Have you ever bought a replacement hinge for your kitchen cabinet, spent an hour installing it, and then realized the door won't close properly? You’re not alone.
The most common mistake homeowners make is buying the wrong Hinge Overlay.
Whether you are upgrading to soft-close hinges or simply replacing a broken one, getting the "Overlay" right is the difference between a perfect fit and a door that rubs against its neighbor. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what overlay is and how to measure it in less than 2 minutes.
1. First: Face Frame vs. Frameless Cabinets
Before worrying about the hinge, look at your cabinet box.
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Frameless Cabinets (European Style): The box is just a box. The visible front edges are the thick plywood sides of the cabinet.
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Face Frame Cabinets (American Style): There is a solid wood frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. This is very common in traditional US homes.
Why it matters: Hinge mounting plates are different for these two styles. Make sure you know which one you have before clicking "Add to Cart."
2. What Exactly is "Overlay"?
"Overlay" refers to how much your cabinet door overlaps the cabinet opening (or the face frame) on the hinge side when the door is closed.
There are three main types you will encounter:
A. Full Overlay
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What it looks like: The door covers almost the entire front face of the cabinet (or the side panel). You see very little of the cabinet frame.
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Common Use: Modern, frameless kitchens for a sleek look.
B. Half Overlay
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What it looks like: The door covers only half of the side partition.
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Common Use: Often found in cabinets where two doors share a single partition wall in the middle.
C. Inset
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What it looks like: The door sits inside the cabinet frame, flush with the front. It doesn't overlap the frame at all.
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Common Use: Traditional, high-end custom furniture or antique cabinets.
3. The "Tape Trick": How to Measure Your Overlay
You don't need professional calipers to measure this. All you need is a piece of masking tape (or painter's tape) and a pencil.
Step 1: Close the cabinet door. Step 2: Place a piece of masking tape on the cabinet frame (the vertical part), right next to the hinge side of the door. Step 3: Draw a line on the tape along the edge of the door. Step 4: Open the door. Measure the distance from the edge of the cabinet opening to the line you just drew.
That measurement is your overlay.
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Standard US Overlays: The most common overlays for face frame cabinets are 1/2 inch, 1-1/4 inch, or 1-3/8 inch.
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Tip: If your measurement is weird (like 1-5/16"), round to the nearest standard fraction.
4. Why Upgrade to Soft-Close?
While you are measuring for replacements, consider this the perfect time to upgrade.
Soft-close hinges have a built-in hydraulic mechanism that catches the door just before it slams and gently pulls it closed. It protects your cabinet finish, prevents finger-pinching, and eliminates that banging noise from your kitchen.
At Chibery, nearly all our replacement hinges come with integrated soft-close technology—because you deserve a quiet kitchen.
Summary
Don't let the technical terms scare you. Just remember:
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Identify if you have a Face Frame or Frameless cabinet.
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Use the "Tape Trick" to find your overlay dimension.
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Match the spec when you buy.
Ready to fix that door? 👉 [Shop Our Collection of Soft-Close Hinges Here]
Need help identifying your hinge? Snap a photo and email us at info@chibery.com—we’d love to help!