Guide
Cabinet Door Overlay Explained
Overlay is how far a cabinet door covers the cabinet frame on each side. Find yours by measuring a door and its opening: overlay per side = (door width - opening width) / 2.
Draft: this page is waiting for review by the nuDoors team.
What is cabinet door overlay?
Overlay is how much of the cabinet frame a closed door covers on each side. A door 1" wider than its opening has a 1/2" overlay on each side. It matters for two things: the size of the replacement door, and the hinge, because hinges are made for a given overlay.
How do I find my cabinet door overlay?
Measure the width of one door, then open it and measure the width of the opening it covers. Overlay per side = (door width - opening width) / 2. For example, a 16" door on a 15" opening has a 1/2" overlay. This is the same check nuGO asks you to do during an order.
Watch: How to measure your existing kitchen cabinet door overlay
What are the types of overlay?
| Type | What it looks like | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Partial (standard) overlay | The door covers part of the frame; some frame shows around each door | Face-frame cabinets, often a 1/2" overlay |
| Full overlay | Doors cover nearly all of the frame, with small gaps between doors | Frameless cabinets, and face-frame cabinets with full-overlay hinges |
| Inset | The door sits inside the opening, flush with the frame | Face-frame cabinets built for inset doors |
Watch: Face Frame vs. Frameless Cabinets
Can I change from partial to full overlay when I reface?
Often, yes, on face-frame cabinets: you order bigger doors and use hinges made for the new overlay. Check that neighbouring doors will not hit each other, and that doors next to a wall or appliance still open. Use the door size calculator to work out the new sizes from the openings.
Watch: How to measure for a full overlay door
Do I need new hinges?
If you keep the same overlay, your hinge type can stay the same, but new doors need hinges mounted for them. nuDoors can drill the hinge cups for you; drawer fronts do not take hinges. The hinge count calculator tells you how many you need.
Watch: How to Check What Size Your Cabinet Hinges Are
Sources
- nuDoors nuGO overlay check (overlay = (door width - opening width) / 2) and the Refacing Academy measuring videos.