21 Types of Cabinet Hinges Explained
Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 05/11/21
Cabinet hinges may seem as minor elements in your furniture, but they serve a very important purpose.
It is interesting to note that there are several different kinds of cabinet hinges, specifically to cater for different requirements.
As a result you will find that hinges vary in terms of their styles and features, as some are more suitable for certain materials and furniture types.
It is important to choose the most ideal hinges for your needs, and to help you do this we are going to outline 21 different types of cabinet hinges below.
Table of Contents
- Soft Closing Hinges
- Self-Closing Hinges
- Hidden Hinges
- Heavy Duty Hinges
- Demountable Hinges
- Decorative Hinges
- Barrel Hinges
- Butt Hinges
- Face Frame Hinges
- Flush Hinges
- Full Overlay Concealed Hinges
- Half Overlay Concealed Hinges
- Inset Concealed Hinges
- Invisible Hinges
- Offset Hinges
- Pivot Hinges
- Strap Hinges
- Surface Mount Hinges
- Wrap Around Hinges
- Blind Corner Hinges
- Bi-Fold Corner Hinges
- Conclusion
1. Soft Closing Hinges
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Soft closing hinges, as the name implies, will close the door for you.
So all you need to do is push it.
Once the cabinet door reaches a certain position, the hinge will step into action by gliding it gently to a close, without slamming.
These hinges stifle any noise that the cabinet can make as it shuts.
Soft closing hinges make use of hydraulics since they create a vacuum which closes the cabinet door.
2. Self-Closing Hinges
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Self-closing hinges are somewhat similar to soft closing hinges.
They are also sometimes referred to as spring-loaded hinges, even though they do not include any springs at all when they are hydraulic self-closing mechanisms.
These use a hydraulic design to enable the door to close on its own, by harnessing its weight.
The spring-loaded variety include a spring which uncoils when the door is opened, and then recoils when the pressure made against the door leaves.
These types of hinges are generally used in gym lockers, as in such a case there is no need to worry that there may be some noise while the door closes.
3. Hidden Hinges
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Hidden hinges are not visible from the outside of the cabinet.
They are also sometimes referred to as concealed hinges or invisible hinges.
These types of hinges attach to the inside of the door and the frame.
As a result, the door will appear to float on the face of the frame.
Obviously the main benefit of these types of hinges is that they will not negatively impact the look of cabinets.
So they are ideal to conceal any small imperfections in the cabinet measures.
4. Heavy Duty Hinges
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These are the types of hinges you will find in industrial settings.
As the name implies, they are able to hold more weight than other types of hinges.
Common types of heavy-duty hinges are pivot and barrel hinges.
Such hinges typically are around ¼-inch thick, and are able to hold doors weighing around 1000 pounds.
5. Demountable Hinges
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Demountable hinges are available in single and double demountable varieties.
The single demountable hinges can be installed onto the cabinet frame, with the other end fitting into a slot on the cabinet door.
As a result, one can easily slip off the door without having to remove the hinge.
The double demountable variety will fit into slots on the door and frame, and there is no need for screws to install them either.
These types of hinges are ideal for kitchen cabinets as the doors can be easily removed without having any other hardware involved, and so cleaning is simpler.
It is also easier to repair them if need be.
6. Decorative Hinges
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Decorative hinges generally have a beautifying face, which is visible from the outside of the cabinet door.
Hence while serving their functional purpose, these hinges are also aesthetically pleasing.
Having said that, there are also some decorative hinges which are more intended for their visual appeal, rather than functional purpose.
In such a case, the real hinge would be located on the inside of the door, while the decorative hinge is installed on the outside with the main aim of adding more detail or aesthetic value to the cabinet.
This is also called a faux hinge.
7. Barrel Hinges
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Barrel hinges are not visible from the outside of the cabinet doors.
Barrel hinges are used for wooden storage boxes, for example, because they can move the lid up and down without impacting the exterior look of the storage box.
Sometimes they are also used for cabinet doors where one would like a hinge-free look.
Barrel hinges are available in various diameters and depths.
8. Butt Hinges
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Butt hinges are used for various kinds of doors and cabinets.
These hinges have two sides, which connect to a joint, so that they can both move freely.
One side will be attached to the door, while the other is attached to the cabinet’s frame.
The joint will generally be visible from the outside of the cabinet, so you will want to choose a finish which can complement the cabinet nicely.
Butt hinges may use a central pin or a ball joint to move.
They are fairly easy to install and durable.
9. Face Frame Hinges
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For cabinets which have a small frame going around the cabinet’s opening, face frame hinges will need to be used.
These hinges attach on the door, with the other side onto the face frame.
They will not be seen from the outside of the cabinet.
10. Flush Hinges
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Flush hinges are somewhat similar to butt hinges since they attach to the inside of the cabinet door and frame.
But in the case of flush hinges, the smaller part of the hinge will close into the larger part, so that they are flush.
They also have the advantage of taking up less room.
However they will be visible from the outside of the cabinet, so it is important to pick a suitable finish.
Unlike butt joints, there is no need to create a mortise so as to install them.
11. Full Overlay Concealed Hinges
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The term overlay refers to the way in which the cabinet doors meet up with the frames.
In some cases, the doors are installed in front of the face, while others are attached to the inside of the frame, with the doors’ frame sitting flush to it.
A full overlay hinge is required for cabinet doors that cover up the full face of the cabinet.
These types of hinges come in various styles but they generally go inside the cabinet.
They are attached to the door, and either to the face frame or to the inside of frameless cabinets.
12. Half Overlay Concealed Hinges
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Half overlay hinges are used for partial overlay or for half overlay cabinets.
These basically comprise two doors which meet in the middle, but they share the same wall or partition.
The half overlay hinges are attached to the inside of the doors, enabling them to open near each other without hitting one another.
Such hinges are typically rather small as they will need to fit on the same partition or wall that is shared by two doors.
13. Inset Concealed Hinges
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Inset hinges have one side which is attached to the frame of the door.
This is rather narrow so as to fit in the small area.
The wider side is attached to the inside of the door.
The narrow part is going to be seen from the outside of the cabinet, and so it is important to find inset hinges which are also somewhat decorative.
Such hinges in fact come in various finishes and designs so that one can easily complement the cabinets’ design.
Such hinges are often chosen for traditional solid wood furniture so that they allow the wooden frame around the door to be fully visible.
They are also commonly used with glass doors such as kitchen display cabinets.
14. Invisible Hinges
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Unlike the common misconception, invisible hinges are not concealed hinges.
The two differ.
Invisible hinges are small and take up very little space.
They are attached to the inside of the door and frame.
Even when one opens the cabinet doors, invisible hinges will not be that noticeable.
In fact they are used for home theatre systems as they are so discreet.
15. Offset Hinges
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Offset hinges are the ideal option when cabinet doors protrude from the frame.
The hinges’ sides do not align to one another.
As a result, the door is able to extend out from the cabinet frame.
Such hinges are thus ideal when cabinet doors are relatively thick, so that they will not bump into the frame when they are opened.
Offset hinges are attached to the outside of the cabinet frame and door.
They are available in various finishes and styles so as to match different cabinet styles.
16. Pivot Hinges
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Pivot hinges are generally used for lower cabinets.
They are also commonly used in home theatre systems cabinets.
They are ideal for inset doors as they will not be visible.
Such hinges are installed on the top and bottom parts of the cabinet door and frame.
The frame will have the inset pieces.
The door will have a piece which juts out slightly, but fits securely into the inset pieces, so that they can pivot.
17. Strap Hinges
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Strap hinges have longish wings, and they look like straps, thus their name.
These wrap around the area where the doors meet the frame.
They are mounted on the outer part of the cabinets, and hence you will be able to find several varieties in terms of colours, finishes and shapes.
Strap hinges are also made in various sizes so that one can choose the types that best accommodate the size and weight of the doors.
18. Surface Mount Hinges
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Surface mount hinges, or as they are also called, frameless door hinges, are also quite popular.
They are mounted on the inside of the doors and cabinet frame, allowing the door to swing without hitting the frame.
Such hinges are generally adjustable too.
They are also relatively easy to install as there is no need to create a mortise.
19. Wrap Around Hinges
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Wrap around hinges consist of a face that is attached to the back of the food, and another part that basically wraps around the frame, and inside the cabinet.
This is why they are named wrap around hinges, as they actually do wrap around the frame.
Such hinges are ideal in terms of the support that they give to doors, and so they are used for heavy doors.
The main drawback of wrap-around hinges is that their joint will be visible from the outside of the cabinet.
So it is important to choose a finish that is suitable for the cabinet.
20. Blind Corner Hinges
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Blind corner hinges need to be used if the cabinet’s end panel is not at a right angle.
As a result the hinges will need to be attached to an inline fascia.
It is recommended to allow a minimum length of 70mmm from the inside of the fascia to fix the mounting plate and the hinge.
21. Bi-Fold Corner Hinges
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These hinges are used for double door corner cabinets.
The first door will be attached to the side of the cabinet with a hinge, whereas the second door will need to be attached to the first using a bi-fold corner hinge.
Conclusion
After this thorough overview of different types of hinges, you are probably feeling spoiled for choice.
Many people are unaware of the vast range of hinges available on the market.
But as we discussed them, it was plain to see that there are certain hinges which are more suitable for certain doors and cabinets than others.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the different types to make a well informed choice.
