Overlay describes a door that sits in front of the cabinet face and covers the frame or carcass edge. Full overlay covers the whole edge, leaving only a small reveal between adjacent doors. Half overlay covers about half, so two doors can share an edge.
Full versus half overlay
Full overlay is the default for frameless cabinets and for most modern framed work. Each door covers its own carcass edge completely, and the gap you see is the reveal between doors — typically 3 mm.
Half overlay exists for shared edges: two doors meeting on one dividing panel, each covering half of it. It is common on corner units and on cabinet runs where a centre stile would otherwise be needed.
| Type | Covers | Hinge type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full overlay | Whole carcass edge | Full overlay (clip-on) | Standard frameless and framed runs |
| Half overlay | Half the edge, shared | Half overlay | Two doors on one panel |
| Inset | Nothing — sits inside | Inset / two-plane | High-end framed work |
What overlay changes in the opening
Overlay doors do not reduce the clear opening, which is the main practical argument for them. On a 600 mm frameless cabinet the opening is roughly 564 mm; the same cabinet with a 38 mm frame and overlay doors drops to about 524 mm.
They do change the hinge geometry. Full overlay hinges need a mounting plate that pushes the door outward; half overlay hinges mount closer to the panel centre. Choosing the wrong plate is the most common cause of a door that will not close flush.
Three mistakes worth avoiding
Forgetting the filler at a wall. An overlay door covers the carcass, not the gap to the wall. Without a filler or an end panel, the last door fouls the wall or the handle hits it.
Mixing full and half overlay in one run without planning the reveals. The door gaps end up uneven, and no amount of hinge adjustment fixes a 6 mm reveal next to a 3 mm one.
Specifying overlay on a cabinet that needs to look inset. It will not — the door stands proud of the frame by its own thickness, and the shadow line is the giveaway.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full overlay and half overlay?
Full overlay covers the entire carcass edge; half overlay covers half, so two doors can share one panel. Full overlay gives the cleanest face and is the default for frameless cabinets.
Does overlay give more storage than inset?
The internal volume is identical. What changes is the clear opening: an overlay door leaves the full carcass width available, while an inset door needs a frame around the opening.
Can I convert inset doors to overlay?
Not on the same cabinet. The door sizes, hinge types and frame machining are all different. You would be rebuilding the fronts, not adjusting them.
Why do my overlay doors not line up?
Usually hinge plate choice or carcass squareness. Check that full overlay plates are used on full overlay doors, and that the cabinet is square across the diagonal before blaming the hinges.
