A Buyer's Guide to Cabinet Hinges: Concealed, Standard, and Piano Hinges

Three hinge types, three different jobs

Cabinet and cupboard doors don't all use the same hinge. The right one depends on how the door should sit against the cabinet, whether you want the hinge visible, and how much support the door needs along its length.

Concealed hinges

A concealed hinge (or "hidden" hinge) is fitted inside the cabinet so nothing is visible when the door is closed - the hinge is only seen when the door is open. Many concealed hinges are also available in soft-close versions, which slow the door down just before it shuts instead of letting it swing closed at full speed.

• Best for: modern cabinet doors, wardrobes, kitchen cupboards
• Look: clean, no visible hardware when closed
• Note: soft-close and standard versions usually differ in price and feel, so it's worth asking which type is in stock
• Sizing: concealed hinges are fitted into a round recess bored into the door - most common sizes are around 35mm across, so a replacement hinge usually needs to match the existing recess rather than being chosen freely

Standard (butt) hinges

The traditional hinge type - two plates joined by a pin, screwed to the face or edge of the door and frame. Visible when the door is closed, but simple, durable, and easy to source in different sizes.

• Best for: traditional-style cabinets, general doors, budget-friendly fitting
• Look: visible hinge knuckle on the door face
• Note: sold in pairs or sets depending on door weight - a heavier door needs more hinge points or a heavier-gauge hinge, not just a bigger one

Piano (continuous) hinges

A piano hinge runs the full length of the door or lid, rather than being fitted at just two or three points. Because it supports the whole edge, it's useful for doors or lids that need even support along their length, such as folding doors or box and chest lids.

• Best for: cabinet lids, folding doors, panels prone to warping without full-length support
• Look: a continuous strip of hinge along the whole edge
• Note: usually sold as a length that can be cut to size with a hacksaw, so buy slightly longer than needed rather than shorter

Understanding overlay: how a door sits against the cabinet

Beyond hinge type, the way a door sits against the cabinet frame - called the overlay - also affects which hinge fits.

• Full overlay: the door covers the entire cabinet edge or face frame, with doors sitting almost edge to edge when closed. Common on modern, frameless cabinets.
• Partial (half) overlay: the door covers only part of the frame, leaving a visible gap between neighbouring doors - common where two doors share one central support.
• Inset: the door sits flush inside the frame opening rather than covering it, so it sits level with the cabinet face rather than in front of it.

Concealed hinges are made for each of these situations, so a hinge bought for a full-overlay door usually won't sit right on an inset door. If you're replacing a single hinge rather than the whole set, matching the overlay type matters as much as matching the hinge size.

Is soft-close worth the extra cost?

Soft-close hinges cost more than standard hinges - the difference adds up across a whole kitchen or wardrobe - but the tradeoff is real: they remove the loud bang of a door closing, put less repeated stress on the door and frame from slamming, and tend to keep cabinet alignment better over years of daily use. The main downsides are cost, and that budget soft-close mechanisms on lower-cost hardware can lose their damping action after a few years of heavy use, at which point the door closes at normal speed again rather than failing outright. For doors that get opened and closed dozens of times a day - a kitchen in daily use, for example - the extra cost is usually worth it. For a rarely used cupboard, a standard hinge is a perfectly reasonable choice.

How to choose

• Want the hinge to disappear when the door is closed? Concealed hinge.
• Want the simplest, most universally available option? [Standard butt hinge](/categories/furniture-hardware).
• Need support along the entire edge of a door or lid? Piano hinge.
• Want a quieter, longer-lasting close on a door used many times a day? Soft-close concealed hinge.

If you're not sure which type your existing cabinet uses, the easiest way to confirm is to bring a photo or the old hinge itself when you come to replace it - matching both the hinge type and the overlay avoids buying the wrong part twice.

Common questions

Can I replace a standard hinge with a concealed hinge?

Not directly - concealed hinges need a round recess bored into the door, which a standard hinge doesn't have. Switching hinge types on an existing door usually means new drilling work, so it's more practical when a door is already being replaced or refinished.

Why does my cabinet door sag or not close flush after a few years?

Worn hinge pins or stripped screw holes are the most common cause. Many concealed hinges have adjustment screws built in (for height, depth, and side-to-side position) that can correct minor sag without replacing the hinge - worth checking before assuming a new hinge is needed.

How many hinges does a tall or heavy door need?

Wider or heavier doors generally need a third hinge added at the centre, rather than relying on just the top and bottom pair, to stop the door from twisting or sagging over time.