How to Adjust IKEA/Blum Door Hinges (And Why You Should!)

[@edgar9651]

It's time that IKEA puts links to your videos in all those manuals. Win/win. I wonder how my kitchen would look like without all your great videos if I would only have relied on the manuals... Thanks!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks 🙏 I will take it as a compliment.

[@geoffharrower2845]

Hey Lars Rannes, thanks to your great videos my 55 year old wife (who has very few practical skills) assembled seventeen cabinets, including an oven tower, all by herself. Just wonderful for her self esteem too.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

There you go. Nothing is impossible for a determinant woman ☺️

[@paulchevako]

Outstanding. I was going around and around. Everything I did made the gaps bigger. I am ready to take it on again, step by step. Thanks man.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks, Paul. Deep breath, and then back at it. I'm rooting for you 🤞

[@markie74656]

All of your videos are incredibly helpful and informative! Thank you very much for sharing your expertise with the rest of us so that we can have amazing looking cabinetry!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks Mark. I appreciate your feedback. 🙏

[@rz8104]

Very helpful videos! I especially appreciated, in your cabinet installations to learn the design of construction fastener to use when mounting the rails to the walls. I recommend your videos to friends who are thinking about renovations involving installing any kitchen on their own.The adjustment in this video sequence is spot on! Thank you!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks 🙏 I'm happy to hear that you find the videos helpful.

[@graceveenema4762]

Hmmm… when you were here, I should have asked you to straighten my Godmorgon mirror cabinets. Hinges look different. I was poised to follow instructions, but alas, nothing happened. Your instal of my pantry cabinets was terrific! Thanks again!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks, Grace.. You got this. Take on adjusting screw at a time and observe which direction is going 👍

[@MikeWakefield-d8t]

Thank you Lars, I'm installing my third Ikea Kitchen in 25 years and I wish I had seen your videos prior to starting-GREAT TIPS!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome, Mike 👍

[@vincentcousin5332]

Exactly what I need. Thank you so much 👍🏻

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I knew it, Vincent. That's why I made it 😄

[@Kikou17coucou]

You just saved my kitchen, thank you very much !

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I'm so glad! You just saved my day 🙏

[@prjroberts]

Thanks so much... Exactly the advice I was looking for. I also appreciate you giving an order of approach.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome 🤗

[@NOELTM]

I never really understood what each adjuster did - so I found it infuriating trying to get things right. Esp so for @09:42 as I was adjusting - or attempting to adjust - the hinge where the gap was. Instead of your advice about adjusting the other hinge. Thanks for all of this info - it all makes much more sense now.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Now you know 👍 Thank you for your comment.

[@JonnyBoy021]

Thank you so much. I lost a whole day trying to work out why my door was scraping the drawer beneath it. This is what the internet was invented for!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome. I am happy to hear that it was helpful.

[@edgar9651]

Thanks! I will need exactly this information in the next days. Great timing! I install my own kitchen and I will get a heavy countertop. Until now I thought I will level the cabinets and then wait until the countertop is installed (by someone else, with me standing and watching) and after that I will install the doors and drawers and adjust them. Is that a good order? Or should I install the doors and drawers before the countertop is installed and adjust them before? Or maybe install them first and adjust them after the countertop is installed? Thanks!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thank you for your comment and questions. I would say either way. If you wait until the counters are in, to install drawers and doors, you'll be sure that nothing is damaged during counter top installation. If timing allows, I would do that. When I install kitchens, I do everything before the counters are installed, but that's only from a logistical point of view.

[@edgar9651]

@@kitchensbyrannes Thanks. I watched many of your videos and you mentioned that you (normally) don't install the countertops, so it makes sense that you finish the job and then let the countertop people finish their job after you. Because I do it for myself, I am a little more flexible with my schedule. So, I will install the cabinets, wait for the countertop, and then install the fronts. Thanks.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Good plan, I would do that too if it was my kitchen 👍

[@earifin]

would you please share on how to adjust or fix drawers in greater details ? adjust to the left and right is the most notorious one. the large drawer, medium drawer etc...

[@kitchensbyrannes]

@@earifin thanks for your comment. However, it doesn't get more detailed as I explain it in the video. Patience and perseverance are key 👍

[@aitken1965]

Thanks again for a very convise, informative video!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear you found it informative!

[@philbios]

Hi Lars, fantastic video as usual, I have some pantry doors with three hinges, any ideas on the best approach?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks. Three hinges....huh? Amateur...I had four on one door today. Well, the best approach is always to step back and see what needs to be done. The starting point shouldn't be too far off; if it is, check that the cabinet is level. Next, pretend that the middle hinge has no say (even though it does). Start with vertical, then up and down, and then in/out.

[@philbios]

Thanks Lars, I was going down a similar track of thought, I was thinking of removing the middle hinge and installing it once the door was aligned. I know I'm the true amateur with only 3 hinges, I'll try to find another door with 4 :) Once again appreciate all your videos, you've helped turn my installation from average to superb!! Take care.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You as well. Enjoy your weekend. I'm glad that my videos added value to your project. On your next kitchen, make sure to include a 24" x 60" door so you can practice the four-hinge dilemma 😄

[@mr-jjt]

Great videos. If you go with dark doors and theyre adjusted correctly, you dont see any white with Ikea cabinets? The ones in the showroom showed white in the gaps and it really stood out. Was that due to bad adjusting (or none at all)?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks. The doors are about ⅛" (3 mm) less than the cabinet box in the width. With good adjustments, that is the minimum gap between them.

[@JacintheBarbeau-t6p]

Thank you for your video! I like the order you suggest. I'm still wondering, how do you work first on parallelity, without using horizontal or vertical gaps as reference?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're welcome. Oh, I certainly do. I use horizontal as well as vertical gaps as reference as it's the only thing I have. When that's in line, I adjust height and finally eliminate any clearance at the corners.

[@JacintheBarbeau-t6p]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. Makes sens! Getting back at it tomorrow morning.@@kitchensbyrannes

[@kitchensbyrannes]

@@JacintheBarbeau-t6p No problem 🙏 Keep up the good work 👍

[@NOELTM]

Hi there, I have a question, if Imay. I have an 80cm high Metod kitchen sink cabinet, which is 80cm high and an "80cm" high Bodbyn door, the actual height of the door is as per IKEA website 79.7cm high, which is the size I do have. When setting the height of the door, via the hinge adjustment that you have shown in the video, do i ... a) align the bottom of the door to the very bottom of the cabinet leaving 3mm clear at the top of the cabinet b) align the top of the door to the top of the cabinet - leaving 3mm exposed cabinet at the bottom c) somewhere in between a + b and if so what should it be? As I have a small row of these cabinets to do I wanted to get it right at the beginning! Thank you.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Hi there too 👋 I wouldn't worry about the height as you describe it. First, adjust the doors so they are parallel, and space between them equally distributed. Then ad just the height so they are all the same. You'll see that whether they are in top, middle or bottom position won't make a difference.

[@NOELTM]

@@kitchensbyrannes Thank you for clarifying - I guess that 3mm is the wiggle room for "external factors" 🙂

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You're very welcome 🤗

[@parasher212]

Have you installed "push to open" mechanism on 80cms bottom cabinets? This type of cabinet has metal bar on top and requires 2X40cms doors. This means the mechanism can not be installed on top and installing on the bottom does not look elegant. What would you suggest?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of those and on a base cabinet with double doors, even less. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6mwemZpmr6gesUsi=g9g9m_EvAu8Sv_jn If you don't want a real handle, how about this .... almost invisible? www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/billsbro-handle-white-20334314/

[@sandra9269]

Which hinge must we adjust to get the door up? The top hinge or the bottom one?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Both, or all three.

[@Gudis24]

But what about doors with three hinges? Im struggling, where to start. Do I need just hang on two hinges, and adjust them, and them put third? But then how can i adjust the middle one? Do you have any suggestions? 🤔

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yes, they are a bit more tricky. I leave the middle hinge attached nd if I do ½ a turn in any given direction on top or bottom hinge, I do ¼ on the middle in the same direction.

[@parasher212]

Is it OK to use use Besta for push to open mechanism instead of Utrusta for kitchen cabinets? I am fine with 95 degree swing instead 110 degrees swing offered by Utrusta

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I'm quite certain that the Bestå hinge cannot be used with the Sektion cabinets and doors. If you want to achieve a smaller opening angle than 110 degrees, you can get some non-Ikea plastic clips to restrain the opening angle (seen on Amazon). The Utrusta push opener can be used on Sektion cabinets too.

[@jennifercole6392]

Thanks!

[@jennifercole6392]

You’ve been such a help to us while we build our kitchen- thank you!!!!

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Thanks, Jennifer. I appreciate your support 🙏

[@keska01]

Do you have to losen the screws first ? I tried this with my compliment packs hinge but it wouldn’t be moving before I loosen the screws a bit

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Nope, the hinges you describe are different and not as easy to adjust.

[@keska01]

@@kitchensbyrannes I could tell… benn struggling 😩

[@kitchensbyrannes]

You got this 😄

[@sandra9269]

Hi Rannes, I just cannot turn the middle screw for the up/down adjustment in Utrusta door hinge! It won't move either way. Totally blocked. Any tips? (The other 2 screws, left-right and front-back, are working well..)

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Sometimes the up and down movement can be really hard. Try to turn the other two back to the initial position and start with the middle. Alternatively, unclip the hinge part sitting on the door, from the part sitting on the cabinet, and adjust the screw on the latter. It moves more easily when there's no load on it.

[@sandra9269]

@@kitchensbyrannes OK Thank you! Which hinge must we adjust to get the door up? The top hinge or the bottom one?

[@kitchensbyrannes]

For up an down direction, you adjust all hinges on a door in the same direction.

[@leahmay1011]

Hi what hinges needed for a flat flush pax wardrobe

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I don't know unfortunately. I never install PAX.

[@leahmay1011]

@@kitchensbyrannes normal cuboards with flush doors what do you use

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I use the hinges from Ikea, which are part of the Ikea kitchen system.

[@leahmay1011]

@@kitchensbyrannes hi mine catch the side panels when opening. Do you think the kitchen ones better

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I don't know if the kitchen hinges works with Pax. That'll be a question for Ikea.

[@TheEverton1978]

Some dont adjust enough

[@kitchensbyrannes]

Yes, and others too much. Adjusting doors is like creating art - you must know when to stop.

[@MarkBrown-jz4hs]

Didn't find this helpful. My problem is that the adjustment screws simply do not turn. Attempting to do so just strips the screw head. IKEA should have used hex head screws if they wanted to make them so tight.

[@kitchensbyrannes]

I'm sorry to hear that. Normally the screws turn quite easily but in the odd case, the door is so heavy that it makes it a bit more difficult. If you're having problems with all of them, it's not the hinges. Something else is the issue. Worn out screwdriver? Reusing hinges? Hard to say without more context.