Replacement Hinges for Nobilia Sideboards: Choosing the Right 35 mm Cup Diameter

October 22, 2025

A concealed hinge with a 35 mm cup diameter is the industry standard for modern carcase furniture and serves as a hidden hinge for mounting furniture doors. When the hinges on an existing piece of furniture – such as a Nobilia sideboard in the living area or bedroom – become worn out, an exact replacement is required. For the fitter or experienced tradesperson, it is not about aesthetics, but about hard technical facts: drilling patterns, crank type, and opening angles must match the existing carcase precisely.

This guide covers all relevant technical specifications to help you correctly identify and fit compatible replacement hinges for common sideboards (whether they are 70 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm, or 110 cm wide).

Key Purchasing Criteria for Replacement Hinges

When replacing fittings on carcase furniture, the new parts must feature the exact same geometry as the old ones. The following dimensions and classifications must be strictly observed.

Cup Dimension and Drilling Depth

The part of the hinge embedded into the cabinet door is called the cup. In almost all modern kitchen and living room furniture, the diameter of this hole is exactly 35 mm. Smaller 26 mm variants are only found on sideboards or chests of drawers in exceptional cases (such as very thin doors or mirrored cabinets). Matching 35 mm concealed hinges / cabinet hinges generally require a drilling depth into the wood of 11.5 mm to 12.0 mm. The so-called C-dimension (the distance from the edge of the cup hole to the door edge) is typically 4 mm to 5 mm as standard.

Door Overlay Type (Cranking)

The overlay type defines how the closed door sits in relation to the side panel of the cabinet carcase. This is where most purchasing mistakes happen. A strict distinction is made between three designs:

Full overlay: The door covers the front edge of the carcase side panel (usually 16 mm or 18 mm thick chipboard) almost completely. Only a narrow reveal of around 1.5 mm remains to the adjacent cabinet. The hinge arm is straight.
Half overlay (twin overlay): Two doors share a single internal carcase partition wall. Each door covers only half the front edge of the panel (approx. 7 mm to 8 mm per door). The hinge arm has a distinct bend (cranking).
Inset: The door does not sit on top of the carcase panel, but closes flush inside the cabinet opening. The front edge of the side panel remains completely visible when the door is shut. The hinge arm is heavily cranked.

System 32 and the Mounting Plate

The hinge is secured to the cabinet carcase using a cruciform mounting plate. Industrially manufactured furniture is based on System 32. This means the pre-drilled holes in the cabinet side panel have a vertical spacing of exactly 32 mm between them. The standard distance from the front row of drilled holes to the front edge of the carcase is 37 mm. If the replacement hinges support this grid, the existing drill holes in the sideboard can be reused without modification.

Overview of Types and Options

Apart from the basic geometric requirements, hinges differ in their kinematics and features.

Opening Angle

The standard opening angle for conventional sideboard doors is 110°. Matching 110-degree concealed hinges / cabinet hinges are sufficient for normal access to shelves. However, if there are internal drawers behind the cabinet door (frequently found in units that are 35 cm deep or deeper), this angle is not enough. The open door would obstruct the drawer runner. In this case, wide-angle hinges with a 155° or 165° opening angle are strictly required. These swing the door completely clear of the internal carcase width.

Closing Mechanism: Soft-Close

Modern fittings feature integrated damping. This slows the door down during the final centimetres of its closing travel and pulls it shut smoothly and silently. Concealed hinges / cabinet hinges with damping (Soft Close) absorb kinetic energy via a small hydraulic cylinder located inside the hinge arm. Important note for fitters: soft-close must never be combined with push-to-open (tip-on). Both mechanisms work against each other. For handleless doors, unsprung hinges (without a closing spring) are strictly required.

Which Hinge for Which Application? (Selection Guide)

To choose the correct hinge for a Nobilia sideboard or similar carcase furniture, examine the construction of the unit. The hinge acts like a rail switch – it determines the exact path the door follows past the carcase.

If the sideboard consists of individual carcase units and the outer door completely covers the side panel, then you strictly need full overlay concealed hinges.
If you have a continuous sideboard (e.g. 100 cm wide) with multiple doors and two doors are attached to an internal partition wall, then you must select half overlay concealed hinges for these middle doors.
If the design of the furniture recesses the doors so they are framed inside the side panels, then inset concealed hinges are the only compatible solution.

Installation Advice for Replacement

Replacing hinges requires precision, but can be completed using standard tools.

Tools required:

Cordless drill/driver
Pozi screwdriver (size PZ2)
Folding rule or vernier calliper

Step-by-step procedure:

Removal: Detach the old door by pressing the release catch at the rear end of the hinge arm (for clip-on hinges) and pulling the arm away from the mounting plate.
Replacing the plate: Unscrew the old cruciform mounting plate from the carcase side panel. Mount the new plate into the same 5 mm System 32 drill holes.
Replacing the cup: Loosen the two fixing screws securing the cup in the cabinet door. Lever out the old hinge. Insert the new 35 mm concealed hinge at an exact 90° angle to the door edge and screw it in place (usually with 3.5 x 16 mm chipboard screws).
Attachment: Guide the hinge arm on the door onto the cruciform mounting plate inside the carcase and push it until the clip mechanism audibly clicks into place.
3D Adjustment: Align the door reveals using the three adjustment screws on the hinge arm. The front screw regulates the lateral overlay (± 2 mm), the rear screw adjusts depth (+ 3 mm / - 2 mm), and the screws on the mounting plate allow height adjustment (± 2 mm).

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Replacement Hinges

How do I know whether I need a full overlay or half overlay hinge? Look at the open door and the cabinet panel to which it is fixed. If the door almost completely covers the edge of the panel (by approx. 15 mm) when closed, it is a full overlay. If the door shares the edge with a second door and covers only half of it (approx. 7 mm), you need a half overlay hinge.

Can I replace old unsprung or standard hinges with soft-close models? Yes, this can be done without issue, provided the basic mechanical parameters match. The cup diameter must be 35 mm and the overlay type (cranking) must be identical to the old hinge.

Do standard concealed hinges fit Nobilia sideboards? Yes. Large furniture manufacturers produce their carcases according to industrial standards. The drillings in the doors feature the standard 35 mm diameter. The hole lines in the side panels are drilled according to System 32, with a 37 mm distance from the front edge. Compatible replacement hinges can be mounted directly.

What does the C-dimension mean on concealed hinges? The C-dimension describes the distance between the edge of the 35 mm cup hole and the outer edge of the furniture door. On standard furniture made from 16 mm or 19 mm thick chipboard, this measurement is typically 4 mm to 5 mm. The C-dimension directly influences the door overlay on the carcase panel.

Why is my cabinet door not sitting flush after changing the hinges? If the door stands proud or catches, it needs to be aligned using the 3D adjustment screws. Turn the front adjustment screw on the hinge arm to adjust the door sideways. The rear adjustment screw moves the door closer to the carcase or further away (depth adjustment).

Matching Products & Categories

For a full overview of all available hinge types for cabinet making and repairing existing carcase furniture, browse our specialist fitting categories. There you will find detailed specifications for each hardware component.