Heavy toy boxes are life saviors when it comes to keeping all your kid’s “valuables” in order. From plushies, robots, and Lego blocks, a colored toy trunk is home to good memories you’ll cherish over the years.
On the downside, hefty lids falling on the little one’s fingers is something you’d want to avoid at all costs. And our best soft close hinge for toy box reviews can surely help with that pursuit!
Soft-close struts slow down the closing process so that the lid doesn’t drop on your arms by accident.
Other than making an inexpensive yet super effective fix to the toy chest, your closet, kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, and storage compartments alike can benefit mightily from an easy-close hinge.
Top 6 Best Soft Close Hinge for Toy Box Reviews
Soft-close hinges, however small they might seem, play a significant role in ensuring your child’s safety at home. We are listing six exquisitely engineered hinges below to give you a head start!
List of The Best Chest Lid Support Hinges
- Apexstone Soft Close Lid Support Soft Close Lid Hinge for Toy Box
- 60 Inch-pound Soft Close Toy Box Lid-Stay Torsion Hinge
- SafeStay Lid Stay – Lid Support Hinge for Toy Box and Chest
- Douper Lid Support Hinge Soft Close Toy Box Hinge Support 40lb
- Douper 200N Gas Struts Heavy Duty Soft Close Lid Support Hinges
- Gizhome 100N 22lb Lid Support Hinge Gas Struts for Cabinet Toy Box
- Ryf Gas Struts Heavy Duty Soft Close 44lb Best Lid Support Hinge
1. Apexstone Soft Close Lid Support Soft Close Lid Hinge for Toy Box
Getting a toy box lid stay for your toddler’s treasure trunk can help you avoid a tear-jerking accident anytime at home. This pair of sturdy soft-close struts will help you take that much-needed safety measure without the help of a handyman.
To begin with, the easy-close struts come in a pair. They can hold heavy toy box lids that weigh up to thirty pounds. The installation is also pretty simple. It’s all about getting an accurate measurement, and once you get it right, the toy box is very safe for your baby to use. From center to center, the compressed strut runs 8.7 inches long. When extended, it becomes 14.2 inches.
- An extended length of 14.2 inches
- A compressed length of 8.7 inches
- Suitable for lids with maximum 30lbs weight
- Easy to install
- Can be used on kitchen cabinets
The mechanism is foolproof. You wouldn’t have to worry about the soft-close function faltering; unless you’re using them on lids that exceed the weight limit. New parents might have a hard time getting started. So, let’s give you some pointers.
The circular side of the soft-close hardware should be placed below the toy box top at an 8-⅝-inch point. It should also keep a 7-⅝-inch distance from the back wall of the box. And as for the rectangular side of the mounting hardware, it’s to be placed keeping a distance of 3-½-inches from the lid’s bottom. Mark these points and get the drilling started for a flawless connection.
The lid has to be longer than the struts for this system to work, of course. And any excess weight should be met with a stronger set of struts to keep your baby’s fingers safe. You can use a center divider to mount both of the struts for your kitchen cabinets as well.
2. 60 Inch-pound Soft Close Toy Box Lid-Stay Torsion Hinge
If you are struggling with a stubborn chest that refuses to get back in place, this is the perfect hinge for you. Firstly, it will offer you the best foolproof installation. You won’t have to chisel any mortise out. That’s convenience at its best.
You will find the hinge securely fitting the stock’s back and lid’s underside. Now, one of the most amazing things about it is the resistance it shows when you open or close it. For, such resistance speaks about the efficiency of a hinge. I mean, what good is a heavy-duty hinge if it gives way easily?
- Incredible durability with the rugged build
- The installation is a breeze and impressively foolproof
- Provides great resistance so that there are no hurting fingers anymore
- Straightforward directions for the setup and use
The directions are very straightforward with this tool. And it will never hurt your fingers while installing. You might think of the price to be a bit high initially, but the product will earn your approval in no time. Only make sure that the back of the box is a ¾-inch one, and the hinge will work wonders.
The durability is there most of the time. Some users have been using it for a good 6 years or so. However, it might have a durability issue once in a while. And sometimes it makes it to a couple of years. Also, it closes when there are only 6 inches of space left.
3. SafeStay Lid Stay – Lid Support Hinge for Toy Box and Chest
Toy boxes without soft close dampers not only pose a risk to your child’s arms but also make the hinges weaker. The SafeStay hinges will keep the lid open up to 105 degrees and close gently in slow motion.
Installing toy box hinges for your kid’s safety has its fair share of troubles. It can take up a good chunk of your weekend, figuring out the measurements. Luckily for you, the SafeStay soft-close struts come with the best comfort. It can hold small to medium-sized toy chests or storage compartments in your home. But let us warn you, this one is a single strut. It doesn’t come in a pair, and therefore, you’ll need to install two of these for heavy wooden boxes.
- Keeps the lid fully open
- Opens at 105 degrees
- Single strut in the box
- Easy-to-read instruction manual
- Ideal for small to medium toy boxes
It holds the lid firmly open until you close the lid so that the little one can comfortably access the box. The instruction manual was easy to follow. Not to mention, it follows lucid English and metric measurements, so you don’t get tangled up in conversion.
A common problem that parents face with all-purpose, general lid dampers is that they either don’t open all the way or close faster than you need. You can certainly cross out risky chest hinges from your worries because this one flaunts the premium gas strut function. These soft close lid stay hinges slow the spring’s air flow and prevents the lid from banging shut. Coming at a reasonable price point, we think this strut will do you good!
4. Douper Lid Support Hinge Soft Close Toy Box Hinge Support 40lb
Whether you’re looking for a chest lid support for bringing an inexpensive fix to your kitchen cabinetry or regular storage compartments, the Douper Lid Support Hinges work just as fine for your toddler’s box of toys! It’s a pack of two, and together they support a whopping 40-pound lid.
Flimsy easy-close struts do more bad than good – making you drill holes without doing the job right. The reason why we recommend the Douper toy box lid stay is because it comes with something extraordinary. For example, you have the option to adjust the tension. After setting up the hinges on two sides of the toy chest, you can tighten the system with the help of an Allen wrench. Adjusting tension will not only enable the struts to carry a lot of weight but also change their lid closing speed accordingly.
- Supports lid opening up to 75°, 90°, and 110°
- Supports up to 40lbs of lid weight
- Zinc alloy and Satin nickel construction
- Conditioned soft closing
- Available in an economical pack of four
The hinges are made of high-quality, durable Zinc alloy with Satin Nickel. It’s sturdy enough to be used in a variety of cabinetry solutions around your home. That said, your closest chamber, cupboard, window seat, coffee table, etc. are some of the things that benefit from a soft-close hinge. Even for an inexperienced person, installation shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
Additionally, you can enjoy true versatility with this set of hinges. If you don’t want the lid to open all the way- which is practically a 110-degree angle from the top of the chest, you may install it for 75° and 90° opening as well. Since this hinge requires top mounting and side mounting for its gas releasing mechanism to work, you still need to do some drilling in order to place the hardware securely.
5. Douper 200N Gas Struts Automatic Heavy Duty Soft Close Lid Support Hinges
Got a super heavy toy box for keeping your toddler’s plushies, action figures, and building blocks safe? Then buying a toy box soft close goes hand in hand. This one by Douper provides a foolproof safety solution to the heavy-hinged lid.
To begin with, each of the Douper gas struts can support 30 pounds of weight. Since this is a pair of two, a maximum of 60 pounds can be comfortably supported by these excellent struts. The hinges will also hold the toy chamber lid open until you nudge it to close. That said, you wouldn’t have to prop the lip open until you find that one stuffed toy your kid can’t sleep without.
- Maximum weight limit of 60lbs together
- The lid can be opened from 75° to 105°
- A 9-inch clearance is required
- Suitable for storage compartments up to 25″ high and 50″ wide
- High-quality gas spring dampers
The strut flaunts a reversible mounting design- you can detach the metal base and use it to your preference. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are left-handed or right-handed; Douper struts are suitable for everyone. Moreover, you’re going to have the most bang for your buck because it’s a pack of two strong, durable struts. You can install one for a lightweight to the mid-sized toy chest and save another for a heavy wardrobe.
Other than sporting a sophisticated design, this heavy-duty soft down lid support offers a couple of angles for opening. You can either choose to open the toy trunk lid all the way up or keep it angled at anywhere up to 75 degrees. Lastly, any lid that exceeds a 50-inch width and a 25-inch height is not compatible with this hardware. You also need to keep a 9-inch gap for the hinges to work efficiently.
6. Gizhome 100N 22lb Safety Lid Support Hinge Gas Struts for Cabinet Toy Box
If your living room or bedroom carpets are laden with building blocks and stuffed animals, it’s time you got a toy box for your kid; and a pair of soft-close struts for safety. This pair of Gizhome struts is an ideal choice.
For starters, you get two gas struts, necessary screws, and 2 sets of accessories in the box. They keep the lid open in a solid position, so your child doesn’t have to prop it open. Now, let’s talk about dimensions. When compressed, the soft-close hinge measure 8-7/10 inches from center to center.
- Supports 22 pounds of weight on each hinge
- Comes with necessary mounting tools
- Durable steel construction with electroplated paint
- Rust-resistant materials
Each hinge has the ability to support 22 pounds of lid weight. So, if the high-density wooden lid weighs more than that, you’ll need to install both of these hinges for a 44lbs lid. Any storage compartment in the house with a lid that bangs shut right on the fingers is equally risky. Luckily for you, these hinges are perfectly compatible with wall cabinets, overhead chambers, raised platforms, wardrobes, and cupboards.
And as for the installation, the following three simple steps do the trick, and Gizhome provided the easiest instruction manual so far. Install the gas supported tubular part keeping a 70mm distance from the box’s pivot.
Now keep the door open at a right angle for allowing the strut to stretch. After that, fix the support to the frame of the box in a downward position. Gizhome suggests that you use only one of the lid supports for a door no wider than 60 centimeters.
7. Ryf Gas Struts Heavy Duty Soft Close 44lb Best Lid Support Hinge
Soft-close gas struts are a staple in child-friendly homes. Flaps and lids of heavy furniture, cabinetry, or toolboxes can also benefit a lot from these hinges. Ryf has a pair of budget-friendly struts you’re going to like!
The struts have an excellent cold-rolled steel construction with a Satin Nickel finish. Top-shelf cold-rolled steel provides extended support. Moreover, the materials are built to resist daily wear and tear, scratches, and corrosion. Just a head’s up- Ryf pneumatic struts are not suitable for lids that exceed 50 inches on width and 25 inches in terms of height. There must also be a 9-inch clearance for the optimum soft-close function.
- Supports up to 60lbs of lid weight
- Made of cold-rolled steel and satin nickel
- Won’t tarnish after use
- Corrosion and rust-resistant material
If the toy box lid doesn’t match the specified measurements, then this hinge will not be the best option for you. Moving on to the accessories that we found inside the box, you’ll get two rivets, two round metal chassis, two stainless steel hinges, ten screws for cabinet hinges- a total of sixteen screws for securing the twin hinges as strongly as possible.
No wonder why it’s the best hinge for toy box; its premium finish, attention to detail, and quality screws that don’t break when you thread them in had us sold on this particular pair of hinges as soon as we saw it. And lastly, each strut has the capacity to hold 30 pounds once set up; together, they can easily lift a 60-pound lid, open, and close it without fail!
Buying Guide for Toy Box Lid Support Hinges
While a chest of toys makes your kids’ room complete, its lids are too heavy to handle for a child. It might be swinging in a precarious position or fall unexpectedly on the toddler’s fingers. In that case, installing soft-close hinges on the toy chest is an affordable solution.
Before choosing a soft-close strut for the toy box, don’t forget to check its weight limit, mounting hardware type, construction, and most importantly, the angle at which the door can stay open after installation. Have a look at our buying guide below for more information.
Weight Capacity
If you have a hefty toy box, a single strut might not cut the deal because there is nothing called all-purpose soft-close struts. They come in different sizes to support a variety of lids that differ greatly in sizes. Struts or hinges made exclusively for toy chests are not made for supporting more than thirty pounds each.
That means that if you install two struts in two corners of the box, a wooden or metal lid that weighs up to 60 pounds is not a problem. Yumore and Douper have some pairs of exceptional soft-close hinges that hold a mighty 60-pound door open and close it gently later on.
Material Quality
Metal hinges with a protective coating that prevents rust, corrosion, and scratch marks are an investment because there’s in for the long haul. They won’t become rusted or discolored. The slightest tint can make an immaculate toy chest look cheap. So, choosing the best materials is important.
Most soft close hinges in the market are constructed from zinc alloy and nickel finish. On affordable pricing, this is more than you can ask for. Not to mention, cold-rolled steel struts also work wonderfully.
Installation Process
While making new cabinets or baby-proofing the house, we have struggled much getting through one instruction manual or the other. Following an easy step-by-step manual saves our time and energy. But as a beginner, your untrained eye might not be able to detect a faulty instruction from miles away from other than realizing it during the process.
And the results? Improper placements of drill holes that tarnish the decor to some extent. We found the Apexstone lid stay to be very confusing at first, but the Douper guidance was the easiest to follow.
Mounting Hardware
Setting up a whole new hinge system for a trunk is not overly complicated. Although missing a few screws or other fasteners can spoil the process for you. Struts don’t come in universal sizes.
So, if you pick one that doesn’t come with the required mounting tools, it might be quite difficult looking for the accurate size online or understanding them at least. Whatever the sizes may be, you’ll be needing an Allen wrench, a handheld drill machine, a marker, and a screw driver.
Lid Angle
The maximum angle at which you can open your lid determines the area inside the box that you can access.
Our recommendation would be that you buy a soft-close hinge that holds open the lid and doesn’t release the lid on its own. That is until you push it down yourself.
A hinge that allows up to a 105° opening is convenient because your toddler can see all the plushies together. You may install it for 75° and 90° opening as well. SafeStay has an adjustable easy-close lid with a minimum opening of 75°
FAQs about soft close hinges for toy box
1. What are some soft close hinge uses?
Soft close hinges can be used to slow down the lid closure in heavy household trunks. Kitchen cabinets, overhead closet chambers, handmade storage compartments, doors, wardrobes, and cupboards are some pieces of furniture, for example. Their lids and doors can be heavy, and they might even bang shut on your hands. Soft close struts help prevent these accidents by lowering the momentum.
2. How do I install soft close hinges the right way?
The installation process may vary from product to product, but there is one general rule for how to install soft close hinges. Keep a clearance of at least 9 inches for the struts to perform with their fullest potential. You must keep the lid open at a 90° angle for allowing the hinge to stretch After that, attach the lid support to the box frame in a downward position.
3. What is a self-close hinge?
Unlike soft close hinges, a self-close hinge won’t require any push from your side for bringing the door to a closed position. It works by not letting the door open fully. Moreover, just like a soft close hinge, a self-close hinge won’t bang shut. Both of these hinges are very safe to use.
4. How do soft-close hinges work?
Soft close hinges use a pneumatic gas function. They slowly release the air from the spring as you push down the lid. It prevents the lid from freeing fall on your arm. This gentle closing is more of a safety and support feature than being a decorative piece.
5. Do I need a carpenter for installing soft close hinges?
You neither need a carpenter nor a handyman for setting up soft close struts in your kitchen cabinetry. If you have your toolbox, a drill machine, a screwdriver with all the screws, and an intuitive measurement system mapped in your mind, it’s barely an afternoon’s work.
Final Words
As your newborn becomes a toddler, you need to up your baby-proofing game to keep them out of harm’s way. And installing easy-close hinges in doors and cabinets is a great start. The good news is, you can install soft close struts with the basic hand tools available at home.
This was our rundown on the best soft close hinge for toy box available right now. Hand-picking these quality struts weren’t easy, especially when your little one’s safety and comfort came first. We hope that you found a pair that fits your toddler’s toy trunk perfectly.
This is Adam Sullivan, the author of tchardwaretools.com! I started my days as a mobile carpenter to become a full-time shop owner, and have been living my professional life for more than 8 years now.
Here I want to share my thoughts, experiences, and ideas through this platform. Stay Tuned!