Typical cabinet options
There are two basic construction methods for cabinets: face frame and frameless (sometimes called Eurostyle). Each type calls for its own varieties of hinges. Hinges for face frame cabinets tend to be traditional in nature. Hinges for frameless cabinets more often come from the 32mm system.
Inset doors are captured within the cabinet’s framed opening.	Full overlay doors are planted in front of the cabinet and hide the front edge of the side from view.
3/8" overlay doors require specialized hinges and fit both inside and over the cabinet’s opening.	Decorative overlay hinges are attractive and easy to install. One limiting factor is the face frame width.
Butt hinges work well for inset or overlay doors.	No-mortise hinges are a variation of the butt-hinge theme.
This 3/8" inset hinge is for lipped doors.	Soss hinges, like the Hafele, must be mounted in the door’s edge.
32mm cup hinges for overlay or inset doors.

Getting a drawer or door to move the way you want can be accomplished only with the proper hardware. And if the hardware won’t fit to the woodwork, you have to live with some approximation of what you wanted. That’s why it’s important to choose and acquire the hardware at the beginning of the project, rather than at the end.

You need to keep several considerations in mind when you’re choosing hinges to attach the doors of your project to the case.

General Considerations

Doors and cases fall into two general types, and which hinge you choose depends on which type of door and case you are dealing with. In one type — the inset door — the door is framed by the case. In the other type — the overlay door — the door sits on the edges of the case. The hinge has to be chosen accordingly.

Another important consideration is over what range does the door have to open — 90˚, 120˚, or 180˚? An inset door usually can’t open more than 90˚ without binding on the case, unless you find an articulated hinge that moves the door clear while it pivots open. Further, in some instances the hinge is simply screwed onto the door and stile or jamb, while in others it has to be mortised into the wood. The length of screw and the material it sinks into together determine the holding power, but in many situations this is limited by the thickness or other properties of the material. In particleboard, MDF or plywood, screwing into the edge provides less strength than solid wood.

Three Groups of Hinges

When all is said and done, we can divide most hinges into three main groups.

Traditional hinges — Traditional hinges all feature two leaves with interleaved barrels connected by a pin, which in small sizes is not removable. Though traditional hinges come in different configurations, all pivot through the geometric center of the pin, and they generally are not adjustable after installation. This makes accurate installation critical, because if you get it wrong, it’s difficult and messy to revise. Accurate installation requires paying careful attention to layout and measurement or the construction of jigs — and often both. The three principal types of leaf hinges include butt hinges, back flap hinges (or rule joint hinges) and piano hinges.

New-style hinges — New style hinges have a nontraditional way of locating the attachment point or pivot point. Some, like Soss hinges, incorporate multiple pivots to achieve a clearance throw or some other motion. Knife hinges and Hafele leaf hinges are other examples of new-style hinges.

32mm cup hinges — Though the European 32mm system is a complete method of cabinetmaking, it has also propelled a number of innovative products onto the general market. Cup hinges in particular can be used whether or not one adopts the whole system, though naturally they make the most sense in the manufacturing context for which they were designed. Cup hinges deliver motion by way of multiple pivots; they can be adjusted after installation; and they’re designed for a wide range of door-opening situations. These hinges are available as either surface-or-cup-mounted. Some disassemble for easier door removal.

Materials Matter

Finally, what the hinges are made of is another important consideration. In the end, choosing a hinge goes straight to the quality of your project. People will judge your work, at least in part, by the quality of the hardware. For instance, a 1-1⁄2" pressed-brass butt hinge, for the most part, does exactly the same job as a 1-1⁄2" solid-brass hinge. The solid brass hinge is a lot more expensive than the sheet metal hinge, but it is engineered and manufactured to a higher standard, and it will look great.