Types of Cabinet Stay Explained: Which One Does Your Job?

 

Short answer: start with which way the door moves. A door that lifts up needs a kitchen cupboard stay or a gas strut. A lid that lifts up on a box needs a toy box or lid stay. A flap that drops down to sit horizontally needs a bureau stay. A console flap on a media unit needs a TV cabinet stay. Get the direction right and the type follows.

The five types

Type	Door movement	What it does
Kitchen cupboard stay	Lifts upward	Holds an upward-opening cupboard door open. Some include soft close
Toy box and lid stay	Lid lifts up on a box	Holds the lid open, with soft close and lift assist for safety
Bureau cabinet stay	Flap drops down	Supports a drop-down flap horizontally. Soft opening and self-closing options
TV cabinet stay	Console flap	Holds a media unit flap in position
Gas strut stay	Lifts upward	Holds an upward-lifting door open, with soft close

Kitchen cupboard stays

For the upward-opening wall cupboard, where the door lifts rather than swings sideways. The stay takes the weight of the door once it is up so the door stays where you put it.

Soft close versions control the door on the way down as well, which is worth having on anything at head height.

Toy box and lid stays

These are the safety-critical ones. A toy box or blanket box lid is heavy, hinged along its back edge and at exactly the height a child leans into it.

A proper lid stay does two things: it holds the lid open so it cannot fall shut and it provides lift assist so the lid is easier to raise. Soft close on the way down is the feature that matters most, because it means the lid cannot slam on fingers.

Never rely on a friction hinge alone for a child's toy box.

Bureau cabinet stays

The opposite movement. A bureau flap drops down from the top and needs to stop level so it can be used as a writing surface. The stay carries the outer edge of the flap and sets where it stops.

Soft opening versions control the flap as it comes down, which stops it dropping the last few degrees. Self-closing versions bring it back up.

The demand here is different from a lift up door: the stay is holding a horizontal surface that somebody may lean on, so the mounting into the carcase matters as much as the stay.

TV cabinet stays

For media units with a console flap, where the flap needs to be held in position rather than swinging free. A short travel, moderate weight, frequently used application.

Gas strut stays

The workhorse for upward-lifting doors and lids across every application above. A sealed cylinder gives a controlled push, so the door lifts easily and holds where it stops.

Force is quoted in newtons. Our IntAfit lift up soft close range runs from 50N to 150N, with a 600N 250mm option for heavy work in stainless or black steel. Which force you need depends on the weight of the lid and the mounting geometry rather than the size of the door.

How to choose

1. Which way does the door move? Up, down or a console flap. That narrows it to one or two types straight away.
2. How heavy is the door or lid? Work it out from dimensions and material.
3. Does it need soft close? Yes on anything at head height, anything a child uses and anything heavy.
4. Use the calculator. We have calculators for gas strut stays, toy box stays and bureau cabinet stays, since each behaves differently.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cabinet stay?

A fitting that holds a door, lid or flap in an open position rather than letting it swing or fall. Different types suit doors that lift up, lids on boxes and flaps that drop down.

What is the difference between a stay and a gas strut?

A gas strut is one kind of stay. It uses a sealed gas cylinder to give a controlled push, which is why it lifts as well as holds. Other stays are mechanical, using friction or a linkage.

Which stay do I need for a drop down flap?

A bureau cabinet stay. Those are designed to support a flap horizontally, with soft opening and self-closing options.

Which stay is safest for a toy box?

A toy box or lid stay with soft close and lift assist. It holds the lid open so it cannot fall and it controls the lid on the way down.

Do all stays have soft close?

No. Soft close is available across the kitchen cupboard, toy box and gas strut ranges and bureau stays offer soft opening. Check the individual product.

How do I know what force I need?

Use the calculator on our stay pages. It asks for the height, width, thickness and material of your lid and returns a recommendation.

Browse the range

All stays, kitchen cupboard stays, toy box and lid stays, bureau stays, TV cabinet stays and gas strut stays.

The stay categories and forces named here are from the Eurofit Direct range. The mechanisms are described in general terms, so check the specification for the individual product you are buying.