Cabinet Door Calculator

Door size, overlay and a 5-piece cut list from one measurement

Project Details
Enter your measurements and requirements
Results
Calculated estimates for your project
Door width19"
Door height25"
Doors to build1
Hinges2 per door, 2 total
Pulls or knobs1

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 18" x 24" opening
  • 19.000" x 25.000" door size
  • 2 hinges
Materials List
Recommended materials and quantities
Stiles x 225" x 2-1/4"
Rails x 215-1/4" x 2-1/4"
Panels x 121-1/8" x 15-1/8"
Rail and stile stock (+15%)7.7 linear ft, 1.4 board ft (4/4)
Panel stock2.2 sq ft, 1 sheet(s) of 4 x 8 ply
panel19"25"
Partial (half) overlay door, drawn to scale

Kitchen door schedule

Add each opening size so the cut list, board feet, sheet count and hinge total cover the whole kitchen.

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Cabinet Hardware Calculator

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Project plan · built from your numbers

Shaker cabinet door, 19.000" x 25.000"

A overlay shaker door sized 19.000" x 25.000" for an 18" x 24" opening with a 0.5" overlay and 0.125" reveal, hung on 2 concealed hinges.

Materials
$102
Time
1 weekend
Level
Intermediate
8 steps 9 tools 7 materials
  1. 1

    Measure and confirm the opening

    Measure the opening in three places. Use the smallest numbers. Your door finishes at 19.000" x 25.000"; if the hinge you buy has a different overlay, recompute before cutting.

    • Measure width at top, middle, bottom
    • Confirm hinge overlay on the package
    • Write a cut list
  2. 2

    Mill stiles and rails

    Rip stock to 2-1/4 in. Cut 2 stiles at 25.000" and 2 rails at 15.250" (includes 3/8 in tongues on each end).

    • Rip 4 pieces to width
    • Cut stiles to door height
    • Cut rails with tongues allowance
  3. 3

    Cut the joinery

    Cut a 1/4 in wide, 3/8 in deep groove centered on the inside edge of every part, then cut matching tongues on the rail ends. Test on scrap first.

    • Groove all four parts
    • Tongue both rail ends
    • Dry fit a corner
01 · Your numbers
Opening
18" x 24"
Door size
19.000" x 25.000"
Hinges
2
Est. cost
$102
02 · The plan

8 steps · 9 tools · 7 materials

5 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

Your plan is 60% built. Save it.

3/5

Shaker cabinet door, 19.000" x 25.000"

Finished in 1 weekend · $102 DIY

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How to measure and size a cabinet door

  1. Measure the opening. Measure the face frame opening (or the box opening on frameless cabinets) at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest width and height.
  2. Pick the style and overlay. Decide on full overlay, partial overlay, inset or lipped doors. The overlay comes from the hinge you buy: 1/2 in is typical for partial overlay on face frames, 1-1/4 in for full overlay.
  3. Size the door. Overlay door = opening + 2 x overlay. Inset door = opening - 2 x the gap (usually 1/16 in). For a pair, take the total width, subtract the center gap and halve it.
  4. Write the cut list. Stiles are the door height. Rails = door width - 2 x stile width + 2 x tongue depth. Panel = rail length - 2 x panel clearance, by door height - 2 x rail width + 2 x groove depth - 2 x clearance.
  5. Cut, assemble and hang. Cut the stiles and rails, run the cope and stick or groove, size the panel, glue up square, then bore hinge cups 3 to 4 in from each end.

Cabinet door styles compared

StyleDoor sizeTypical overlayHingeLook
Full overlayOpening + 2 x overlay1-1/4 in (face frame), about 5/8 in (frameless)Full overlay concealedDoors nearly touch; little frame shows
Partial (half) overlayOpening + 2 x overlay1/2 inHalf overlay concealed or semi-concealedFrame shows between doors; most common in older kitchens
InsetOpening - 2 x gapNone (1/16 in gap)Inset concealed or butt hingesDoor sits flush in the frame; least forgiving
LippedOpening + 2 x lip overlap1/4 in past a 3/8 in rabbet3/8 in offset hingeClassic 1950s to 70s look

Worked example: a pair on a 30 x 30 in face frame

Partial overlay of 1/2 in, two doors with a 1/8 in center gap, 2-1/4 in stiles and rails, 3/8 in groove.

PartCountSize
Each door215-7/16" x 31"
Stiles431" x 2-1/4"
Rails411-11/16" x 2-1/4"
Panels227-1/8" x 11-9/16"
Hinges41/2 in overlay concealed

Standard cabinet door sizes

CabinetCommon door widthsCommon door heights
Base12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 in (pairs on 27 to 36 in boxes)About 24 to 25 in under a drawer
Wall12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 in30, 36 and 42 in
Tall / pantry15 to 24 inTwo doors stacked, or one up to 84 in with 4 hinges

Hinges go 3 to 4 in from the top and bottom, with a third over 40 in and a fourth over 60 in. A European hinge listed as "1/2 in overlay" covers exactly 1/2 in of frame, so that is the number to put in the calculator. For pleasing proportions on a tall door, check the golden ratio calculator; to lay out panels on plywood, use the plywood cut calculator; and for solid wood panels, size the clearance with the wood movement calculator. Then place the pulls with the cabinet hardware calculator and hang the boxes with the cabinet installation cheat sheet.

Cabinet door FAQ

What size cabinet door do I need for a 15 inch opening?

With a 1/2 in partial overlay hinge, 16 in wide (15 + 2 x 1/2). With 1-1/4 in full overlay, 17-1/2 in. For an inset door, 14-7/8 in, which leaves a 1/16 in gap each side.

How much bigger than the opening should a cabinet door be?

Twice the overlay in each direction. A 1/2 in overlay door is 1 in wider and 1 in taller than the opening. Do not also subtract a reveal; the gap between neighboring doors comes from how far apart the openings are.

How do I size two doors on one opening?

Work out the single-door width (opening + 2 x overlay), subtract the gap you want between the pair (1/8 in is common), and divide by two. A 30 in opening with 1/2 in overlay gives two doors of 15-7/16 in.

What is the gap between inset doors?

About 1/16 in all around, or 3/32 in for painted doors that will gain paint thickness. Between a pair of inset doors, 1/16 to 1/8 in.

How do I calculate rail and stile length?

Stiles run the full door height. Rails are the door width minus two stile widths, plus two tongue lengths (twice the groove depth) so they reach into the stiles. With 2-1/4 in stiles and a 3/8 in groove, a 19 in door has rails of 15-1/4 in.

What size panel does a Shaker door need?

Panel width = rail length minus 1/16 in clearance each side; panel height = door height minus two rail widths plus two groove depths, minus the same clearance. Leave room for solid wood panels to move across the grain.

How many hinges does a cabinet door need?

Two hinges up to about 40 in tall, three from 40 to 60 in, and four above 60 in. Set the top and bottom hinges 3 to 4 in from the ends.

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