What is the standard cabinet hinge opening angle?

110° is the standard for kitchen base and wall cabinets. This provides full access to the interior without the door extending too far into the walkway. Pantry and tall cabinet doors sometimes use 155° or 170° hinges for wider access.

Can I replace exposed hinges with concealed hinges?

Sometimes. Concealed hinges require a 35mm cup hole drilled into the back of the door and a specific mounting plate on the cabinet. If the existing doors and cabinet construction allow it, the conversion is straightforward. If not, the doors and/or cabinet may need modification.

How many hinges does a cabinet door need?

Doors up to 600mm tall need two hinges. Doors 600–900mm need three. Doors over 900mm need four or more. The hinge spacing should be approximately one-third of the door height from each end.

Materials

How to Choose Cabinet Hinges

Updated July 25, 20262 min read

The short answer

Cabinet hinges are specified by three characteristics: mounting type (concealed or exposed), overlay (how much the door covers the frame), and opening angle. For modern frameless cabinetry, full-concealed European hinges with 110° opening and integrated soft-close are the standard. For face-frame cabinets, half-concealed or overlay hinges are common.

Hinge types at a glance

Hinge types at a glance
Type	Concealed?	Overlay	Opening	Adjustability	Best for
European concealed (cup)	Yes	Full, half or inset	95–170°	Three-axis	Frameless cabinetry
Half-concealed	Partially	Half overlay	95–110°	Limited	Face-frame cabinets
Full overlay (surface)	No	Full overlay	95–110°	Limited	Face-frame, traditional
Inset	Yes or no	Flush with frame	95–110°	Three-axis (concealed)	Heritage, fine cabinetry
Piano (continuous)	No	Full height	90–180°	None	Tall doors, pantries
Push-open	Yes	Full overlay	110°	Three-axis	Handleless cabinetry

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What the overlay means

Full overlay: The door covers the entire cabinet face, leaving only a small gap between adjacent doors. This is the standard for frameless (European) cabinetry and provides the most modern appearance.
Half overlay: The door covers half of the face frame, allowing two doors to share one face frame stile. Common in face-frame construction where the frame is visible between doors.
Inset: The door sits flush within the frame, fully recessed. The most refined look, but it demands the tightest tolerances — the gap between door and frame is consistent and visible. Seasonal movement affects inset doors more than overlay.
Negative (gap) overlay: A deliberate gap between the door and the cabinet edge, used for handleless designs where the gap serves as the finger pull. Requires precise setting-out.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard cabinet hinge opening angle?: 110° is the standard for kitchen base and wall cabinets. This provides full access to the interior without the door extending too far into the walkway. Pantry and tall cabinet doors sometimes use 155° or 170° hinges for wider access.
Can I replace exposed hinges with concealed hinges?: Sometimes. Concealed hinges require a 35mm cup hole drilled into the back of the door and a specific mounting plate on the cabinet. If the existing doors and cabinet construction allow it, the conversion is straightforward. If not, the doors and/or cabinet may need modification.
How many hinges does a cabinet door need?: Doors up to 600mm tall need two hinges. Doors 600–900mm need three. Doors over 900mm need four or more. The hinge spacing should be approximately one-third of the door height from each end.

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