There are a variety of cabinet and door types each requiring a different type of hinge. On this page we list the main categories of application as this is the usual way hinges are referred to. After identifying the application, clicking through will explain the different styles of hinges that are appropriate for said application.
One of the most common applications is Flush. Also called "full inset". The door fits completely in the opening of the cabinet or in direct line with the portion the hinge is attaching to. The meeting of the two hinged portion looks like the illustration below. See here for more specific examples of flush cabinet hinges.
Inset hinges are for applications where part of the door is inset into the opening and only a portion of the door overlays the opening or face frame.
Overlay hinges are for applications where the door is larger than the opening and lays over it. Hence the name overlay.
European or Euro hinges have a cup and are mortised into the cabinet. Euro hinges are available for pretty well any variation of cabinetry, but if you are replacing hinges you must replace euro hinges with euro hinges.
Special purpose hinges are used for all sorts of reasons that are often quite specific. By clicking through we'll take you through as many of the somewhat common ones as we can. There are a thousand different hinges, so it's pretty hard to list them all.
Architectural hinges are hinges used in the design and construction of a home or a business and thus fall into two categories, residential or commercial. Most of these hinges will be variations of the standard butt style hinge.
