Cranking on Concealed Hinges: Full Overlay, Half Overlay and Inset

October 31, 2025

Cranking on concealed hinges describes the bend in the hinge arm that defines precisely how a cabinet door rests against the carcass side when closed. Depending on the degree of the bend, carpenters distinguish between full overlay (straight arm, door fully covers the carcass edge), half overlay (half-cranked, two doors share a central partition), and inset (strongly cranked, door sits flush inside the carcass).

What exactly is cranking?

Cranking is a technical design feature of the articulated arm on a concealed cabinet hinge. Mechanically, the hinge arm acts like an angled lever arm that shifts the door pivot point outwards or inwards. This bend determines the position the door occupies relative to the side panel of the furniture. The cross mounting plate, which is screwed to the interior carcass wall, generally remains identical across all three mounting types – the exact positioning of the door is controlled solely by the geometry of the hinge arm.

The three mounting types in detail

Full overlay (straight): The hinge arm is straight (0 mm cranking). The cabinet door mounts on the outside of the carcass side, almost completely covering its front edge. Only a minimal gap remains for smooth opening. Full overlay concealed hinges are used for this construction.
Half overlay (half-cranked / twin application): The hinge arm is slightly curved (approx. 9.5 mm cranking). This variant is used when two doors are mounted to a single central carcass divider. Each door covers only half the front edge of the partition. Half overlay concealed hinges are strictly required here to prevent the two doors from colliding when opened.
Inset (fully cranked): The hinge arm has a pronounced bend (approx. 15 mm - 16 mm cranking). The door does not rest on the front edge of the carcass, but sits flush within the side panels. The front edges of the cabinet carcass remain fully visible when the door is closed. In this case, inset concealed hinges or concealed hinges for inset doors are used.

Dimensions, standards and typical values

Choosing the correct cranking is independent of the cup hole diameter. The standard diameter for the routed hole in the door is usually 35 mm. Corresponding 35 mm concealed hinges are the standard in modern furniture construction for regular doors.

Alongside cranking, the opening angle defines the kinematics of the door. A classic hinge for standard carcasses opens to 110° (see 110-degree concealed hinges / cabinet hinges). For special applications, such as internal drawers, wide-angle hinges with 155° or 165° are installed, providing unobstructed access to the cabinet interior and swinging the door clear of the internal opening.

Application & selection

Selecting the correct cranking depends on the construction method of the furniture unit. Before replacing or planning a hinge, verify the position of the closed door relative to the side panel.

Regardless of cranking, modern concealed hinges / cabinet hinges are often equipped with hydraulic soft-close mechanisms. Such concealed hinges / cabinet hinges with damping (Soft Close) absorb the kinetic energy of the door just before closing, drawing it shut smoothly and silently against the carcass.

Related terms

Cross mounting plate: The counterpart to the hinge arm, secured to the carcass side panel, allowing height and depth adjustments.
Cup hole: The blind bore hole in the furniture door, usually drilled with a Forstner bit, where the hinge cup is anchored.
Reveal / gap pattern: The visible gap between two closed doors or between the door and carcass.