Full Overlay vs Half Overlay Cabinet Hinges: What to Check Before Ordering
Two cabinet hinges can look almost identical and still position a door differently. Before replacing a worn hinge or ordering hardware for a new cupboard, identify how the door sits against the cabinet, then check the cup size and mounting arrangement. Choosing by appearance alone can leave you with hardware that does not suit the existing holes or door position.
This guide explains the difference between full-overlay and half-overlay applications, using two 26mm GTV spring-closing hinges from our range as examples. It is an ordering checklist rather than a drilling template: use the fitting instructions for the exact hinge and mounting plate you select.
What does full overlay mean?
An overlay door sits in front of the cabinet edge when closed. In a full-overlay application, the door covers the cabinet side panel, with the required clearance between the door and surrounding parts. Look at a working door on the same cabinet, if there is one, and compare where its hinged edge sits.
Our 26mm full-overlay cabinet hinge, SKU ZP-CIBI9H0ZE, is listed with a nickel finish, steel construction, slide-on fitting and spring closing. The listing is sold individually. Check the included mounting plate and fixing type against your cabinet before ordering. The full-overlay description identifies its application; it does not mean that it is a universal replacement for every concealed hinge.
When is half overlay used?
A half-overlay arrangement allows the door to cover part of a panel edge. A common situation is two adjacent doors using the same central partition, where their positions and the gap between them must be considered together. Check the actual cabinet construction before deciding that a half-overlay hinge is required.
The 26mm half-overlay cabinet hinge, SKU ZP-CIBI8H0ZE, is also listed as a nickel-finish steel hinge with spring closing and slide-on fitting. It is sold individually; check the mounting plate and supplied fixings before ordering. Sharing the same cup diameter and finish with the full-overlay version does not make the two applications interchangeable.
Check whether the door is inset instead
If the closed door sits inside the cabinet opening, rather than covering the front of the side panel, investigate an inset hinge application. Do not choose full overlay or half overlay simply because the cup fits the existing recess. Browse the cabinet hinges category and compare the stated application before choosing a model.
Measure the cup and existing fixing points
Both examples above have a 26mm cup diameter. Measure the existing recess and record the position of its fixing points; do not assume that another cup size will fit. Cup diameter is only one part of compatibility. Door thickness, the position of the recess and the mounting plate also need to suit the chosen hinge.
Manufacturer hinge planning information illustrates how door thickness, drilling distance, mounting-plate spacing and the desired gap affect a hinge application. Those charts are for specific Blum systems: their numerical settings should not be used as instructions for these GTV hinges. Obtain the correct product instructions before making new holes.
Match the arm and mounting arrangement
A concealed hinge connects the door to a mounting plate on the cabinet. These two GTV examples use a slide-on fixing style. When replacing hardware, photograph the arm, plate and fixing positions, and record any identifying code on the existing parts.
Do not assume that an old plate is compatible with a new hinge just because both are described as concealed. Check the exact combination and the supplied components. Three-way adjustment, as listed for both examples, helps with alignment; it is not a substitute for choosing the correct application and fitting dimensions.
Spring closing and soft closing are different features
The two 26mm examples are listed with spring closing. A self-closing or spring-closing description does not by itself confirm a soft-close damping mechanism. If controlled, quieter closing is a requirement, look for an explicitly specified soft-close model and check its compatibility separately. Do not infer the closing mechanism from the colour or shape of the hinge.
Count what you need before ordering
Check the number of hinges already fitted and the quantity supplied in the selected listing. These listings are sold individually, so one purchase quantity does not mean a pair. GTV’s full-overlay model information and half-overlay model information list one hinge and one mounting plate, with Euro screws included and ordinary fixing screws excluded. Check the components in the shop listing against what your cabinet requires. For new doors, determine the required hinge quantity from the exact manufacturer’s guidance for the door dimensions, material and weight; a general buying guide cannot provide a universal number.
Keep a short record of the application, cup diameter, mounting details, closing mechanism and pack quantity. If any point is uncertain, resolve it before ordering or drilling. For more help comparing furniture hardware and other shop products, return to Guides & Advice.