How to Upgrade to Soft-Close Cabinets

Kitchens create a ton of noise, and you can turn down the volume a bit by installing soft-close cabinets. This simple technology slows the motion of a swinging cabinet door, which results in a smooth and quiet closing. Read the guide below to learn how to upgrade to soft-close cabinets, which tools you’ll need to complete the project, and how much money you’ll spend during installation.

Benefits of Soft-Close Cabinets

Investing in soft-close cabinet hinges and slides comes with several advantages, including the following:

• Extends the lifespan of your cabinet drawers and doors. 
• Improves your kitchen’s functionality
• Prevents pinched fingers
• Reduces noise 

Choosing the Right Soft-Close Hardware

There are many varieties of soft-close hinges and slides from which you can choose at your local hardware store. Consider how much your cabinet upgrade will cost, how easy certain hardware is to install, and how durable certain hardware is when making your choice. Consider the tips below for more direction:

Examining Existing Hinges

Take a close look at your current hinges, then proceed with the following steps:

• Identify the brand and model.
• Measure the overlay, which is the part of the hinge that’s visible when the door is closed.
• Note the number of mounting holes and their positions.

From a This Old House Project: When homeowner Amanda wanted to upgrade her existing cabinets to soft close, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva inspected her hinges and confirmed the swap could be straightforward. As he noted after examining her cabinets, “I went to the home center and I picked up a hinge that’s really close to the one you have. It has an inch and a quarter overlay.” The key takeaway: bring your existing hinge measurements—especially the overlay—to the store so you can find a close match.

Evaluating Drawer Slides

If you’re upgrading your drawers, examine your current slides, then proceed with the steps below.

• Determine whether they slides are partial- or full-extension.
• Figure out if they’re side-mount, center-mount, or undermount.
• Measure the length of the slides.

Consider Upgrading to Full Extension

While you’re swapping out drawer slides for soft-close versions, it’s worth upgrading from standard extension to full extension at the same time. Standard-extension slides only let you access about three-quarters of the drawer’s depth. As explained during a This Old House project, “Since we’re swapping out for soft close, we might as well swap them out for a full extension and you’ll be able to use the full draw.” Full-extension, soft-close slides give you complete access to the back of every drawer.

Tools and Materials Needed for Soft-Close Cabinets

Gather the tools and materials below before you start your project: 

Tools:

• Combination square
• Cordless drill/driver
• Drawer slides jig
• Screwdriver
• Self-centering drill bit

Materials:

• Drawer slides sockets
• Replacement cabinet pulls
• Soft-close drawer slides
• Soft-close hinges
• Wood screws

Soft-Close Hinges

Find soft-close hinge options that match your cabinet’s overlay and mounting style. 

Soft-Close Drawer Slides

Choose drawers that feature full-extension, ball-bearing slides with a soft-close feature. These are easy to operate and offer full access to drawer contents.

Installing Soft-Close Cabinet Hinges

Installing soft-close cabinet hinges is a straightforward project and perfect for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Follow the directions below.

Removing Existing Hinges

1. Unscrew the hinges that hold the cabinet doors to the frame.
2. Remove the doors one at a time, and keep track of which goes where.
3. Unscrew the old hinges from the cabinet doors. If they’re hard to remove, wiggle them a bit.

Installing New Soft-Close Hinges

1. Place the new hinges into the existing mortises on the cabinet doors.
2. If the screw holes don’t align, use a combination square to properly position the hinge.
3. Make new pilot holes for the screws with a self-centering drill bit. 
4. Use screws to secure the new hinges to the cabinet doors.
5. Reattach the doors to the cabinet frame.

Pro Tip: This Old House general contractor Tom Silva emphasizes the importance of pre-drilling: “It’s really important to pre-drill for the screw. They’ll actually hold better, less chance of breaking the screw and splitting the wood.”

Upgrading to Soft-Close Drawer Slides

It’s time to install your new soft-close slides. Read how to install these drawer features below. 

Removing Old Drawer Slides

1. Remove drawers from the cabinet, and note which goes where.
2. Unscrew and remove the old drawer slides from the cabinet and the drawers.

Installing New Soft-Close Slides

1. Separate the new slides starting with the cabinet-mounted section.
2. Use a drawer slide jig, which will position the slide correctly. 
3. Secure the rear socket of the slide to the back of the cabinet.
4. Attach the front of the slide to the cabinet face frame.
5. Repeat the process for both sides of each drawer opening.

Pro Tip: It’s tricky to keep the slides perfectly level inside the cabinet. Nathan Gilbert uses a drawer slide jig to hold everything in place during installation: the plastic socket screws to the rear of the cabinet to hold the slide, and then you screw into the face frame to secure the front of the slide. This ensures consistent, accurate placement every time.

Attaching Slides to Drawers

1. Position the drawer on the extended slides. Make sure it’s level and properly aligned.
2. Secure the slides to the drawer sides with screws.

Fine-Tuning Your Soft-Close Hardware

Once you’ve installed your new hinges and slides, test your hardware, and decide whether you need to make any adjustments. Follow the steps below if your hardware needs any fine-tuning:

Adjusting Cabinet Door Hinges

Modify your cabinet door hinges with the following types of adjustments:

• Depth adjustment to create a flush fit with the cabinet frame
• Horizontal adjustment to align the door with adjacent cabinets
• Vertical adjustment to achieve even gaps above and below the door

Calibrating Drawer Slides

Follow the steps below to make sure your drawers are just right. 

• Adjust the soft-close mechanism’s tension
• Make sure the drawer closes completely and smoothly
• Test that the drawer can open fully without obstruction

Soft-Close Cabinet Cost Considerations

Upgrading your cabinets and drawers with soft-close hardware is a simple project, but the costs can add up. Consider the budgeting strategies below to save yourself some money: 

• Install add-on dampers to existing hinges.
• Make gradual upgrades. Start with the cabinets and drawers you use most frequently, for example.
• Use soft-close adapters for drawer slides.

Pro Tip: Nathan, an Ask This Old House expert, notes that soft-close hardware has become more accessible over time: “Back in the day, soft close would have been a little bit more expensive of an option, but these look like pretty typical hinges and drawer slides. I think it could be a really easy swap.” For most homeowners with standard overlay hinges and drawer slides, the upgrade is straightforward and doesn’t require replacing entire cabinets.

Tools: