StandardRecommended
Base-cabinet doors should use 165° hinges for full access
NKBA 4th ed §4.1 Cabinetry & Casework PlanningDescription
Door swings with 165° hinges for base cabinets are preferred — they fold the door fully against the adjacent face, letting a seated user reach the cabinet interior. Sliding (bi-pass) doors should be used when the cabinet door swing would interfere with the safe operation of other fixtures or casework.
Why this exists
Standard 110° hinges leave the open door protruding into the user's reach area. 165° hinges flatten it out of the way — particularly important for accessible kitchens where the user works seated.
Categories
KitchenAccessibility
Source
NKBAno manifest entry
Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines with Support Spaces and Accessibility, 4th Edition (via 2023 Design Competition Guidelines summary) (4th ed (2022))
Section: 4.1 Cabinetry & Casework Planning
Published 2022-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-14
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Bathroom entry doorway · NKBA Bath 1
- Kitchen walkway and work-aisle widths · NKBA Kitchen 6
- Doorway clear width · NKBA Kitchen 1
- Door swing into work zones · NKBA Kitchen 2
- Distance between work zones · NKBA Kitchen 3
Last reviewed 2026-05-14.