You want to put nicer fronts on your IKEA cabinets. Then a worry creeps in. Will your new doors even work with the hinges you have? Do you need to buy some special part, or hire someone to drill holes?
It is a fair question. Hinges are the one spot where a door swap can go wrong. Here is the plain answer, plus what to check so your install goes smoothly.
Short answer: No. Custom doors made for IKEA Sektion come pre-bored for the same IKEA Sektion hinges your boxes already use, so you reuse your UTRUSTA hinges and clip the doors on. No special hardware needed.
What hinges do IKEA Sektion cabinets use?
IKEA Sektion cabinets use UTRUSTA hinges. These are soft-close, clip-on hinges built on the common European style. They pop onto a mounting plate inside the cabinet, and the door lifts off and on without tools.
The door side of the hinge sits in a round 35 mm cup. That cup is drilled into the back of the door in a set spot. Get that hole in the right place and the door lines up. That is the whole trick.
So where does "special" come from?
The special part is never the hinge. It is the boring, meaning the holes drilled for the hinge cup.
A raw door with no holes will not fit your boxes until someone drills those 35 mm cups in the correct pattern. That is the step people fear, and it is why a plain door from a big-box store can turn into a project.
Doors built for Sektion skip that problem. They arrive drilled to match the UTRUSTA pattern, so you use your existing hinges and clip on.
| Door type | Hinges | Drilling needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Custom door made for Sektion | Reuse your UTRUSTA hinges | No, pre-bored |
| Generic door, not bored | Standard clip-on hinge | Yes, drill 35 mm cups |
| Original IKEA door | UTRUSTA hinges | No, came bored |
How many hinges per door?
Taller and heavier doors need more hinges to hang straight and stop sagging. Exact counts vary by door size and weight, so treat this as a guide and follow the maker"s chart.
- Short doors, roughly up to 40 in tall, usually take 2 hinges.
- Mid-height doors often take 3 hinges.
- Tall pantry doors can take 4 or more.
If you are reusing your IKEA hinges, count what you have before ordering. If a door needs an extra hinge, UTRUSTA hinges are sold separately at IKEA.
Do you reuse your old hinges or buy new?
If your current UTRUSTA hinges still snap firmly and the soft-close works, reuse them. It saves money and they are matched to your boxes.
Buy new only if a hinge is bent, the damper feels weak, or you need extra hinges for a taller door. There is no benefit to swapping good hinges just because the doors are new.
The doubt most people have
What if the door does not line up once it is on? Almost every clip-on hinge has three adjustment screws. They move the door up and down, side to side, and in and out.
So small gaps are normal and easy to dial out with a screwdriver. You are not stuck with the first fit. A door that looks slightly off at first usually takes two minutes to level.
Want to see how the swap works step by step?
Our how-to pages walk through measuring, hinges, and install. See the guides at mykitch.ca.
FAQ
Do custom IKEA Sektion doors come with hinges?
Usually not. The doors come pre-drilled for hinges, and you reuse the UTRUSTA hinges already on your cabinets. If you need extra hinges, you buy those separately.
Can I use Blum hinges on IKEA Sektion?
IKEA UTRUSTA hinges are built on the same clip-on standard, so compatible clip-on hinges can work. The simplest path is to reuse your IKEA hinges, since the doors are bored to match them.
What size is the IKEA hinge hole?
The hinge cup sits in a 35 mm round hole drilled into the back of the door. Doors made for Sektion arrive with these holes already bored in the correct spot.
Will my new doors line up with my cabinets?
Yes, after a small adjustment. Clip-on hinges have three screws that move the door up, down, sideways, and in or out, so you can level everything with a screwdriver.