What each covers
| Category | Hettich | Hafele |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet hinges | Yes | Yes |
| Drawer runners and box systems | Yes | Yes |
| Sliding and folding door systems | Yes | Yes |
| Lift and flap systems | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen storage accessories | Yes | Yes |
| Architectural door hardware and locks | Limited | Yes |
| Electronic and smart locks | Limited | Yes |
| Kitchen appliances and sinks | No | Yes |
| Sanitary fittings and accessories | No | Yes |
| Furniture and cabinet lighting | Limited | Yes |
This is a difference in catalogue breadth, not in the quality of the overlapping products.
How to compare two quotations
We are regularly asked to review two kitchen quotations, one naming each brand, with a difference of a lakh or more. In every case so far, the difference has been tier and count rather than brand.
- Ask for the item family and tier for every hardware line. “Soft-close hinges” covers a range of roughly ₹90 to ₹450 per piece within either brand.
- Ask for counts per cabinet. Three hinges per tall shutter, not two. Runners by pair. Lift systems by unit with the shutter weight stated.
- Ask what the accessories are. Tall unit pull-outs range from ₹8,000 to ₹40,000 depending on shelves, finish and load rating, and they are frequently the single largest hardware line.
- Check the drawer system side height and load rating, which is where the price sits in a kitchen base run.
- Normalise before comparing. Once both quotations describe the same items at the same tiers, the remaining difference is usually under 10%.
Market bands we observe, item by item
| Item | Typical band, either brand | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Concealed soft-close hinge | ₹90 – 450 per piece | Tier, opening angle, damping quality |
| Ball-bearing runner pair | ₹350 – 1,400 | Extension, length, load rating |
| Metal drawer box system | ₹2,200 – 7,000 per drawer | Side height, width, load rating |
| Tall unit pull-out | ₹8,000 – 40,000 per unit | Shelf count, finish, load |
| Wall unit lift system | ₹3,500 – 14,000 per unit | Shutter weight and height |
| Sliding wardrobe gear | ₹6,500 – 22,000 per opening | Shutter weight, track type |
Buying observations across both brands, not official price lists. At the same tier and specification the two overlap substantially.
When the broader catalogue is worth choosing for
- Commercial fit-outs with a fixed handover date, where one supplier, one delivery schedule and one after-sales contact reduce coordination risk measurably.
- Projects where the client wants a single warranty conversation rather than separate ones for fittings, locks, sink and hob.
- Hotel and hospitality work, where electronic locking and furniture fittings sit in the same package.
- Where a category is genuinely covered well. Breadth is only an advantage if the product in each category is the right one; on any given item, check it on its merits.
- Not on a single kitchen, where buying the best item per category from different suppliers usually costs less for the same result.
What to check on site, whichever name is on the quotation
Hardware is the easiest line in a joinery contract to substitute after the sample has been approved, because it arrives in boxes, goes in quickly and is invisible once the doors are on.
- Ask for the packaging to be retained until handover. Boxes carry the item reference and settle any later question in seconds.
- Check the branding stamped on the hinge arm and the runner body during installation, not after.
- Count the hinges. Three per shutter above 1,800 mm, four above 2,100 mm. A shutter on two hinges will sag at the leading edge within two years and no brand prevents it.
- Test every soft close before signing off. Damping that is inconsistent between two adjacent drawers usually means two different tiers were fitted.
- Ask for the supplier invoice if the hardware was procured on your behalf. It should name the items, not say “hardware as per approval”.
Verdict
| Project | What we would do |
|---|---|
| Single kitchen, residential | Either; specify by tier and buy on price and availability |
| Full-flat joinery package | Either; one brand for consistency of spares |
| Commercial fit-out with doors and locks | The broader catalogue, for single sourcing |
| Hospitality with electronic locking | The broader catalogue |
| Premium kitchen where the drawer system is the priority | Compare both against a narrow specialist as well |
| Any project | Write tier, count and load rating into the BOQ |
Our honest answer: on the overlapping products, this is not a decision worth agonising over. Both are established manufacturers with real Indian operations and accessible spares. Spend the effort on writing the tier and the count into the schedule, because that is where a lakh of difference actually hides.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Hettich or Hafele?+
On the products they both make, neither is clearly better — both are established manufacturers with real Indian operations. The structural difference is catalogue breadth. Choose on tier, availability and price for your specific items rather than on the name.
Why do two quotations naming the same brand differ by a lakh?+
Tier and count. A hinge can be ₹90 or ₹450 within one brand, and a tall unit pull-out can be ₹8,000 or ₹40,000. Ask for an itemised hardware schedule with family, tier and quantity per cabinet, and the difference becomes visible immediately.
Is Greenbox a dealer for either brand?+
No. We hold no dealership, distributorship or channel relationship with Hettich, Hafele or any other manufacturer. We specify on merit, buy on the open market and pass through invoices where we procure for clients.
Should I use one brand throughout the flat?+
It simplifies spares in year six, and that is a real benefit. It is not necessary. What matters more is that the hardware schedule is recorded in the handover file so anyone can order the right replacement later.
Do both offer spares in India years later?+
Both have established Indian distribution, and in our experience current-range spares are obtainable through Mumbai dealers. Availability for any specific discontinued item varies, which is the argument for keeping two spare hinges and a runner pair from the original purchase.