Update the look of your cabinets with new hardware.
You’ve picked the perfect cabinets and now you’re ready to choose cabinet hardware. Or maybe you want to update the look of your cabinets. Many decorative styles of hinges, knobs and pulls are available, and choosing can be a tough task. Here is all the information you need to make the right decision.
Cabinet Hardware Finishes
When choosing the finish for your hardware, you may be tempted to select the latest trend. Before making your decision, think about what style will look best in your home.
If your style is traditional, brushed finishes, polished brass, nickel or pewter will complement your décor. If you have a more contemporary décor, choose finishes with an enameled or high gloss-metal shine or theme hardware to blend with the overall look of the kitchen. Knobs, pulls and hinges are available in various colors, metals and finishes:
- Antique copper
- Polished chrome
- Polished, sterling or antique brass
- Nickel
- Aged bronze
- Ceramics (knobs and pulls only)
- Iron
Cabinet Knobs and Pulls
Knobs and pulls are available in various finishes. They are the most visible of cabinet hardware and can help define the look of your cabinets:
- Knobs are handles mounted to doors or drawers with a single screw and bolt. Some knobs have screws built in and are easier to install than ones with separate screws. Knobs can be combined with a backplate or used alone. Knobs range from three-quarter inches to 2 inches in diameter.
- Pulls serve the same function as knobs but occupy more space. Therefore, pulls greatly impact the appearance of a cabinet. Pulls can be combined with a backplate or used alone and are usually attached with two screws.
Determine the size needed by measuring from hole to hole on the pull, not by the length of the pull. If you are replacing pulls, use the old ones to compare to the new ones.
Cabinet Backplates
A backplate is placed between the door or drawer surface and the knob or pull. The backplate may be used:
- To protect the cabinet surface
- To cover existing holes in the cabinet surface
- To enhance the decorative hardware
Cabinet Hinges
Cabinet Construction
Before determining the type of hinge you need, you must first know the type of cabinet construction you have:
Frameless or European cabinets have flush or inset doors and concealed hinges.
- Full-overlay door: The door covers the cabinet end panel.
- Half-overlay door: The cabinet door covers approximately half of the cabinet end panel.
- Inset door: The cabinet door is inset or flush with the cabinet face.
Face-frame cabinets have a wooden frame on the face of the cabinet.
- Flush door: The door is completely flush with the face of the frame.
- 3/8"-inset (lipped) door: The door overlays the face frame and has a rabbet cut on the back edge.
- Overlay door: The door overlays the face frame completely.
Number of Hinges
Determining the number of hinges you need is important for door stability.
- For a door less than 40 inches high and less than 11 pounds, you need two hinges.
- For a door 40 inches to 60 inches high and 13 pounds to 20 pounds, you need three hinges.
- For a door 60 inches to 80 inches high and 29 pounds to 33 pounds, you need four hinges.
- For a door 80 inches to 85 inches high and 40 pounds to 48 pounds, you need five hinges.
Types of Hinges
- Mortise hinges are permanent installation hinges. The area of the cabinet door and frame is cut out for the hinges to attach.
- Non-mortise hinges do not need to be set into the side of the door or cabinet. You simply fasten the hinges down with screws.
- The frame wing attaches to the frame.
- The door wing attaches to the cabinet door.
- The knuckle connects the frame wing and door wing and allows rotation.
- The pin holds the hinge together.
Most hinges come with a card template for drilling the screw holes. Technically, hinges are specified for use on left- or right-hand doors. Hinges come in different sizes to support different door weights. Some hinges are made specifically for framed or frameless cabinets. Two types of hinge installations are available.
Hinge Construction
Four parts make up a cabinet hinge.
Hinges can be fully concealed, so you see only the surface of the door, or semi-concealed, so you see only the knuckle of the hinge. (Use semi-concealed hinges if you have inset doors.)
European or Frameless Hinges: These are the most popular hinges for full-overlay and inset doors due to ease of installation and the ability to handle heavy doors. European hinges can be adjusted to align and level cabinet doors. They can also be used on face-frame cabinets. These are self-closing hinges.
European Overlay Hinges: These are for frameless cabinet doors with half-overlay doors. European overlay hinges can also be used for face-frame cabinets with doors that overlap the frame. These are self-closing hinges.
Face-Frame Hinges
Variable Overlay Hinges: These are for face-frame cabinets with doors that completely overlay the frame and do not have a rabbet on the back edge.
European Hinges: These are the most popular hinge for full-overlay and inset doors due to their ease of installation and ability to handle heavy doors. European hinges can be adjusted to align and level cabinet doors. European hinges can also be used on frameless cabinets. These are self-closing hinges.
European Overlay Hinges: These are for cabinet doors that overlap the frame or for cabinets that are frameless with half-overlay doors. They are self-closing hinges.
Partial Wraparound Hinges: These are face-frame hinges with a large surface area that improve stability. Use on flush, inset or overlay doors. These are self-closing hinges.
3/8"-Inset Hinges: The door overlays the face-frame and has a rabbet cut on the back edge. These are self-closing hinges.
H-Style Hinges: They look like the letter "H" with one side attaching to the frame and one side attaching to the door and are used with flush doors. These hinges do not self-close.
Butterfly Hinges: For flush doors, both wings of the hinges are mounted to the outside surfaces of the cabinet door and frame. These hinges do not self-close.
3/8"-Offset H-Hinges: These provide support and smooth operation for offset doors. These hinges do not self-close.
T-Style Hinges: These look like the letter "T" with the vertical piece attaching to the door frame and the horizontal piece attaching to the door. These hinges do not self-close.
Full-Inset Pin Hinges (Butt Hinges): They are for doors completely flush with the face of the cabinet. Can be recessed or surface mounted on face-frame cabinets. These hinges do not self-close.
Cabinet Door Catches
Catches are used on doors that do not have self-closing hinges.
Magnetic Catches
- Metal plate mounts on the door with the magnetic part mounted on the frame.
- They are the most widely used of all catches.
- Magnetic touch latches open and close with a light push on the door.
- Magnetic catches are often used on glass doors.
Spring Roller Touch Catches
- They have one or two rollers set close together and mounted on the cabinet frame, and a catch that mounts to the door.
- These close when the rollers hook on the strike plate.
- They provide a quiet alternative to the clicking sound of magnetic catches.
Friction Catches
- They have a male and a female part that work with spring tension similar to the roller type.
- These provide a secure grasp of the door.
- Their catch is invisible on an inset door.
Drawer Slides
The first thing to make note of is the weight capacity required for your drawer. Drawer slides have load ratings of light, medium or heavy.
- Side-mount hardware is always more durable than single center mono-rail or center bottom mount slides.
- Options such as ball bearing or nylon rollers, partial or full drawer extension, drawer stop (to prevent the drawer from coming out) and self-closing design are available.
- Full-extension slides are perfect for providing access to every inch of a drawer.
- You must know the slide length and drawer length required before choosing slides.
Mini ball bearing drawer slides may require a one-quarter-inch mortise in the drawer side for installation. Drawer stops are available.
Bottom view of a center-mount drawer slide for face-frame cabinets. No hardware is visible on drawer sides.
European-style self-closing side-mount drawer slide also has a stop to prevent from sliding out completely.
Full-extension, self-closing drawer slide uses the maximum length of your drawer. Drawer stops are available.
Basic side-mount drawer slide uses surface installation on face-frame cabinets.
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