly to correct small alignment issues when standard screw adjustments are not enough. This method is mainly used with traditional concealed hinges to fine-tune the door position, but it must be done carefully because excessive bending can damage the hinge or affect how the door closes.
Before You Start
Check the cause of the problem:
- Door gap uneven from top to bottom: Door may be twisted or hinges may need bending adjustment.
- Door corner sticks out: Hinge arm may need slight bending.
- Door is bowed in the middle: The door panel itself is warped and bending is usually not recommended.
Tools Required
- Adjustable spanner or pliers
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level
- Protective cloth (to avoid marking hinges)
Method 1: Bending the Hinge Arm (Most Common)
For concealed European hinges:
1. Open the Wardrobe Door
Locate the hinge arm connecting the door cup to the cabinet mounting plate.
2. Identify The Direction Of Correction
- If the door edge is sticking out, the hinge arm needs to be bent slightly inward.
- If the door edge is sitting too far inside, the hinge arm can be bent slightly outward.
3. Apply Small Pressure
Using pliers or an adjustable spanner:
- Grip the metal hinge arm.
- Apply a small controlled bend of approximately 1–2 mm.
- Do not make sharp bends; adjust gradually.
A small bend at the hinge can move the door edge several millimetres because of the hinge leverage.
4. Test The Door
Close the door and check:
- Side gaps should be around 2–4 mm.
- Door faces should sit flush with neighbouring doors.
- Door corners should align within 1–2 mm.
Repeat the process if needed.
Method 2: Bending Hinges on Older Wardrobes
For older wardrobes with exposed metal hinges:
- Support the door weight.
- Loosen the hinge screws slightly.
- Use pliers to carefully adjust the hinge leaf angle.
- Tighten screws and test alignment.
Avoid bending the hinge repeatedly because the metal can fatigue and crack.
Important Limits
Do not bend:
- MDF, chipboard, or laminated wardrobe doors, they can crack or permanently deform.
- Hinges more than a few millimetres, replacement is usually better.
- Soft-close hinge mechanisms, bending can damage the internal damper.
Maximum Safe Adjustment:
- Hinge bending: 1–3 mm
- Door alignment correction: usually up to 5 mm
- Larger gaps usually require hinge replacement or repositioning.
For most modern wardrobes, use the hinge adjustment screws first. Bending should only be used for small corrections when the door remains misaligned after normal adjustments.
