How do I select the right door hinges for my home? - HingeOutlet

If this is your first attempt at purchasing door hinges for you home, you may be in for a big surprise.  Many times, customers call us and ask for the standard door hinges to replace in their home.  They quickly become overwhelmed by the questions we ask them.  When planning your door hinge purchase, we recommend that you understand your options before making a purchase by taking the following steps:

1. Educate yourself on how to determine the size of a hinge.
2. Educate yourself on the different types of residential hinges for interior and exterior doors.
3. Count all of your interior and exterior doors. While counting the doors, make note of the size and type of hinges needed for each door.

How do I measure a door hinge?

You need to understand how to measure a hinge.  It is very easy.  You start by measuring from top to bottom and then from side to side.  Once you have determined your measurements for that, you need to understand how to determine if the hinge has a radius corner or a square corner.  The diagram below illustrates the different radius corners:

CORNER supply professional and honest service.

As noted in the diagram, you can always make sure you have the right radius corner by using a dime or nickel. 

How do I determine the size and hole pattern for my exterior residential doors?

Residential Exterior doors include the following:

1. Entry doors
2. Doors leading to your backyard
3. Doors leading to and from your garage

Most residential hinges for your exterior doors will come in one of the following sizes and have a zig-zag hole pattern:

4 inch x 4 inch with 5/8" inch radius corner

4 inch x 4 inch with 1/4" inch radius corner

4 inch x 4 inch Square with 5/8" inch radius corner

4 inch x 4 inch Square Corner

There is also something called a Template hole pattern which has a crescent half-moon shape.  Very rarely, but on occasion, a residential exterior door will have a template hole pattern hinge installed on it.  Please make a note of the hole pattern of this below:

How do I determine the size and hole pattern for my interior residential doors?

Residential interior doors include the following:

1. Bathroom doors
2. Bedroom doors
3. Closet doors
4. Dining room doors
5. Basement doors.

Most residential hingesfor your interior doors will come in one of the following sizes and have an arch hole pattern:

3.5 inch x 3.5 inch with 5/8" inch radius corner

3.5 inch x 3.5 inch with 1/4" inch radius corner

3.5 inch x 3.5 inch Square Corner

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What is the difference between ball bearing butt hinges, standard plain bearing butt hinges, and spring hinges?

1. Ball bearing hinges have two ball bearings in the knuckles of the hinges.
2. The standard plain bearing hinges have no ball bearings.
3. Spring hinges, also known as self-closing hinges and adjustable hinges, are now required in many states to install on the door leading into your garage. The adjustable tension spring in the hinge automatically closes the door helping to minimize any harmful gas fumes from getting into your home.

In general, the ball bearing hinges are higher quality and prevent squeaking of the hinges better than the plain bearing hinges.  Hinge Outlet carries both, but we recommend the ball bearing hinges for most residential applications.  For more in depth information on the types of hinges, please visit our Hinge Resource Library.

How many hinges do I need to purchase?

Now that you are educated on the hinge sizes, hole patterns, and types of hinges for residential use, you need to start counting your doors.  Once you have determined how many interior and exterior doors you have along with the types and sizes of hinges you need for every door, you are ready to go shopping.  A couple things to make a note of before purchasing your door hinges:

1. Most doors have three
2. Most hinges today are sold in pairs.
3. A pair of hinges is two complete sets of hinges as displayed below. Unfortunately, if you only had to replace hinges for one door, you would need to order two pairs of hinges.

For more information on Installing Door Hinges, take a minute to watch the following video.

For more information on how to order hinges, please ContactUs.

Thank You,

The Hinge Outlet Management Team

While most commonly associated with doors, hinges are used in a wide range of applications, some of which include cabinets, windows, briefcases, gates and storage containers. With their rotating axis, they allow two joined objects to move freely. On a door, for example, a hinge allows the door to swing open and closed. Whether you’re purchasing a hinge for a door or any other application, though, there a few things to consider when choosing one.

#1) Environment

What type of environment will the hinge be used in? If you intend to use it outdoors or in other humid environments, you should choose a hinge made of a rust-resistant material. Stainless steel hinges are a popular choice because, unlike other metals, they don’t succumb to rust when used in a humid environment.

#2) Size

You should also consider size when choosing a hinge. Specifically, pay attention to the hinge width, hinge height and knuckle length. If your hinge isn’t sized to fit the objects with which you intend to use it, you’ll need to choose a different hinge.

#3) Living or Traditional

Traditional hinges are made of a hard material, such as stainless steel. Some hinges, however, are made of a soft and flexible material. Known as a living hinge, it’s able to flex, thereby absorbing some of the shock produced by the connected objects as they move.

#4) Fastener Holes

Look to see how many fastener holes a hinge has and where those fastener holes are located. A typical butt hinge may have just four fastener holes, which is perfectly fine for most applications. You can drive a screw through each of the four holes to secure the hinge in place. But other hinges may have up to a dozen fastener holes, allowing you to create a strong and more secure junction with the connected objects.

#5) Strength

Strength is something else to consider when choosing a hinge. If you intend to use the hinge to connect heavy objects, you’ll need to choose a material that’s able to withstand the objects’ weight. Heavy-duty hinges are designed specifically for high-stress applications such as this. They are usually made of thick stainless steel to provide a superior level of strength when compared to other hinges.

#6) Piano

If you need to install a hinge across the entire vertical length of an object, you should choose a piano hinge. Also known as a continuous hinge, a piano hinge is characterized by an elongated design. They are available in custom lengths, allowing you to use a single piano hinge to connect two long objects rather than multiple, shorter hinges.

Want to know more about hinges? Take a look at our guide to the different types of hinges.

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