Full Overlay, Half Overlay & Inset: Cabinet Hinge Types Explained
Full overlay, half overlay, and inset hinges define the exact position of a cabinet door in relation to the carcass side panel. With a full overlay, the door covers the side panel completely. Half overlay is used for twin doors sharing a single central partition. With inset applications, the door sits flush within the cabinet carcass.
What do the mounting types mean for a concealed hinge?
A concealed cup hinge connects the cabinet door to the cupboard carcass. Depending on the construction of the cabinet, the door must either cover the carcass side completely, share space with a second door, or sit flush inside the cabinet opening. This positioning is determined by the overlay type.
The overlay is controlled by the crank of the hinge arm. The crank describes the bend or offset in the metal hinge arm. The arm operates like a precise robotic mechanism, guiding the door past the cabinet edge during opening to prevent the edges from colliding.
The three fundamental hinge types in detail
Choosing the correct hinge depends entirely on the cabinet construction. There are three main types:
- Full overlay (overlay): When closed, the door covers almost the entire front edge of the outer carcass side wall. Only a minimal gap remains to the side so the door opens without rubbing. The hinge arm on concealed hinges for full overlay is straight and features no crank (0 mm).
- Half overlay (dual / twin doors): Two doors mount to a single central partition wall of the carcass. Because the front edge of the partition wall (typically 16 mm or 19 mm thick) is shared between two doors, each door must only cover roughly half the wall. Concealed hinges for half overlay feature a slightly cranked arm (medium crank, approx. 9.5 mm).
- Inset (embedded): The door does not sit over the carcass edge, but closes flush between the side panels. When closed, the door front forms a flush surface with the front edges of the carcass. For this design, concealed hinges for inset doors require a pronounced bend in the arm (high crank, approx. 16 mm). These fittings are also commonly referred to as concealed hinges for inset doors.
Dimensions, standards, and technical specifications
Standardised dimensions apply across the furniture industry for the proper fitting of cupboard hinges. The cup hole drilled into the cabinet door generally has a diameter of 35 mm. Corresponding concealed hinges with 35 mm cup sizes are the industry standard for full-size doors. For smaller or lightweight doors, special 26 mm versions are available.
The opening angle determines how far the door can swing open:
- Standard cupboard doors typically use concealed hinges with 110 degrees.
- For internal drawers or corner cabinets, wide-angle hinges such as concealed hinges with 165 degrees are installed so the door does not obstruct pull-out drawers.
Fixing to the carcass is achieved via a cross mounting plate. This is typically screwed into place using the System 32 standard (line boring with 32 mm spacing). By selecting the appropriate mounting plate height (e.g. D=0 mm or D=3 mm), the gap and the exact door overlay can be fine-tuned to the millimetre.
Application and selecting the suitable hinge
When planning cabinetry, the desired closing mechanism must be considered alongside the overlay type. For silent door closing, concealed hinges with integrated soft close dampening are utilised. In modern hinges, the hydraulic dampers are built directly into the hinge arm or hinge cup, mechanically cushioning the door over the final centimetres of travel.
To select the correct hinge, you must identify the carcass wall thickness, the required gap width, and the drilling pattern (the distance from the 35 mm cup hole to the door edge, usually 3 mm to 6 mm).
Related terms
- Crank: The offset or bend in the hinge arm that mechanically determines the overlay type (full overlay, half overlay, or inset).
- Cup hole: The blind recess drilled into the cabinet door into which the hinge cup is fitted.
- Mounting plate: The base plate fixed to the carcass interior that attaches to the concealed hinge arm.
Relevant categories
A complete overview of all technical variants, opening angles, and mounting systems can be found in the main category for concealed hinges / cabinet hinges.