How to Determine Cabinet Overlay

Kitchen cabinets can last for many years in most homes. However you may decide to replace the doors for a new look. In ordering new doors, one of the dimensions you will need to share with the cabinet maker is the overlay. A cabinet's overlay is the amount that the door overlaps the frame of the cabinet. This measurement is important not only for getting the right size door but for using the proper hinge.

Tape measure
Pencil
Paper
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Open the cabinet door, and identify the rough opening that is framed by the wood of the cabinet. The door rests against the wood frame, and the hinge is attached to it with screws.
- 2
  Measure the width of the rough opening using a tape measure. Round to the closest hash mark on the tape measure; the smallest hash marks are 1/16 inch apart. Record the measurement on a piece of paper with a pencil.
- 3
  Ascertain the width of the door using the same method as you used to measure the rough opening. Record that measurement on the paper.
- 4
  Subtract the rough opening's width from the door's width, and divide that number by 2 using a calculator. The result is the cabinet overlay.

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