Replacing your cupboard doors is one of the most cost effective ways to transform a kitchen, bedroom or living room. Because every door we make is built to the millimetre, the measurements you send us are the measurements we work to. Getting them right first time means your new doors arrive ready to fit, with no surprises.
This guide walks you through measuring for replacement kitchen cupboard doors, wardrobe doors, drawer fronts and alcove cupboard doors. It takes around ten minutes per room, and all you need is a tape measure.
As we always say in the workshop: you can take a bit off, but you can’t add it back on.
What you’ll need
- A steel tape measure (a fabric tape can stretch)
- A pencil and paper, or the notes app on your phone
- A spirit level or set square (useful for alcoves and older homes)
- A second pair of hands for tall wardrobe doors
Always measure and write everything down in millimetres (mm). For example, 715mm rather than 71.5cm or 28 inches. It avoids rounding errors and it is how we build every door.
First, check: are your doors overlay or inset?
This is the most important question, because it decides what you measure.
- Overlay doors sit on the front of the cupboard frame or carcass and cover the edges of the opening. Most modern kitchens and fitted wardrobes have overlay doors. If you close the door and can’t see the edge of the cupboard around it, it’s an overlay door.
- Inset doors sit inside the frame, flush with the front, with a small even gap all the way round. These are common in traditional and period kitchens, older pine kitchens, and built in alcove cupboards.
Not sure which you have? Take a photo of a closed door and an open door and send it to us. We’ll tell you.
How to measure overlay doors
If you’re replacing existing overlay doors, the easiest and most accurate method is to measure the old door itself, not the opening.
- Measure the width of the door across the top and across the bottom, from edge to edge.
- Measure the height of the door down the left side and down the right side.
- Check the two widths and two heights match. If they differ by more than a couple of millimetres, the door may have swollen or warped. Measure a neighbouring door of the same size to compare.
- Write down the size as width x height, for example 497mm x 715mm.
- Repeat for every door. Doors that look the same size often aren’t, especially in older kitchens.
No existing door to measure? Measure the opening (see the inset steps below), send us the sizes and tell us the doors are overlay. We’ll work out the correct door size with you.
How to measure inset doors
For inset doors, measure the opening in the frame, because the new door has to fit inside it.
- Measure the width of the opening at the top, the middle and the bottom.
- Measure the height of the opening on the left, in the middle and on the right.
- Use the smallest width and the smallest height. Openings are rarely perfectly square, and a door made to the largest size won’t close.
- Write down the opening size as width x height and note clearly that these are opening sizes for inset doors.
- Repeat for every opening.
We’ll confirm the finished door size, including the small gap needed around an inset door, before we make anything.
Measuring for replacement kitchen cupboard doors
- Pairs of doors: measure each door separately rather than measuring the pair and halving it. The gap between them matters.
- Corner units: note which way the door opens and whether it’s part of a bi-fold or L-shaped corner door. A quick photo helps.
- Tall larder units: measure as for wardrobe doors (below).
- Hinges: note whether your doors use concealed hinges (hidden inside the cupboard when closed) or traditional butt hinges (visible on the edge). Mention it when you order.
Measuring for replacement wardrobe doors
- Measure the existing door, or the opening between the side pillars, in the same way as above.
- Tall doors are more likely to have bowed, so measure the height on both sides and compare with the neighbouring door.
- Our maximum door height is normally 2000mm. For doors over 1200mm high, we recommend a thicker 27mm frame, which greatly reduces the risk of warping.
- Measure inside the architraves or trims, not over them.
Measuring for replacement drawer fronts
- Measure the existing drawer front, not the drawer box behind it.
- Measure the width across the top and bottom, and the height at each end.
- Note where the handle sits and whether you’d like it centred.
- Measure each drawer front separately. Stacked drawers are often different heights.
Measuring for alcove cupboard doors
Alcoves are where measuring matters most, because walls in older homes are rarely straight.
- Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom, and the height at the left, middle and right.
- Use a spirit level to check whether the alcove is out of square. If it is, tell us, and send the largest and smallest measurements.
- Note whether you want one door or a pair, and whether the doors will be fitted into a new frame or directly into the alcove.
- Photos of the alcove with a tape measure in shot are really helpful.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring in centimetres or inches, then converting. Stick to millimetres.
- Measuring one door and assuming the rest are the same.
- Measuring the opening for overlay doors, or the old door for inset doors.
- Using the largest measurement in an out of square opening.
- Measuring over architraves, trims or handles.
- Writing height x width on some doors and width x height on others. Always use width x height.
How to send us your measurements
A simple list like this is all we need:
| Location | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Quantity | Overlay or inset | Style |
| Kitchen, base unit left of oven | 497 | 715 | 2 | Overlay | Shaker |
| Kitchen, wall unit above sink | 297 | 715 | 1 | Overlay | Shaker |
| Bedroom wardrobe | 445 | 1800 | 2 | Overlay | Raised and fielded |
| Kitchen drawer fronts | 497 | 140 | 3 | Overlay | Shaker |
Add any notes on hinges, handles or finish, plus a photo or two, and send it to us by email or through our contact page. We’ll check everything and confirm your quote in writing before your doors are made. See how to order for the full process.
Frequently asked questions
What if I get a measurement wrong?
We make every door to the sizes you give us, so please double check before ordering. A door that’s slightly too big can usually be trimmed, but one that’s too small can’t be made bigger, so if in doubt, round down rather than up. Doors remade because of incorrect measurements will be charged again.
Can you measure for me?
We supply doors across the UK, so we ask customers to measure themselves. If you’re unsure at any point, call us and we’ll talk you through it.
Can I just replace the doors and keep my kitchen units?
Yes. As long as your carcasses are in good condition, new doors and drawer fronts will give the room a completely fresh look for a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen.
Do the doors come finished?
All our doors are supplied sanded and ready for you to paint, stain or wax.
How long does an order take?
Every door is made to order in our Cheshire workshop. We’ll confirm a lead time when we send your quote.
Ready to order?
Once you have your measurements, send them over for a free, no obligation quote. Our pine kitchen cupboard doors,wardrobe doors,drawer fronts and alcove cupboard doors start from £41 per door, handmade in solid pine and delivered across the UK.
Call 07979 854600, or get a free quote online.