Types of Cabinet Door Hinges

Hinges are considered as the most useful mechanical invention of mankind. These small but useful mechanical devices aid limited rotation between two flat surfaces. It's all because of these hinges that we can close the doors and windows of our house, we can store items inside cabinets, etc. Cabinet hinges come in a large variety and each one of them has unique features. Butterfly hinges, flush hinges, European hinges, etc., are some of the types of cabinet door hinges.

Cabinet Door Hinges

A hinge is nothing but a bearing placed between edges of two flat surfaces that allows rotation along a fixed axis and plane. There are basically two broad categories of cabinet door hinges. The first category consists of ones that are visible even when the door is closed and the second category belongs to hinges that are almost invisible. These two categories are due to two types of door frames. Cabinets with door frames placed in the same plane as the doors have visible door hinges, while those which have no door frame have hinges that cannot be seen. A door hinge is basically made up of four parts, two rectangular parts, one cylindrical knuckle like part and a pin that rests inside the knuckle. One of the rectangular parts is fixed to the door frame or cabinet, while the other is fixed to the door. The knuckle is present between these two rectangular parts and the pin rests inside it. Now, let us take a look at the different types of cupboard door hinges.

Different Types of Cabinet Door Hinges

When you are remodeling your home and installing kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities by yourself or by any professional, it is necessary that you are aware of the different types of cabinet door styles, so that you can choose a hinge that satisfies your needs. Door hinges come in various styles and designs and each one of them allows different axis of rotation. Here are some of the basic types of cabinet door hinge.

Butt Hinges: Butt hinges, also known as, mortise hinges, are commonly used hinges for cabinet doors. These hinges are manufactured in brass or stainless steel. The design of butt hinges is very simple. They contain two metal leaves connected by a pin in between them. They are among the strongest door hinges but you cannot alter their assembly once they are fitted. They are very easy to install and if you are going to install the hinges by yourself, you should go for this type.

Butterfly Hinges: Butterfly hinges, also called Parliament (UK) hinges, as their name suggests, have butterfly shaped plates with small cylindrical pin between the two plates. These hinges are also referred as dovetail hinges. They come in all sizes and are very decorative and quite economic. Butterfly hinges come under visible door hinges and are usually used for light-weight cabinet doors.

European Hinges: These door hinges are also called concealed hinges or cup hinges and are made up of two parts. One part is the hinge cup with its arm while the other is the plate that is mounted on the door. They make great door hinges for cabinets with no door frame. As their name suggests, these hinges are invisible and cannot be viewed from outside. Moreover, these hinges are sometimes self closing, means, if you leave the door ajar the hinges will make the door close automatically. They are easy to install and are very flexible in nature and hence, are popular.

Wrap-Around Hinges: Wrap-around hinges make perfect door hinges for cabinets that have overlapping doors. This hinge is fitted outside the door and is usually used for increasing the strength and stability of the door frame. These door hinges are characterized by a U shaped design that wraps all the three parts of the cabinet door edge.

Other Cabinet Door Hinge Types

• Pivot hinges
• Continuous hinges
• Strap hinges
• H hinges
• HL hinges
• Counter-flap hinges
• Tee hinges
• Overlay hinges

Now, when you know what are the different types of cabinet hinges, choose one that will suit the type of door frame your cabinet has. It is recommended that if you are installing cabinet door hinges for the first time, you should consult an expert.