Euro Hinges Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- European style door hinges for kitchen and bath cabinets are the hardware of choice for most manufacturers and often for woodworkers too. Learn the basics of selecting the right one for new cabinets or to replace a broken door hinge on an existing cabinet.
Whether you are new to woodworking and cabinetmaking or if you just want to replace a broken hinge on your kitchen cabinet, this video will give you the background you need.
Absolutely fantastic video. Thanks so much for making this.
I never even imagined hinges could have different options until i went to change mine and this was the only video that gave a thorough explanation in so much detail with fantastic illustrations and examples of each.
Great video I watched it a few hours ago. Right after watching it I went to Home Depot and got the correct hinge and my door is up! Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I have found it VERY useful! Stay well!!
Thanks for explaining how to tell the difference on how they attach to the cabinet. Great info
Thanks for making this video. It helped me understand Euro Hinges. I thought you did a great job in giving a solid explanation of these hinges.
After so many google searches and YT videos, you finally answered my question!!! FRAMELESS Hinge
Just getting ready to change my cabinet hinges. This video has been very helpful. Thanks
I can't understand the 37 "thumbs down." Very helpful, basic introduction to euro hinges, thank you.
Well done video. All the details are explained. Thanks.
Excellent information. A quick tutorial for selection and main options!
Flat bottomed holes, you make the rocking world go round!!!
Explained very well. Clear, good pace and reviewed. Thanks.
Thanks for the great video, John. Very informative.
An explanation that I could finally understand. I must buy one of those templates as I have found that the cardboard ones that come with the hinge are not very accurate. Ones from China or Taiwan have shown as little as 2 mm from the edge of the door.
Good. Very very good. The info, the amount of info and how you explained that info done in a smooth and excellent presentation. Thank you. Some mysteries solved. subbed.
Thank you this were very helpful cause in my case I didn't know what kind of hinges I need.
Thank you for the explanation. I've taken pictures of the hinges on the other corner cabinet but the big box store personnel have no clue and also don't carry them for corner cabinets. I will have to order online but don't know what to order. But thank you for your response. I enjoyed the video.
I don't normally like to post links because they eventually change, but try this company to see if you find what you're looking for:
www.rockler.com/hardware/hinges/european-hinges
Thanks, also! Good job of explaining all of the 'principles' behind these -- and what (and which screw) to look for on an existing cabinet door that seems to have started to 'sag' and 'bind' a little (closing and rubbing on the bigger cabinet door below it -- the bigger door (same Euro hinges, also having a separate 'rubber bumper' mounted inside that cabinet) seeming to be in good, and solid shape, no movement on that door ...
Flat bottomed holes, you make the rocking world go round...
Great video. Helped me out a ton
Thank you sir for taking the time to explain.
Very good thank you for your excellent explanation
THE VERY BEST VIDEO YOU CAN FIND!!!!! TONS OF THANKS :))))))
Finally. An understandable video.
Very informative video, thanks. I may have to replace two existing door fronts on a kitchen cabinet. I can use the existing hardware.
What a wonderful helpful video! Thank you so much!
Very informative, thank you
Nice Job! Very well done!
very informative and to the point. Thank you !!!!!
Great video - thank you for making this!
Thank you for explaining this. It helps alot.
Great video. Thanks!
Great video - very helpful - Kailua Kona, HI
Thank you for posting a very informative video. Can you please also explain about 1/2" and 1 1/4" overlay?
+Tuan Nguyen The overlay is just the amount that the door overlaps the cabinet face. You could just as easily change the word "overlay" to "overlap"!
Thanks, very very good video!
Thanks ! great info . It answered my question.
great explanation! thanks.
My cabinet doors are inset but have an outer lip that covers the opening a 1/4". Can I still use a concealed hinge?
I think you are describing a partial inset door, which has a lip on the outer edge to contact the face frame of the cabinet. By contrast, a true inset or full inset door closes and is contained entirely within the face frame opening. They do make euro style hinges for partial inset doors, and the standard measurement is actually 3/8 inch. If you search under partial inset euro hinge I think you'll find what you need.
Outstanding video.....
Nice vid! Just one word from Europe. ;) I have used at least 3-4 differently sized cups already. I'm not sure if all of them can be called "EURO" hinges, but they all look and work the same way as presented here. But some have 35mm, others have 25 or even 16mm cups. So the jig might not work for all. And it's a pain in the butt to find that your door was drilled already with the wrong size Forstner. No way to fix that nicely anymore. Cheers.
+szocsgeza Interesting--I don't pretend to know the standards in actual Europe! In the states the 35mm standard is king and anything else is a specialty item rarely used.
I thought I had done the hard part assembling an ikea wardrobe then I got to the doors 😱
I have Omega cabinetry and one of the doors was pushed open farther than it is designed to open. Consequently the hinge was bent outward and now the door will not shut completely. Can the hinge be bent back to its normal position or will I need to replace the hinges?
Most likely you'll need to replace the hinges. If the adjustement screws don't make up for the bent metal you'll need to pick up a new hinge.
How do you adjust the hinge resistance/speed? I have Ferrari soft-close hinges that are too tight.
There are a million different brands and models these days, so I certainly don't know every one of them. However, to my knowledge there is no hinge with an adjustment for the soft close speed. The ones I've ever seen use spring tension which is non-adjustable. Maybe somebody else will chime in if they know differently.
Great video! Thank you. I have a question: if my cabinet doors are hollow, is it still possible to use euro hinges?
Thanks for the video! I have a question. When installing the door side hinges where should the hinges be placed? My doors are 73 1/2 in length but their light weight. Where should I install hinges? Thanks in advance
+D. Ali Presumably you are using three hinges for that length of a door. Aside from the obvious (top, middle and bottom!) you'll want to place the hinges so that they are relatively near the rails of the doors (the cross pieces) which provide the strength when the door is open. But, exact placement isn't super critical. Typically the top and bottom hinges are located 4-6 inches from the respective edge.
+enduringcharm thank you that's exactly what I did. Have a great day
Super helpful - thanks!
Good video, thanks.
Awesome explanation
Is the frame on the face frame cabinet a standard size or is this also something that must be considered when purchasing? I am getting for my parents and am not able to measure the width of the frame prior to purchase
+Patti Lengel Well, the mounting holes on the frame side could well be different from manufacturer to manufacturer. It isn't the measurement of the face frame you're after, but the mounting locating of the hinge. Even if a replacement hinge has different mounting holes on the face frame side, though, you can usually make it work.
The hinge on the cabinet I open and close most has suddenly stopped being soft-close. It just bangs closed like a normal hinge. I need to know what went wrong with it and whether I can fix it or just need to buy a new hinge.
I've been living with these hinges for about 8 months; the rest are working fine. But as I say, this is the cabinet I open and close most often. Has the hinge just worn out (so soon)? Or can it be adjusted somehow?
+Blah Blaah It's probably toast. Most of the soft close hinges I've seen rely on a spring clip arrangement to slow the closing of the door. The clip probably snapped on your hinge. Other styles have different mechanisms but none are adjustable. Time for a new hinge.
Very helpful, thanks!
Thank you!!! I have a question - can I put the original hinges back on the cabinets and add that self closing hinge, which means I'll have 3 hinges instead of 2? I've been reading about painting cabinets and people say to put them in a labeled bag, so that when you put them back on, the door will close properly. I'm guessing that's because there's differences by mm and if you put the wrong hinge on, the door won't close. Sooooo - if I kept the same hinges and put the self closing hinge on, as well, my door will close and stay closed....is that correct? Or do I need to replace one of my hinges for the self closing hinge?
If you want self closing doors, you need to replace all of the hinges with that style of mechanism. They are designed to work together, not as a single addition to the door. As for keeping hinges together while painting, that could save you some time because presumably the adjustments have already been made. However, you will likely need to readjust some amount anyway, and that's what these hinges are designed to do, so don't fret too much if you get them mixed up. Just pull out your screw driver and make the adjustments!
Oh, wow, thank you! I had no idea I had to get two for each door!
How do you know how much the door is gonna Hang over the face frame so you know what size to make the doors.
If you are making doors you can choose any overhang you like. However, the hinge you choose will limit and determine the overhang on the hinge side of the door.
very helpful but i would've like to hear about inlay hinges also
Euro hinges for inlay doors are less popular, mostly because inlay doors tend to be installed either with traditional hinges or with non-mortise hinges which show. Since inlay doors are associated with a higher-end cabinet the hinge is usually part of the look. But, the only difference with a euro hinge for inlay doors is that the cabinet side of the hinge is mounted inside the cabinet rather than on the face frame, which often requires blocking.
Thank you very much for posting this.
I have a pile of repurposed hinges from store displays but cant tell if they are half or full overlay. Darn...
+Some Unit The door side of the hinge fits the same way and with the same measurement on all the Euro hinges. So, if you compare the cabinet side of your hinges to each other you should be able to get a relative idea of the overlay.
enduringcharm Thank you, indeed sorting them out i was able to find very few applicable to what I need so its off to the hardware clearance store. The video and your attention are much appreciated, best wishes to you and yours.
You never mentioned that some cabinets have predrilled holes for the attachment screws in the cabinet and doors which only accept a much thicker diameter type screw and you must find a replacement hinge with the larger holes to accommodate that type screw
Never run across that. Is this something you've found recently?
Can I change the hinge on a face frame cabinet to a faceless frame hinge? The wood is stripped on the face frame?
I'm not certain I understand what you're trying to achieve. Is the problem that the screw holes stripped out and now the hinge has no where to attach on the cabinet side? If so you may be able to repair the screw holes and I could give you some ideas on that. Or, if your aim is to use a different style of hinge that normally attaches to the side of the box you might be able to use it by gluing a block to the inside of the face frame.
Yes, the hole is stripped. But I found a hinge from the company that you suggested, which does not use the same hole. Thanks for the info. Your video was extremely helpful in my understanding the mechanics of it.
Oh, good. There are ways to fix stripped wood holes. One trick is to jam bits of steel wool in the hole until it is packed, then the screw will have something to bite into. Another trick is to squeeze some glue in and jam toothpicks into the hole. When dry you can cut the toothpicks off and sand. Of course, you can also drill out the hole a little bigger and glue in the same sized dowel for a perfect repair.
Stating the door side hinge bore is standard is INCORRECT.
Different hinges use different spacings. Both between the dowels (the 2 screws,) and from the edge of the door to the 35mm hinge cup bore.
+Cutting Edge The vast majority of euro hinges and virtually all of them sold in box stores like Home Cheapo or Lowes are the same bore on the door side--a 35 mm cup located 22.5mm in from the door edge (about 7/8 of an inch). In fact the little plastic jig I bought 10 or 12 years ago to locate the door side bore is the only one I've ever used and I've bought countless hinges from box stores and catalogs like Rockler. I've read there is a version out there which is something like 20mm from the edge, but I've never run across it. Any of the hinges sold today are going to be the same standard I mentioned. If you can point me to a different standard I'd like to see it.
Great stuff, thanks.
Thanks for this. It was very helpful.
I came here hoping you could advise on how to achieve a good fit...as ive got trouble with gaps...what do i tighten? as screws drop off when i try..
It's pretty tough to diagnose over the interweb, because different hinges have different adjustments available. Some hinges have more adjustment screws than others. In general terms you can usually move the entire door up or down by loosening screws going into the side of the cabinet and sliding up or down before re tightening. Then you may have an adjustment to cock the door one side or the other, which is done by twisting a screw on a single hinge. Then you may have an adjustment to push or pull the door in out or in relative to the cabinet face, which is usually done in pairs unless one hinge is out of adjustment. If you are turning too far you may be losing screws. There's only a limited amount of adjustment--perhaps a 1/4 inch in play.
I have a frameless corner cabinet. What euro hinges do I need?
That's like asking "how long is a string?" Euro hinges are made for frameless cabinets, but you need to look at the mounting method and opening in degrees that works best for your application. If you are replacing an existing hinge and you are unfamiliar with the available selection, I'd suggest taking the old one in to a retail store or using google images to search for a similar version.
HELP!!! first, this is very helpful, however i cant find a single information source about a problem i have come across. I am retrofitting cabinets with faceframe hidden hinges, BUT they originally were fitted with visible hinges with 3/8" overlay. I wanted 3/4" overlay, but after doing a lot of research, i think i will have to go with 1/2" overlays. however, I have three cabs with full width pullout drawers. And the door doesnt clear with zero clearance like visible hinges. I have looked a LOT at cabinets with these faceframe hinges, and either some are attached differently, or installed wrong. I see them with zero door protrusion, and i see them with 1/2" door protrusion...WHICH IS RIGHT~! i have to get this finished and i need to be sure i can use these. RIght now, all the rest can be hidden pretty easily, due to no pullouts, but with the 4, they have to line up, because two of them sit on top of other ones...HELP!!! need someone who knows what I mean
I'm sorry, but I 'm really not following what your question is. Maybe you can rephrase it?
My cabinet doors have a 3/4" outer edge profile bevels off from about 3/4" to 1/4" (from the rail/stile to the outer edge of the door). Would this thinner edge be a problem when drilling the cups on the back of the doors? (I think it is called a
+tomr If you are using standard router bits to make the edge profile, it should be fine. These 35mm cups are used in all sorts of circumstances and I think they will sit far enough inboard so as not to be a problem. (I'm not in my shop right now to measure for you. ) Obviously don't drill the cup hole deeper than you need to, but it's pretty easy to stop and start with a forstner bit.
Thanks
Thanks man!
Thanks helped me 🤔
I'm making the doors myself and looking to get the doors sprayed (two pack). Should I drill the doors before sending them off for spraying or drill them after they come back from the spray painters?
An argument could be made either way, but I would cut the holes first. That way if you run into a problem such as a misplaced hole or a knot in the wood, you can correct the issue before the finish. Plus, there's less risk of damaging the finish while cutting the holes. However, you may need to clean up the holes after the finish if the finishers are not careful with overspray.
Thanks bro.
MY wife has decided I'm too slow at almost everything.......so she has told me to get out of the way and let her do it.
Mind you I have been a contractor for over 30 years...L0OL
Of course you're slow--everything hurts after 30 years!
His voice reminds me of Joe Pesci
hey, you wanna piece of me?
What about overlay? full, half? One more factor to include in explanation please.
+Rick Reed At the 2:08 mark I was speaking about frameless or face-frame cabinets, which is the same subject. A full overlay door means that the door covers the entire face of the cabinet. A frameless cabinet discussed in the video would require a full overlay hinge because you would want the edges of the cabinet covered when the door is closed. A half overlay hinge is used in the same circumstances but where two doors are side by side on the same frame edge. They each share half of the edge, if you will. Then there are "inset" hinges which allow the door to sit inside a face frame. Finally there are "partial overlay" hinges which overlap a face frame by a specified amount, such as 3/8 or 1/2 inch.
+enduringcharm Thank you. Great video.
why are they called euro hinges?
As far as I know, these hinges were originally designed as a European standard and were adopted by cabinet manufacturers in the US because of their ease of installation and adjustment.
Home cheapo lol