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Concealed hinges, also known as cup hinges, are indispensable when it comes to mounting cabinet doors. They are small, unobtrusive, and yet so important. They ensure smooth opening and closing of your cabinet doors and make a decisive contribution to the durability and functionality of your furniture.
We offer a wide variety of different concealed hinges and cup hinges. You will make the best choice if you know the most important aspects – and that is exactly where we want to help you.
The perfect fit: How material, setback, and size influence the choice of concealed hinge
So that the hinge later fits perfectly and performs its function as well as possible, you need to give careful thought to material, setback, and size.
The material of cup hinges
Concealed hinges are usually made of robust steel or durable zinc. Steel is especially resilient and is excellent for heavier doors. Zinc hinges, on the other hand, are corrosion-resistant and therefore ideal for areas with high humidity, such as the kitchen. We also carry stainless steel models in our range.
Setback matters
The setback between the concealed hinge and the cabinet edge plays an essential role in selecting the right hinges. This value indicates how far the hinge extends beyond the edge of the cabinet at the end. The choice of setback depends on the type and style of your cabinet doors. We stock the most common setbacks:
And of course, the cup size
- Concealed hinges with 26 mm diameter: These are ideal for smaller, lightweight cabinet doors.
- Concealed hinges with 35 mm diameter: This is the most common size and fits most standard cabinets.
- Concealed hinges with 40 mm diameter: These hinges are best suited for heavier doors, such as those made of solid wood.
Available special functions for cup hinges
In addition, there are certain special functions and aspects that you need to consider when making your choice:
- Hinges for screwing, for pressing in, or for tool-free installation
- Concealed hinges for overlay, half overlay, or inset doors
- With or without self-closing function
- With or without damping
- For particularly thin doors
The right opening angle for concealed hinges
A well-chosen cabinet door can significantly affect the comfort and functionality of your space. The opening angle of the concealed hinge plays a crucial role here.
The standard opening angle for concealed hinges is 95 degrees. However, in practice, that is often not enough. In kitchen cabinets, hinges with an opening angle of 110 degrees are therefore often used. From 120 degrees onward, these are referred to as wide-angle hinges, which are also suitable for particularly thick doors.
The opening angle of a concealed hinge defines the angle between the closed furniture door and the door opened to its stop. Depending on the installation situation, smaller opening angles (near adjacent walls) or larger opening angles (for better accessibility in corner cabinets) may be useful. Common opening angles for concealed hinges are
Sometimes the possible opening angle must be limited to prevent the door from colliding with other components. In such cases, special opening limiters are available to make the concealed hinge compatible.
How to calculate hinge setback
Calculating the hinge setback is a critical step when installing or replacing cabinet doors. The setback generally consists of two main components: the mounting plate setback and the distance from the hinge cup to the outer edge of the door, often referred to as cup setback.
By using a mounting plate with a specific setback, the door’s distance to the cabinet can be changed. For example, using a mounting plate with a 3 mm setback can increase the door’s distance by 3 mm.
The cup setback, on the other hand, refers to the distance from the edge of the bore hole of the hinge cup to the outer edge of the furniture door. This value is standardly set to 4 mm, but depending on the hinge characteristics it can be adjusted to a value between 3 mm and 6 mm. Changing this value can cause the door to sit closer to or further from the cabinet side.
It is important that you calculate and adjust these distances precisely to ensure correct door installation and optimal function. A precise tape measure and a good screwdriver are helpful tools here. Measure both the length and width of the hinges and the corner radius if the hinges are not square. You can find out how to install a concealed hinge correctly here.
Conclusion
Concealed hinges or cup hinges play a central role in the functionality of furniture pieces. When selecting the right concealed hinge, several important aspects such as materials, setbacks, opening angles, and hinge setbacks must be considered depending on the intended use. This ensures that you choose the right concealed hinge for your needs.