I have soft-close hinges, do I need door finger guards?

22 Jul I have soft-close hinges, do I need door finger guards?

Soft-close hinges have become increasingly popular across the UK, and for good reason! They are most commonly found in new build kitchens and renovations, with soft-close cabinet hinges one of the most searched for hinge types among home improvers according to this research from Google Trends. Globally, the soft close hinge is also performing well as Market Intelo explains:

“As per our latest market intelligence, the Global Soft Close Hinge market size was valued at $2.15 billion in 2024, and is forecasted to hit $4.27 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period… Soft close hinges, known for their ability to prevent slamming and reduce wear and tear, have moved from being a luxury feature to a standard expectation in both residential and commercial applications.”

Now a necessity rather than a luxury in the modern day home, the use of soft-close hinges is also prevalent in public and private sector settings, with their damping mechanism well known and much loved for reducing slamming and noise. But, should they replace the safety and convenience of a finger door guard completely? Here’s why the answer to this question is a resounding “no”!

The hinge gap is still there…

…and it’s unguarded! Even with a soft-close hinge installed, the most dangerous area of the door is still very much there. Hinge gap injuries are extremely common and incredibly painful. The physical and psychological damage finger entrapment causes can result in short and long term complications, with the injured party and their loved ones all negatively impacted.

Soft-close hinges may slow the speed of door closure, but they don’t stop fingers from getting trapped. In contrast, finger guards physically cover the dangerous hinge gap to prevent injury.

Slow closing still causes damage

Contrary to popular belief, a slow closing door can still do a lot of damage. Whilst it’s true that you’ll have more time to react, and get your fingers or hands out of harm’s way, the crushing force applied can mean devastating results. Even at a reduced speed, a soft-closing door can trap fingers, fracture bones, damage nail beds and cause painful soft tissue trauma.

The soft-close doesn’t last forever

The soft-close mechanism won’t be soft closing forever. Like any mechanical system, soft-close hinges suffer wear and tear over time, with leaking hydraulic fluid and loss of tension causing performance to suffer and degrade. Finger guards however keep delivering safety with very little effort or maintenance at all.

Our easy to fit finger protection guards are just as simple to maintain. All they need is a wipe down with a soft cloth and your chosen detergent or cleaner. We’d recommend avoiding the application of dry or abrasive cleaners to keep your finger guards looking great and working even better.

Finger guards work both ways

Soft-close hinges may have the closing mechanism covered, but that doesn’t stop finger entrapment from occurring when the door is opened. In fact, many injuries happen when a door is opened, not just closed. Thankfully, our finger guards protect against both opening-side and closing-side entrapment hazards.

Ready to get started with finger guard installation? Browse our latest brochure to find the door finger guards you require or contact our team to discuss your options.