The BESTÅ system from IKEA is incredibly popular as a TV bench, sideboard, or storage cabinet. The sleek, modular design fits into almost any interior. But nothing detracts from that sleek design as much as doors that hang crookedly, rub against each other, or show gaps.
Fortunately, this is easy to fix. The included BESTÅ hinges (often with the built-in 'push to open' or soft-close function) are so-called 3D hinges. This means you can adjust them in three directions: up/down, left/right, and forwards/backwards.
Grab a Phillips screwdriver and follow these steps to perfectly align your BESTÅ doors again.
1. Adjusting the Door in Height (Up/Down)
If the left door hangs higher than the right door, or the doors scrape the bottom of the cabinet, you need to adjust them in height.
How do you do this?
- Open the door and look at the part of the hinge attached to the cabinet wall (the mounting plate).
- You will see two screws here (one above the other) that hold the plate to the cabinet.
- Loosen these two screws (on both the top and bottom hinge) just a tiny bit. Do not take them out, just loosen them a quarter turn.
- The door can now slide a few millimeters up or down as a whole.
- Hold the door at the correct height (possibly with a small wooden shim underneath) and tighten the screws firmly again.
2. Adjusting the Gap Between the Doors (Left/Right)
Do you have a large gap between two doors in the middle? Or do the doors bump into each other when you open them? Then you need to correct the lateral adjustment.
How do you do this?
- Look at the arm of the hinge (the part that sticks out).
- Near the door (at the end of the arm) is the first adjustment screw.
- Turn right: The door moves towards the side wall (the gap in the middle gets bigger).
- Turn left: The door moves away from the side wall, towards the middle (the gap in the middle gets smaller).
- Always do this in small steps on both the top and bottom hinge, until the gap between the doors is parallel and about 2-3 mm.
3. Adjusting the Depth of the Door (Forwards/Backwards)
Does the top of the door stick out further than the cabinet itself, while the bottom is flush? Or does the door not close completely against the cabinet on one side? Then you need to adjust the depth.
How do you do this?
- Look again at the arm of the hinge.
- Slightly further back (closer to the cabinet wall) is a second screw.
- Loosen this screw slightly (sometimes it's an adjustment screw you have to turn in/out yourself, depending on the exact generation of BESTÅ hinges).
- You can now physically pull the door a few millimeters towards you or push it away from you (towards the cabinet).
- Ensure the door is perfectly flush with the cabinet frame and tighten the screw again.
Troubleshooting: The Doors Remain Crooked
Have you tried all the screws, but the door stubbornly remains hanging diagonally? Then it's probably not the hinges, but the cabinet itself!
A cabinet must stand 100% level and square.
- If the floor is crooked, the cabinet leans to the left or right. The frame deforms into a diamond shape.
- Because of this, square doors can never fit straight in the opening again, no matter how well you adjust the hinges.
- The solution: Place a spirit level on the cabinet. Use the adjustable feet under the BESTÅ cabinet to make it exactly level. Often the gaps between the doors then resolve themselves like magic!
[!TIP] For BESTÅ doors with the push-to-open function, the little pin itself can also be turned in and out by twisting it. This way you determine how much play the door has before it clicks.
Overview of the 3 Adjustment Directions
| Adjustment direction | Which screw | Effect | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height (up/down) | 2 screws on mounting plate | Door slides up/down | Door scrapes or hangs higher/lower |
| Lateral (left/right) | Adjustment screw at end of arm | Door moves to side wall or middle | Gap between doors too big/small |
| Depth (front/back) | Adjustment screw closer to cabinet wall | Door sticks out or sits flush | Door protrudes or doesn't close flush |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does my BESTÅ door remain crooked, even after adjusting the hinges?
Then the problem is probably not the hinges, but the cabinet itself. A cabinet must stand 100% level and square. If the floor is crooked, the frame deforms into a diamond shape and the doors can never fit straight. Level the cabinet first with the adjustable feet.
How do I adjust the push-to-open function of my BESTÅ door?
For BESTÅ doors with push-to-open, you can turn the little pin itself in and out by twisting it. This way you determine how much play the door has before it clicks.
How large should the gap between two BESTÅ doors be?
The ideal gap between two doors is about 2 to 3 mm. Adjust the lateral adjustment in small steps on both the top and bottom hinge until the gap is parallel.
Need Some Help?
Adjusting cabinets can be frustrating precision work. A millimeter difference at the top can lead to a crooked gap at the bottom. Do you have a large BESTÅ wall setup or TV unit and want to be sure it is mounted dead straight, perfectly level on the wall AND that the doors are perfectly adjusted?
Then call in Montage Vandaag. We take away the frustration and assemble your IKEA cabinets quickly and professionally. Request your fixed price quote here.