Short answer: most modern kitchen and bathroom cabinets use concealed (European-style) hinges that sit in a 35 mm hole in the back of the door. They are sorted by how the door sits on the cabinet: full overlay, half overlay or inset. Older, vintage and specialty cabinets often use surface-mounted hinges such as butterfly, flag or decorative styles. To choose the right one, match the door style first, then the opening angle, closing action and finish.
Key takeaways
- Work out your door style (full overlay, half overlay or inset) before you buy any hinge.
- Concealed hinges are adjustable in three directions and hide when the door is closed.
- Soft-close hinges slow the door; self-closing hinges pull it shut but do not always cushion it.
- Stainless steel resists rust better than plain steel in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Concealed hinges need a 35 mm hole, so plan for a drill bit or hinge jig.
Cabinet hinge types at a glance
| Hinge type | Best for | How it mounts | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concealed (European) | Modern kitchen and bathroom cabinets | 35 mm cup in the door, plate on the cabinet | Adjustable in three directions |
| Soft-close concealed | Kitchens, bedrooms, quiet spaces | Same as concealed, with a built-in damper | Slows the last part of the swing |
| Self-closing overlay | Face-frame cabinets, wardrobes | Screws to the door and frame | Spring pulls the door shut |
| Surface-mounted (butterfly, flag) | Vintage cabinets, cupboards, boxes | Both leaves show on the outside | Limited adjustment |
| Frog hinge (no slotting) | Quick replacement without routing | Fits without cutting a hinge cup hole | Check door thickness before buying |
| Decorative | Furniture, antique-style pieces | Surface-mounted | Chosen for looks as much as function |
Step 1: Work out your door style
The door style decides which hinge will fit, so check it first.
- Full overlay: the door covers nearly the whole front edge of the cabinet box. This is common on frameless (European) cabinets.
- Half overlay: the door covers about half of the edge, so two doors can share one centre panel.
- Inset: the door sits inside the opening, flush with the cabinet front, and needs a hinge designed for inset doors.
- Face-frame cabinets have a wood frame on the front, and a 1/2 inch overlay is a common arrangement. Frameless cabinets have no frame, and hinges attach to the inside of the cabinet side.
Concealed hinges
A concealed hinge has a round cup that is sunk into a 35 mm hole in the back of the door and an arm that clips or screws onto a mounting plate on the cabinet. You cannot see it when the door is closed, and you can fine-tune the door by turning screws. Our range includes the CL138 concealed hinge in carbon steel or 304 stainless steel and a 761 hydraulic soft-close cabinet hinge.
Soft-close vs self-closing hinges
A self-closing hinge uses a spring to pull the door shut once it is nearly closed. A soft-close hinge adds a hydraulic damper so the door slows down and closes quietly. If your existing hinges are fine but the doors bang, you can often add a separate soft-close damper instead of replacing every hinge.
Surface-mounted, flag and decorative hinges
Surface-mounted hinges screw onto the outside of the door and frame, so no hole needs to be bored. Butterfly and flag hinges suit vintage cupboards and simple boxes. For a more ornamental look, browse our decorative, box and mini hinges. If you want a quick swap with no routing, the stainless steel frog hinge is made to fit without slotting.
How to tell which hinge you have
- Open the door and check whether the hinge is visible when the door is closed.
- If it has a round cup in the door, measure the cup diameter (35 mm is the usual size).
- Measure how much of the cabinet edge the door covers to confirm full overlay, half overlay or inset.
- Check whether the arm clips off the plate or is screwed on, and count the screws.
- Take a photo and keep the old hinge with you when you order a replacement.
Material and finish
Nickel-plated steel is common and affordable. In kitchens, bathrooms and coastal homes, 304 stainless steel resists rust better. A thicker hinge arm resists bending on heavy doors, so look at the stated thickness in the product details.
Buying checklist
- Door style: full overlay, half overlay or inset.
- Cabinet type: face frame or frameless.
- Closing action: standard, self-closing or soft-close.
- Hole size: 35 mm cup for most concealed hinges.
- Number of hinges: two for most doors, three or more for tall or heavy doors.
Boring new cup holes? A 35 mm hinge jig or drill bit keeps them accurate. Ready to shop? See all cabinet hinges.
Common mistakes when choosing cabinet hinges
- Buying before checking the overlay. A full-overlay hinge on an inset door leaves the door sticking out or binding.
- Mixing face-frame and frameless hinges. They attach differently, so the plate and arm style must match your cabinets.
- Skipping the hole size. If your doors are not drilled for a 35 mm cup, you will need to bore holes or choose a surface-mounted style.
- Using too few hinges. Tall or heavy doors need a third hinge to stop them twisting.
- Ignoring the finish. Plain steel marks and rusts faster in damp rooms than stainless steel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell what cabinet hinges I have?
Open the door and look at the hinge. If a round cup is sunk into the back of the door and an arm reaches a plate on the cabinet, it is a concealed (European-style) hinge. If both leaves show on the outside when the door is closed, it is a surface-mounted hinge such as a butterfly or flag hinge. Then measure the cup diameter and how far the door overlaps the cabinet.
Which type of hinge is best for kitchen cabinets?
For most modern kitchens, a concealed soft-close hinge is the best choice. It hides when the door is shut, can be adjusted in three directions, and slows the door so it does not slam. Pick full overlay, half overlay or inset to match how your doors sit on the cabinet.
What is the difference between overlay and inset hinges?
Overlay hinges let the door sit in front of the cabinet frame and cover part or all of its edge. Inset hinges let the door sit inside the frame so the door face is flush with the cabinet front. They are not interchangeable, so choose the one that matches your door style.
Are soft-close hinges worth it?
Usually yes. A soft-close hinge uses a small hydraulic damper to slow the last part of the swing, which reduces noise and wear on the door and frame. It costs more than a basic hinge, but you can also fit a separate damper to many existing concealed hinges.
What size hole do concealed hinges need?
Most concealed cabinet hinges use a 35 mm (about 1 3/8 in) round cup hole drilled roughly 12 mm deep into the back of the door. Check the hinge specification before drilling, and use a hinge jig to place the hole accurately.
