How many hinges and what fittings does a piece of furniture or a door need?

Fitting fewer hinges than needed seems a small saving until, over time, the door starts to sag or the drawer sticks. They are cheap parts that repay far more than they cost.

How many hinges an interior door needs

Count on at least 3 hinges per standard interior door — with 2 it can fall short on heavy or solid leaves. For wardrobes the rule changes: 2 cup hinges per door up to 90 cm high, 3 on taller doors.

• Mortice / butt hinge: for interior doors.
• Cup hinge: for wardrobes and furniture.
• Surface-mounted (visible): stays on show, used in more rustic or industrial applications.

Handles: according to what is needed after opening

• Spring-loaded lever handle (self-return): the most common on interior doors, returns to its position by itself.
• Fixed knob: used mainly on wardrobe or furniture doors where it doesn't need to return to position by itself.
• Furniture/drawer handle: for kitchen fronts or chests of drawers.

Catches: magnetic or keyed depending on the privacy needed

A magnetic or roller catch is enough for wardrobe doors that only need to stay closed. For bathrooms or bedrooms where privacy is sought, a bolt with key or a locking knob is needed — it isn't interchangeable with a simple wardrobe catch.

Drawer runners: ball-bearing or soft-close

Runners are sold by the set (2 pieces, one per side):

• Standard ball-bearing: the cheapest, enough for light drawers.
• Full-extension, soft-close: with cushioned closing, the one expected on mid-to-high-end kitchen or bathroom furniture.

Frequently asked questions

How many hinges does a 100 cm high wardrobe door need? 3 cup hinges, since it exceeds the 90 cm threshold where 2 may not be enough.

What's the difference between a ball-bearing runner and a soft-close one? The soft-close adds full extension and cushioned closing, whereas the ball-bearing is cheaper and enough for drawers that don't carry much weight.

Can I use a magnetic catch on a bathroom door? It isn't suitable if privacy is sought — for that you need a bolt with key or a locking knob, not a wardrobe magnetic catch.

Conclusion

Choosing the right number of hinges according to the weight and height of the door, and the type of fitting according to real use (privacy, perceived quality of the drawer), is what keeps a piece of furniture or a door working well years after installation. Quoting the right fittings from the start avoids having to replace them before their time.