10 Cabinet Kitchen Hinge Types Perfect For Your Kitchen Remodel

Most of us probably don’t spend that much time thinking about cabinet hinges. Like drawer handles or kitchen sink faucets, these kitchen door hinges tend to be those minor details that we overlook over the course of our day-to-day lives.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that the little things don’t matter, and we are reminded of that when it comes time to remodel our kitchen or do some regularly scheduled maintenance. Suddenly, all those tiny details that seemed totally insignificant come into play and sometimes can make or break a design.

So to ensure that everything goes well and your kitchen turns out just the way you want it, it pays to get acquainted with your options so you can make an educated choice as a consumer when the time comes. 

1. Full Overlay Hinge 

Overlay hinges come in two configurations.

This kitchen door hinge type is one of the most common and can be found in most kitchens. Also known simply as an overlay hinge, it is designed to come in two different configurations. The standard full overlay hinge configuration covers the entire cabinet opening when the cabinet is closed. It is installed so that the entire wood edge of the cabinet is exposed when you open the door. 

2. Surface Mount 

Surface mounts are often easier to install, preventing any headaches in the process.

Two designs you’ll have to choose between are mortise hinges and surface mount hinges. Surface mount hinges are more common in newer kitchens, and it's no wonder since they are generally more convenient to install. Instead of requiring holes to be drilled into the cabinets as with mortise hinges, surface mount hinges are designed to sit on the surface of the cabinet material with some clips.

This makes for a bulkier look since mortise kitchen door hinges are recessed into the cabinet thanks to the holes required to install them, but surface mounts are generally easier to add to your cabinets.   

3. Half-Crank Hinge 

Half-crank hinges have shorter arms than full-crank hinges, helping you save space.

A counterpart to the full overlay hinge is the half-crank or partial overlay hinge. Partial overlay designs are such that the door partly covers the cabinet box when the door is closed. When the door is opened, the inner wood edge of the cabinet box is then exposed.

This design is better if you want to save space since it does not allow the door to swing as far out as the full overlay hinge. This is thanks to the design of the half-crank hinge, which is slightly less bent than your standard full overlay hinge, preventing the door from swinging out as far.     

4. Full-Crank Hinge 

Full-crank hinges open more fully outward than half-crank hinges.

Full-crank kitchen door hinges are designed with compactness in mind. They are also called inset hinges and feature bent arms like the half-crank hinges. The benefit of these hinges, aside from saving space, is aesthetic in nature. Inset kitchen hinges are the opposite in that they are designed to allow the door to sit flush with the cabinet face frame when the door is closed.

In this design, the frame surrounds the entire cabinet door. This makes for a sleek, flush look that is perfect for your modern kitchen, especially if you want to keep that minimalist streak going.  

5. Semi-Concealed Hinge 

Semi-concealed hinges allow for a sleeker aesthetic.

These hinges are meant to hide the main hinge mechanism behind a cabinet door while allowing some of the hinges to be exposed on the door edge. This hinge design is perfect for use with overlay doors as they make for a smooth and simplified look. 

These come in a variety of finishes for that extra aesthetic quality that suits any kitchen interior design style. These kitchen hinges are also designed to be self-closing, thus maintaining a uniform appearance by ensuring that no cabinet door will ever be left half-open. 

6. Butt Hinge

These classy hinges are perfect for old-style kitchens.

These use a standard design that includes a barrel and two mounting plates; one plate for the door and one for the cabinet frame. This is a very traditional design that has been the standard for cabinet doors for centuries. It’s no surprise then that the butt hinges look especially good with a retro cast iron finish since a lot of them used to be made of cast iron originally.

Much like old-fashioned kitchen sink designs, butt hinges are very easy to install thanks to the standard design. Of course, these hinges can become squeaky as they age, but some WD40 should sort that out just fine. In any case, the design is robust enough that these kitchen hinges should give you many years of trouble-free use. 

7. Flush Hinge 

The flush hinge can be considered to be the sleeker version of the butt hinge.

This is essentially the same design as the butt hinge, but with a slimmer profile for added sleekness. These doors are perfect if you want to save space and are aiming for a less bulky hinge assembly since flush hinges do not need a mortise to be drilled. As with butt hinges, flush hinges are easy to install and are quite durable.

Also, the slimmer profile of the flush hinge allows it to be used in various applications aside from cabinets. For instance, flush kitchen hinges are perfect for doors, tool boxes, wooden boxes, and even jewelry boxes. Unlike your appliances that require regular maintenance, flush hinges can usually go a long time with little to no attention.  

8. Wrap Around Hinge 

These cool hinges wrap around the outside of the cabinet door.

These kitchen hinges are unique in appearance and function and are the perfect choice for anyone that wants to shake things up and try something new. As the name implies this design allows the hinge to wrap around the door and attach to it on the outward-facing side of the panel. This can be a partial or full wraparound, with the main difference being how far around the hinge reaches.

This makes for a semi-concealed hinge that is unlike most other cabinet hinges. Aside from looks, wrap-around hinges also allow for more adjustability since you have more options for where the wrap-around kitchen hinge can attach to the cabinet doors. This can make them the best option for accessible kitchen design.  

9. T-Style Hinge 

The most ornate hinge style available out there is the T-style hinge.

But if you want some kitchen hinges that are both classy and classic, the T-style hinge is the way to go. These kitchen door hinges are made of one vertical wing attached to the cabinet and one horizontal wing that attaches to the cabinet door from the outside. Common for sheds, barn doors, and little wooden jewelry boxes, this stylish hinge design is a great choice for many reasons.

Aside from being easy to install and long-lasting, these kitchen hinges look really stylish and can come with intricate decorative designs that make them stand out. They may not have modern conveniences such as soft-close functions, but chances are you aren’t looking for that if you’re in the market for these kitchen hinges.

10. European Cabinet Hinges 

The most compact cabinet hinge type found on the market.

This is another common kitchen hinge type, especially in European kitchens. When it comes to small cabinet hinges, it isn’t hard to see why once you see them. European hinges are among the most compact and are designed to fit wholly on the inside of the cabinet, allowing for completely concealed hinges when the cabinet doors are closed. The benefit of this is that your frameless cabinets can have a very Euro-chic style that is quite a la vogue these days.

If you’re worried that European cabinet hinges may not fit your cabinets, rest assured that they come in many different sizes and can fit cabinet doors both big and small. These hinges are also offered with various finishes which allow them to fit in many different kitchens regardless of aesthetic.