A partial inset door is generally found on a cabinet which has a face frame. When the door is closed part of the thickness of the door fits inside the opening of the cabinet (this is the “inset”) and part of the door “overlays” the cabinet opening (this is the “lip”). In order to choose the proper hinge for this type of door you must know both the inset dimension and the lip dimension.
The above photo shows a Semi-Concealed Partial Inset Hinge as it is installed in a cabinet door and face frame.
The above photo shows a “cut away” view of the cabinet face frame and door (looking down from above) of a “Partial Inset” door.
The above photo shows a close up view of the cutout on the edge of your door. You will be measuring the “lip” dimension and the “inset” dimension.
The standard lip dimension is 3/8″. Occasionally we hear of a customer who has a lip dimension of 1/2″ but we do not believe there are hinges still being manufactured for this lip dimension. Some customers have told us that they were able to use a hinge made for a 3/8″ lip by shaving off 1/8″ of the 1/2″ lip on their door to give them a 3/8″ lip.
Possible inset dimensions are 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ and 3/4″. The 3/8″ inset has been in wide use for the last 30 or so years. Before that 1/2″, 5/8″ and 3/4″ were used.