How to Adjust Soft Close Hinges

Co-authored by Eric Shipe and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 18, 2021

Soft close door hinges are a common mechanism used in a variety of cabinets. As the name suggests, the purpose of these hinges is to close doors more delicately. Since cabinets come in all shapes and sizes, you might need to adjust their hinges so that their doors close properly. Smaller doors only need a light hinge setting, which medium and heavy doors need moderate and stronger settings, respectively. Get the most out of your cabinets and hinged doors by making sure your hinges are in top condition!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Examining the Door

1
Check to see if you have overlay or inset cabinets. Take a closer look at the top of your cabinet doors to see what style they are.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.} See if your doors fit exactly into the space carved out for your cabinet doors—if this is the case, then they’re inset. If your cabinet doors cover the cabinet space instead of fitting into it, then they’re overlay.^{[2]
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Research source}
- While there isn’t a monumental difference between these two styles, your hinges might be positioned a bit differently depending on the type of cabinet you have.
2
Use a screwdriver to straighten out any crooked doors. Take a step back and look at your cabinet or cupboard doors to see if they’re straight. If one or both of the cabinet doors isn’t aligned, use a Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screws and make the doors parallel to one another.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.} If the cabinet doors still aren’t lined up, consider unscrewing and reattaching them.^{[4]
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Research source}
- If the doors aren’t properly aligned, then they won’t close correctly. This will make it difficult to adjust the hinge settings later on.
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3
Close the hinged door all of the way. Shut the door so that the inner cabinet or cupboard is completely concealed. Take a moment to focus on the soft close hinge and find the adjustment tab. Look for gray or silver plunger in the center of the hinge. To confirm that it’s the adjustment tab, try pulling on it with the tip of your finger.
- Depending on the model of your hinge, this tab might look a little different. For instance, some hinges sport a movable adjustment lever instead.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Modifying the Hinge

1
Set the adjustment hinge to a lighter setting if you have smaller cabinet doors. Push the adjustment lever or tab in so that it stays retracted. If you have a lever mechanism, make sure that it’s facing the side wall of the cabinet.^{[6]
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Research source} In the case of an adjustment tab, make sure that the mechanism is pushed in all the way.
- If your hinge model has an adjustment tab, there should be a large gap between the tab and the hinge itself. This gap should be at least 0.5 centimetres (0.20 in) wide.
2
Opt for a medium hinge setting if you’re adjusting a regular cabinet door. Turn the adjustment lever clockwise so that it faces the cabinet ceiling. ^{[7]
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Research source} If your hinge has an adjustment tab instead, use your fingers to pull the tab forward a moderate amount. Aim for there to be a 10 millimetres (0.39 in) gap between the tab and the actual hinge.
- The vast majority of hinged doors will be using this setting.^{[8]
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- Note that this is the factory setting for most cabinets with adjustment levers.
3
Adjust bigger doors so that they have the strongest hinge setting. Rotate the adjustment lever clockwise by 90 degrees until it’s facing the inside of the cabinet.^{[9]
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Research source} In the case of other hinge models, use your fingers to pull the adjustment tab as far as it can go. At this point, check to see that there are only 5 millimetres (0.20 in) separating the end of the tab of the edge of the clasping mechanism on the hinge.
4
Open and close the cabinet doors to test them out. Test out each cabinet door to make sure that the soft close hinges are at the proper setting. If the door closes too quickly, try tightening the adjustment mechanism so that the hinge carries more weight. Tinker with each cabinet door until you’re content with the hinge settings.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you adjust soft close cabinet hinges that won't close?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Use a Philips screwdriver for slight adjustments. Tighten or loosen the screws until the alignment is correct and the door closes correctly. If this doesn't work, you might need to remove and reinstall the door.
Question

How do you adjust the tension on a soft close hinge?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Look for an adjustment tab on the hinge and adjust the setting. Locate the adjustment tab, which could be a plunger. Use it to adjust the hinge setting based on your cabinet door size. In general, the gap between the hinge and the tab determines the setting; for example, a large gap means a lighter setting, while a small gap means a stronger setting. Keep in mind that some hinges might have an adjustment lever instead of a tab. If this is the case for you, rotate the lever clockwise until you reach the setting of your choice.