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Many people want to know how thick are cabinet doors, but the answer to that question may not be as easy as you think. While a door of one inch is considered a standard size, it’s best to keep in mind that they have a limited amount of depth. Instead, choose doors that are one-third or even half an inch thick. Then, use the thickness guide below to find out what the right choice is for your cabinet.
3/4 inch
Standard cabinet doors are usually 3/4 inch thick, which makes sense for a sturdy and stable product. The cabinet box supports the door and hinges full-length, and 3/4″ thick doors are more rigid. Many door styles can also be made of 7/8″ thick material. However, the benefits of 3/4″ thick cabinet doors outweigh the cost. Let’s examine how they benefit your cabinets. Here are a few things to consider before buying new cabinet doors.
Regardless of the style of your cabinets, 3/4-inch-thick cabinet doors offer a substantial amount of insulation. The thickness is sufficient for most uses, but they are still a little more difficult to install than their thinner counterparts. Inset doors generally leave a 1/4-inch-thick gap between the door and cabinet opening. The space in-between the face and cabinet are known as the “reveal.”
Some manufacturers may cut corners on quality by using cheaper lumber. This makes it difficult to tell if the wood used is inferior to high-quality lumber. Because cabinet doors all use the same wood, they can’t be compared to superior woods. Oftentimes, the low-quality woods are more visible than high-quality woods, and their colors will be inconsistent and prone to mineral streaks. On the other hand, top-quality wood will be uniform in color.
When installing cabinet doors, be sure to consider the hinges. One way to guarantee a good hinge is to use a standard blade that is 1/8 inch thick. If you use a thin-kerf blade, you can also choose a special hinge that has a narrower groove, but is still aesthetically pleasing. If you’re concerned about uneven panels, then you should use plywood with a 1/4-inch kerf.
Overlay hinges are a good option if your cabinet doors overlap the frame. These hinges will allow full movement and conceal the hinge hardware when the cabinet door is closed. Overlay hinges are great if you want to store many items on one cabinet without compromising on the design. However, they are not for everyone, and if you have a very narrow cabinet, you might want to consider an overlay hinge. It will keep the doors from slipping around.
Overlay hinges will allow you to set the height and width of the door. When choosing overlay hinges, you should make sure that the door covers the entire cabinet box. You can also choose hinges that are half an inch taller than the face frame, which will reduce the risk of damaging the cabinet. Make sure you measure the hinges carefully when ordering replacements. In the US, you can choose from half-overlay and full-overlay hinges.
Standard door thickness is usually 3/4 inch or less, although you can find a slightly thicker option. It depends on how you plan to use your cabinet doors and the style of your home. In general, a 3/4 inch thick door will work for most cabinetry applications. A 7/8-inch thick door will look more regal and will give you more options for details. If you are using a frameless cabinet, you may want to opt for 3/4-inch door panels.
When selecting the thickness of your cabinet doors, you should also consider the type of plywood you will use. The thickness of the plywood will determine the thickness of many cabinet parts. European-style hinges will work better on 3/4-inch plywood, as the thicker material is more accommodating. It will also hold screws better, and you’ll be able to use a larger number of different joinery options. However, if you want to install face-frame cabinets, you should use 3/4-inch-thick plywood.
In addition to the thickness of the door, you should consider the type of hinge used. There are concealed and semi-concealed hinges. While they look the same when they’re closed, semi-concealed hinges are partially visible. Some hinges include decorative details, such as a ball tip or finial tip. Read our Hinge Glossary for more information on hinges. You can find your hinges in your local home improvement store or online.
1/2 inch
You’ll probably see a lot of “1/2” overlay on cabinet doors, but what does it mean? The term half overlay means that the door covers half of the cabinet box’s wall space, leaving two inches of framing exposed between the cabinet doors and the face frames. But there’s one other term that’s very similar to the term half overlay: “half overlay.” It refers to the center of a run of cabinets, or a run with a common partition wall. If you’re unsure, it will be indicated with a quotation mark and an “in.” abbreviation.
The first step in building a hinged cabinet door is to cut a hole in the door’s face frame. You’ll want to use a 35-millimeter Forstner bit to drill the hole, which must match the intersecting lines on the face frame of the cabinet. To make sure the hinge cup is perfectly lined up, use a rafter square to make sure it’s positioned exactly on the center of the face frame.
The next step in installing a new cabinet door is to determine the hinges. Hinges come in two basic types: inset and overlay. Inset doors are generally one eighth to one-quarter inch smaller than the cabinet opening, while overlay hinges require routing through the cabinet door. While both options offer advantages and disadvantages, they have little to do with door size. You’ll probably want to stick with concealed hinges if your budget is tight. They’re often called European hinges, and are the most common.
If you want to make sure your cabinet doors stay flat, you can buy 1/4-inch-thick plywood. This will ensure that your doors sit flat and straight, and you won’t have to worry about them not closing properly. This will also make sure that they fit properly. After that, it’s time to install the hinge. If you’re building a frameless overlay cabinet, you can select a frameless style door installation or a face-frame installation.
If you don’t want to use hinges, you can opt for one of the other methods. Half-inch cabinet doors come in many styles, including Raised Panel. This option utilizes raised panel inserts with a vertical grain. The raised panel door is also available with all frame styles. A side panel is a good choice for the rear door. You can also use an insert instead of the panel. In either case, you should choose one with the correct height.
When choosing the thickness of your door panels, remember that the door panels should be at least a half-inch thick. Unless you’re building an entire cabinet, it’s a good idea to use 1/2-inch-thick plywood for the front and back panels. A full-inch-thick plywood door can be expensive, so high-quality doors are more affordable. You can also find cabinets with 3/4-inch-thick doors on the high street.
Another way to choose the right hinges is to consider the degree of opening. You can buy hinges that let the door open beyond 90 degrees, while others allow it to swing back against the side of the cabinet. 270-degree hinges work on frameless cabinets with full overlay doors. Another option is the soft-close hinge, which helps the door close smoothly, with no additional hardware. However, there are a few things to consider before making the final decision.
If you’re installing half-inch-thick doors in your kitchen, you’ll need to consider the width of the cabinet opening. Inset doors are the best choice if you’re looking for a transitional or traditional style. Overlay doors will cover most of the face frame, while partial overlay doors will only cover the front portion of the cabinet. If you’re looking for cabinet doors with a wider depth, consider using full-inset doors.
The thickness of your plywood determines the stability and durability of your cabinets. If you’re installing European-style hinges, 3/4-inch plywood will provide more room for them. It will also hold screws better and give you more options in joinery. When it comes to plywood thickness, most cabinet builders will recommend 3/4-inch thickness for cabinets, but you’ll have to decide on your own preference. And what’s more, the thickness of your cabinets will affect the final design of the project.
