CABINET FIT
Cabinet Door and Drawer Front Reveals
Work from a measured opening, put each reveal and center gap on its own line, and confirm the fit with test pieces before machining finished fronts.
SHORT ANSWER
The working rule
For an inset front, subtract the left, right, top, and bottom reveals from the measured opening; for paired doors, also subtract the center gap and divide the remainder. Overlay dimensions depend on the cabinet and hinge system, so verify the planned coverage with a test front.
Measure the opening and reference edges
Measure width and height at more than one location and record the smallest usable opening when building inset fronts. Check for racking, out-of-square corners, face-frame variations, and hardware clearance before converting a nominal cabinet size into a front size.
Choose a reference edge and label all four reveals separately. A single “gap” figure hides whether the top, bottom, or side clearance is intended to differ.
Calculate, then make a test front
For a 30 by 24 inch inset opening with 1/8-inch outside reveals and a 1/8-inch center gap, paired doors are (30 − 1/8 − 1/8 − 1/8) ÷ 2 = 14 13/16 inches wide, and 23 3/4 inches high. Preserve fractions until layout and test-fit.
Overlay is not simply negative reveal: hinge geometry, face-frame exposure, adjacent fronts, and mounting plates determine the working overlay. Use the selected hardware documentation and a scrap test front.
Allow for movement and adjustment
Solid-wood fronts move across grain; orient and size panels, frames, and fasteners accordingly. Do not machine a flush fit that leaves no room for seasonal movement, finish build, or hinge adjustment.
Install and adjust one representative front before batching matching parts. Recheck all reveals after drawers, pulls, catches, and adjacent doors are installed.
A practical workflow
- Measure each opening at multiple points and keep the controlling dimension.
- Write each outside reveal, center gap, overlay, and hardware constraint separately.
- Calculate blank dimensions and test the selected hinge or slide system with scrap.
- Fit one representative front before machining or finishing the full set.
Put the method to work
Primary references
- US Government Publishing OfficeUSDA Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
- BlumHinge and mounting-plate technical information
- HettichCabinet hardware technical information
Reference links were checked during the review shown above. Product instructions, regulations, and site conditions can change; verify the current material before acting.