Home Improvement
By
Timothy Dale
Timothy Dale
Timothy Dale is a home repair expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience. He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management.
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Updated on 06/21/23
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier
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Reviewed byDeane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.
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Cabinet hinges support the cabinet door and allow it to open and close freely, and the cabinets can have a different aesthetic appearance depending on the type of cabinet hinges selected for the door. Not every type of cabinet hinge is made for every type of cabinet door.
Inset cabinet doors that sit flush with and on the same plane as the cabinet frame typically use butt hinges, inset hinges, or surface mount hinges. Full overlay cabinet doors that cover the entire cabinet opening and frame tend to use flush mount, surface mount, and full overlay hinges.
Partial overlay doors cover the entire cabinet opening, but only part of the front frame. These cabinet doors tend to use partial wraparound, partial overlay, and flush mount hinges. Use this guide to find out more about these 10 types of cabinet hinges and how to choose.
01 of 10
Surface Mount Hinges
Best for: Aesthetic design, face frame cabinets, and partial or full overlay cabinet doors.
Surface mount hinges, as the name implies, mount to the outside of the cabinet frame and to the outside face of the cabinet door. This mounting style makes the entire hinge visible from the exterior of the cabinet, so surface mount hinges typically feature an attractive color or design that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the cabinet.
These hinges are typically used on face frame cabinets with partial overlay or full overlay doors. However, if you prefer to have the cabinet hinges partially or fully hidden when the cabinet door is closed, then surface mount hinges are not a good choice.
02 of 10
Semi-Concealed Hinges
Best for: Partially visible cabinet accents, face frame cabinets, and partial or full overlay doors.
Semi-concealed hinges are similarly made for use on face frame cabinets that have partial overlay or full overlay cabinet doors. This style of hinge is mostly concealed behind the cabinet door when the cabinet is closed, but a slight portion of the hinge is exposed on the side of the frame or door edge.
Specifically, the door wing is completely concealed, while the frame wing remains mostly visible from the exterior of the cabinet. This design can help to enhance the existing look and aesthetic of the cabinet by adding a touch of color, shiny chrome, or even matte black accents to each cabinet door.
03 of 10
Butt Hinges
Best for: Traditional aesthetic, frameless cabinets, and inset cabinet doors.
Butt hinges feature two rectangular mounting plates and central barrel for the hinge pin. This traditional design can be installed on face frame cabinets, but the installer will need to cut out a wooden recess known as a mortise for the cabinet door to sit flush against the face frame of the cabinet.
This style of hinge is more commonly used with European-style frameless cabinets with inset cabinet doors. The frame wing attaches to the inside of the cabinet frame, while the door wing attaches to the side of the door, so that only the barrel is exposed when the cabinet door is closed.
04 of 10
Inset Hinges
Best for: Hinge-free appearance, frameless cabinets, and inset cabinet doors.
As the name indicates, inset hinges are designed for inset cabinet doors. The bend in the hinge allows the door to fully close without showing any part of the hinge. This type of hinge should be mounted to the inside of a frameless cabinet and to the back edge of the door so that the door will sit flush inside the cabinet box.
Inset hinges can be used on face frame cabinets, though the frame wing must mount to the face frame, leaving one half of the hinge visible when the cabinet door is closed.
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05 of 10
Partial Overlay Hinges
Best for: Cabinet accents, frameless cabinets, and partial overlay cabinet doors.
Partial overlay hinges mount to the inside of the cabinet and to the back of the cabinet door, leaving the barrel exposed when the door is closed. Due to the overlapping hinge wings, the cabinet door tends to sit out from the face of the cabinet, making it easier to open the doors without any door knob or door handle hardware.
Since a portion of the hinge is always visible, partial overlay hinges can be used to accent the existing aesthetic of the cabinet. Choose a finish that will stand out or opt for a more neutral finish that blends with the current design.
06 of 10
Full Overlay Hinges
Best for: Concealed functionality, frameless cabinets, full overlay cabinet doors.
Full overlay hinges are frequently used in frameless cabinets with full overlay cabinet doors. The frame wing mounts to the inside of the cabinet and the door wing mounts to the back of the cabinet door, allowing it to close fully without exposing the frame.
With these hinges, the cabinet doors sit out slightly from the face of the cabinet, making it possible for the door to pivot from opened to closed without rubbing up against the face of the cabinet.
07 of 10
Flush Hinges
Best for: Narrow spacing, slim cabinet door gaps, and concealed installation.
Flush hinges are similar to butt hinges, except that they have a slimmer profile that reduces the gap between the cabinet door and cabinet box. These hinges are ideal when you have a cabinet or cabinet door that cannot be cut for a butt hinge mortise.
Flush hinges are designed in such a way that when the hinge is closed, the door wing sits inside the frame wing. The bulkiest part of this hinge is the barrel and pin, which are sometimes visible from the exterior of the cabinet when flush hinges are used on face frame cabinets.
08 of 10
Wrap Around Hinges
Best for: Heavy-duty support, semi-concealed installation.
Wrap around hinges have a unique design that wraps around the inside edge of the frame to provide better support for the cabinet door. This design spreads out the weight of the door and the pressure on the screws over a greater area to improve the strength of the hinges.
These hinges are typically used for frameless cabinets with partial overlay or full overlay doors, though there are full wrap around hinges that can fit over the frame on a face frame-style cabinet box.
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09 of 10
T-Style Hinges
Best for: Rustic aesthetic design, simple installation, and heavy-duty cabinet door support.
T-style hinges are not as commonly used as they once were. This classic rustic aesthetic is a great addition to kitchen cabinets in a ranch-style home or a home with a naturally rustic appeal.
Beyond the basic aesthetic design, T-style hinges are also relatively easy to install to the exterior side of the cabinet box and the from of the cabinet door. These hinges typically have heavy-duty strength and durability, allowing them to be used to support the weight of full wood cabinet doors, instead of just panels or particleboard.
10 of 10
Butterfly Hinges
Best for: Vintage decorative aesthetic and easy installation.
Butterfly hinges are designed specifically for the aesthetic style. As the name implies, the hinges are shaped like butterflies. The frame wing mounts to the exterior of the cabinet box and the door wing mounts to the front of the cabinet door, so the butterfly design is always on display.
These hinges don't require a mortise for installation, making them relatively easy to install with a drill or screwdriver. Additionally, butterfly hinges work well with partial overlay and full overlay cabinet doors, though they lose some of the aesthetic appeal when used with inset cabinet doors.
Choosing Cabinet Hinges
Before deciding on cabinet hinges, it's necessary to consider the type of cabinet box and the type of cabinet doors. Cabinet boxes typically come in two different designs, including face frame and frameless, while cabinet doors can be inset, full overlay, or partial overlay.
Face frame cabinets have a frame installed on the face of the cabinets, while a frameless cabinet box is essentially just the bare box. Inset cabinet doors work well with frameless cabinet boxes because they are installed flush with and on the same plane as the cabinet frame.
Full overlay cabinet doors can be used with either face frame or frameless cabinets. These doors cover the entire cabinet box opening, as well as the wood end of the cabinet box. Partial overlay cabinet doors are best with face frame cabinets, though it's not impossible to use partial overlay doors with frameless cabinets. These doors cover the entire cabinet box opening, but the wood edge of the cabinet box is exposed.
After determining the type of cabinets and cabinet doors, you can narrow the type of cabinet hinges to those that are compatible with the current cabinet design. Next, decide whether you want concealed or exposed hinges, then select an attractive finish, and finally consider if you need any motion features, like soft-close hinges that slow the cabinet door down to avoid banging, or self-close hinges which draw the door in with less effort from the user.
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