Top Tips on How to Choose Cabinet Hinges

There are different hinge types to choose from, depending on your style preferences or the functionality you require for your door. Below are the most common options for you to consider.

• European Hinges
  
  European hinges are designed for frameless cabinets. They are characteristically concealed in the cabinet interior when the door is closed. Its versatile design lets it accommodate a wide range of door sizes and weights. The following are three common types of European-style hinges:
  
  
  1. Inset Hinge
     Also known as full-crank hinge, it has a bend in the hinge arm and is offset from the door's edge such that the door is flush with the cabinet's face.
  2. Partial Overlay Hinge
     This is also called half-crank hinge as its arm bends significantly less than the inset hinge. As its name implies, it is used primarily for partial overlay doors, which do not cover the cabinet's entire face.
  3. Full Overlay Hinges
     Used with full overlay doors — that is, tightly set doors with little to no gaps that expose the cabinet face — it has a straight arm that requires more offset than inset and partial overlay hinges.
     
     
• Surface Mount
  
  Unlike concealed European hinges, the surface mount hinge is mounted outside the door and is completely visible. As such, it usually has decorated mounting plates that add to the overall aesthetic of your cabinet.
  
  
• Butt Hinge
  
  The easy-to-install butt hinge consists of two mounting plates joined together in a barrel. The plates are mounted to the side of the cabinet and the door. This setup conceals the plates but leaves the barrel exposed.
  
  
• Flush Hinge
  
  Though similar to the butt hinge, this hinge's plates are level with each other, creating a slim profile that makes it suitable for completely flush doors. As with the butt hinge, the barrel of the flush hinge can be seen outside.
  
  
• Semi-concealed
  
  This hinge's name is derived from the fact that its door wing is concealed while the frame wing is exposed outside the cabinet. It is often used in face frame cabinets with overlay doors.
  
  
• Wrap Around
  
  Wrap around hinges are so-called for the parts that wrap around the frame's inside edge. It is similar to the semi-concealed type but with the advantage of additional support.
  
  
• Non-mortise Hinges
  
  These hinges are surface-mounted and do not require mortising during installation. It comes in different forms, most notable of which is the T-style hinge that features a vertical plate that mounts to the cabinet frame and a horizontal wing that attaches to the cabinet door's exterior.

Before choosing the most appropriate hinge for your installation, you should first consider the type of cabinet you are building. There are two classifications to consider: frameless and faceframe cabinets.

The latter are so-called for their frames which cover the cabinet's front edge and the overhangs of its opening, which the former lacks. The presence of face frames or lack thereof determines the type of hinge that will work best with your cabinet door.

Different door installation styles work with different hinges. The three common door designs that you should be familiar with are inset, partial overlay, and full overlay doors.

• Inset Doors
  
  Commonly found in European-style furniture, inset doors fit precisely in the cabinet opening and are usually flush with the front edge. This design calls for European and non-mortise hinges.
  
  
• Full Overlay Doors
  
  This door covers the entire cabinet's face; it has no significant gaps or seams that expose the front edge. It can accommodate concealed, semiconcealed, and wrap around hinges.
  
  
• Partial Overlay Doors
  
  This type is similar to full overlay doors, except that it is deliberately designed with gaps that show some of the face frame. In this case, the hinge determines the size of the gap.

The key to choosing the right hinge for your cabinet door is understanding the requirements of your cabinet design. Each design has quirks that present obstructions that your hinge needs to overcome. In most cases, it is the design of your cabinet project that determines your choice of hinge and not the other way around.

How many cabinet hinges do I need?

This mainly depends on your cabinet's height. A height of 40" (101.6 cm) or lower will require two hinges; between 40" and 60" (152.4 cm), you will need three; from 60" to 80" (203.2 cm), you will need four; and at 80" to 85" (215.9 cm), five hinges may be necessary.

How far apart should the hinges be?

For lightweight doors, the hinges should be about 5" (12.7 cm) from the top and bottom edges, between which any additional hinges are evenly spaced. Medium-weight and heavy doors will require the bottom hinge to be about 10" (25.4 cm) from the bottom edge.

Why do door hinges have to be recessed?

The hinges' recesses — better known as mortises — are needed to ensure there's no gap between the cabinet opening and the door when the door closes.