Cabinet Door Reveal, Inset & Overlay Calculator
Calculate cabinet door dimensions, horizontal reveal gaps, and face frame overlays for inset or European full-overlay doors. Determine exact cut list widths and heights for single or double doors, accounting for hinge clearance margins, center reveals, and seasonal door expansion.
What Size Should Cabinet Doors Be Cut?
Cabinet door cut sizes depend on whether the installation is Inset or Overlay. For traditional inset doors, subtract a uniform 3/32″ (0.094″) or 1/8″ (0.125″) reveal gap from all perimeter edges; double inset doors require an additional center split reveal. For standard 1/2″ overlay doors on face frames, add 1.0 inch (0.5″ overlay per side) to the opening width and height, subtracting a 1/8″ center clearance gap between pairs.
Cabinet Door Reveal & Gap Sizer
Calculate finished door cut sizes, margin gaps, and center reveals across inset and overlay door configurations.
How to Measure and Fit Cabinet Doors Without Rubbing
Follow these four fabrication steps to guarantee consistent door margins across full kitchen runs:
Measure Openings for Square Across Diagonals
Never assume cabinet carcasses are dead square. Measure width and height at three points (top, middle, bottom), and verify cross-corner diagonal measurements. If an opening is out of square by more than 1/16″, size inset doors 1/16″ proud and hand-plane to fit.
Establish Perimeter and Center Reveal Tolerances
For high-end inset cabinetry, 3/32″ (0.094″) is the gold standard for crisp lines. For homes with significant seasonal humidity swings, use 1/8″ (0.125″) reveals to prevent seasonal wood binding in high-moisture summer months.
Verify Hinge Bore Distances (TAB / K-Value)
European 35mm concealed cup hinges specify an edge boring distance (TAB / K dimension, typically 3mm to 6mm from door edge). On inset doors, boring too close or too far from the edge will push the door outward, causing the hinge-side edge to bind against the face frame.
Use Spacers and 3-Way Hinge Screws for Final Alignment
Hang inset doors using 3/32″ plastic shim spacers taped to the bottom rail. Once hung, adjust the 3-way cam screws on your European hinge mounting plates (lateral, vertical, and depth) to fine-tune reveal lines perfectly parallel.
Comparing Inset, Full Overlay, and Partial Overlay Construction
The chosen door mounting method dictates both the visual impact of your cabinetry and the strictness of fabrication tolerances. While overlays hide imperfect face frame openings, inset doors put the woodworker’s precision on full display.
Traditional Inset
The door sits fully inside the face frame opening, flush with the frame face. It demands the tightest tolerances (typically 3/32″ perimeter margins) and leaves the entire face frame visible as a primary design element.
Full Overlay (Frameless / Euro)
Doors completely cover the front carcase edges, leaving only a tiny 1/16″ to 1/8″ gap between adjacent doors and drawer fronts. This modern aesthetic maximizes interior cabinet opening access and hides box edges.
Partial / Half Overlay (1/2″)
The classic American face frame standard. Doors overlap the opening by 1/2″ on all sides, leaving approximately 1″ of visible face frame stile and rail between openings. This style offers the most forgiving build tolerances.