Essential Cabinet Fittings: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Whether you are assembling a bespoke kitchen carcass, restoring an antique wardrobe, or simply upgrading tired kitchen cupboards, choosing the right cabinet fittings is critical. Quality hardware determines not only how smoothly your doors and drawers operate, but also how long the entire furniture structure will endure daily wear and tear. This guide breaks down the core components needed when fitting cabinet doors, drawers, and shelving, helping you select the correct specifications for your project.

Core Concealed Hinges: Mounting Types and Openings

Concealed hinges (often referred to as European or cup hinges) are standard across modern cabinetry. They sit inside a pre-drilled recess in the door—typically a 35 mm diameter hole—and clip onto a mounting plate fixed to the carcass side wall.

• Full Overlay: The cabinet door covers the entire front edge of the carcass frame. This is the most common configuration for standard modern units.
• Half Overlay: The door covers only half of the side panel edge, which is essential when two doors share a single central divider panel.
• Inset: The door sits entirely flush inside the carcass opening, exposing the front edges of the unit frame.

Standard hinges offer an opening angle of 110 degrees, suitable for general cupboards. For corner cupboards, pantry units, or internal pull-out drawers, wide-angle hinges opening to 165 or 170 degrees are necessary to provide unimpeded access.

Selecting the Right Drawer Runners

When upgrading or fitting a cabinet with drawers, runner selection dictates load capacity and aesthetic finish. The standard sizing follows the industry 32 mm hole spacing system, but mounting styles differ significantly:

• Ball Bearing Runners: Highly durable side-mounted slides that offer full extension, allowing access to the very back of the drawer box.
• Undermount Runners: Concealed beneath the drawer base for a clean, minimalist look. These often integrate soft-close mechanisms and push-to-open functionality.
• Roller Runners: Bottom-mounted nylon wheel systems commonly used in lightweight utility cabinetry or flat-pack furniture.

Structural Carcass Connectors and Fixings

A reliable fittings cabinet project depends on solid structural joints. Cam and dowel fittings remain the trade standard for knock-down furniture, creating rigid 90-degree joints without visible external screw heads. For heavier modular systems, connecting bolts and threaded sleeves allow multiple carcasses to be clamped securely side-by-side, preventing movement and ensuring uniform door gaps across a run of units.

Shelf Supports and Load Considerations

Adjustable shelving requires sturdy supports that match your carcass hole diameter—most commonly 5 mm or 6 mm pins. For heavy utility storage or wide larder units, consider metal shelf studs with an integrated lip or screw-down clamp to prevent the shelf from bowing, tipping, or pulling the carcass sides outward under heavy loads.

Cabinet Hardware Selection Checklist