Hinge Calculator — Type, Size & Placement

Most kitchen cabinet doors (up to 600mm tall) need 2 hinges. Tall larder or pantry doors (over 1200mm) should have 3 or more. For heavy solid-wood doors, add an extra hinge. The standard is 35mm concealed cup hinges (Blum or Hettich style).

For concealed hinges, position the top hinge 75-100mm from the top edge and the bottom hinge the same distance from the bottom. Any middle hinges should be evenly spaced between them. For butt hinges, 100-125mm from each end is standard.

A 35mm concealed hinge (also called a cup hinge or Euro hinge) uses a 35mm diameter cup that sits in a blind hole drilled in the door. The mounting plate screws to the cabinet side. It is fully concealed when the door is closed. Blum, Hettich, and Hafele are the main UK suppliers.

For 35mm concealed hinges, the cup hole is typically 12-13mm deep drilled with a Forstner bit. For butt hinges, the mortise (recess) should be the exact thickness of the hinge leaf, usually 1.5-2.5mm. The hinge leaf should sit flush with the wood surface.

Small jewellery boxes: 25mm brass butt hinges. Medium boxes: quadrant stays which hold the lid open at 90 degrees. Blanket boxes and chests: use a piano hinge (continuous hinge) for even weight distribution, plus a lid stay for safety.