Opening Angles (90°, 110°, 165°) for Hinges — Which Angle for Which Door?

The opening angle of a concealed cup hinge defines the maximum degree to which a cabinet door can swing open. Standard doors typically use hinges with 90° to 110°, whilst internal drawers or corner units require specialist wide-angle hinges with 155° or 165° to provide completely unobstructed access to the cabinet interior.

What Exactly Is the Opening Angle?

The opening angle describes the geometric span between the closed front and the final position of the door edge when fully swung open. The mechanism in the hinge arm physically restricts this movement. A precisely chosen angle prevents doors from striking adjacent walls or neighbouring furniture. Much like a joint in a human arm, the hinge determines the exact radius of movement for the door and keeps it stable in the fully opened position.

Typical Opening Angles and Their Applications

The choice of angle depends significantly on the construction of the cabinet and its position within the room.

• 90° to 110° (Standard Angle): This is the standard dimension for classic cabinet doors in kitchens, wardrobes, or sideboards. Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 90 degrees are sufficient when the door only needs to provide straightforward frontal access to shelves. For slightly more clearance when loading items, fitters frequently choose concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 110 degrees. These are often designed as concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges with soft close to ensure silent closing.
• 155° to 165° (Wide Angle): A wide-angle hinge swings the door almost parallel to the adjacent cabinet side panel. Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 155 degrees and concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 165 degrees are mandatory whenever the cabinet is fitted with an internal drawer. Only through this wide swing does the edge of the door clear the internal cabinet aperture, allowing the drawer runner to slide out without collision.
• Special Angles for Corner Cabinets: For units featuring angled fronts or bi-fold doors, alternative geometries are used, such as concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 45 degrees.

Dimensions, Standards, and Overlay Types

Regardless of the opening angle, modern hinges are built to standardised dimensions. The cup drilling in the door generally requires a diameter of 35 mm and a depth of 11 mm to 12 mm.

When planning, the opening angle must always be considered in combination with the overlay type:

• Full Overlay: The door completely overlays the cabinet side panel.
• Half Overlay: Two doors share a single central divider (twin doors). Specialist concealed cup hinges half overlay are required for this configuration.
• Inset: The door sits flush inside the cabinet carcass panels. This requires concealed cup hinges inset, which shift the pivot point inwards using a heavily cranked hinge arm.

Application & Selection

When planning installation, the opening angle is determined by the surrounding environment of the unit. If a cabinet sits directly against a room wall, the angle must not exceed 90°, otherwise the door handle will damage the wall. Alternatively, an opening angle restrictor can be clipped into the hinge, mechanically limiting a 110° hinge to 86°, for example. For a comprehensive overview of all hinge types, refer to the main category concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges.

Related Terms

• Cruciform Mounting Plate: The counterpart to the hinge that is screwed onto the inner carcass wall.
• Cranking: The bend in the hinge arm that defines the mounting type (full overlay, half overlay, inset).
• Push-to-Open: A mechanism for handleless fronts, frequently paired with a push latch and specialist hinges without self-closing springs.

Matching Categories

• Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 90 degrees
• Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 110 degrees
• Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 155 degrees
• Concealed cup hinges / cabinet hinges 165 degrees