How to Choose Gas Struts for Bathroom Cabinet and Mirror Doors
Do Bathroom Cabinet and Mirror Doors Need Gas Struts?
Gas struts aren’t essential on a bathroom cabinet, but they’re the standard fix for mirrored cabinet doors that swing shut on their own, sag over time, or need to stay open hands-free while you’re using both hands at the sink.
Bathroom cabinet doors are usually lighter than kitchen units, but the mirror glass and any built-in lighting adds weight the hinges weren’t necessarily specified for. A pair of small gas struts takes that weight off the hinges and gives you a controlled, soft-close action instead of a door that either won’t stay open or slams.
What Force Rating Suits a Bathroom Cabinet Door?
Most single-mirror bathroom cabinet doors need struts in the 20N-60N range, depending on door size and whether it’s glass-only or a mirrored door with an integrated light fitting.
- Small single-door cabinets (under 400mm wide): Typically 20N-40N is enough.
- Larger or double-mirror doors: 40N-60N, especially with LED strip lighting built into the mirror.
- Recessed cabinets with a heavier frame: Check the actual door weight rather than assuming — recessed units often use denser backing board.
If you’re not sure where to start, our gas spring force calculator converts door weight and pivot distance into a Newton rating, which is more reliable than guessing from door size alone.
Where Should the Strut Mount on a Cabinet Door?
Mount the strut as close to parallel with the door as the cabinet frame allows, with the fixed end low on the cabinet body and the moving end high on the door.
- Fix the cylinder end (the thicker barrel) to the cabinet carcass, not the door — this keeps the heavier end stationary.
- Fix the rod end (the thin extending shaft) to the door itself.
- Keep the mounting angle as close to the door’s own swing angle as the hinge and frame depth allow — an extreme angle changes the effective force delivered through the stroke.
The same mounting logic applies across furniture and cabinetry generally — see our broader guide on choosing gas springs for cabinet doors if you’re fitting more than one door type in the same bathroom or kitchen.
Bathroom-Specific Considerations
Humidity is the main factor that’s different about bathroom installs — untreated steel struts corrode faster in a bathroom than anywhere else in the house.
- Choose stainless steel or a corrosion-treated finish, not bare mild steel.
- Keep the strut clear of direct shower spray where possible — condensation alone is manageable, direct water contact shortens lifespan.
- If the cabinet also houses electrical fittings (shaver sockets, lit mirrors), route strut mounting so it doesn’t interfere with existing wiring runs.
Note: this article is published by Aritech Gas Springs. For a separate look at bathroom fixtures beyond struts and hinges, see our team’s write-up on mouthwash dispenser options, published independently on Medium.
