“I’d like a hinge please”.
“Yes, no problem. What type of hinge?”
“A standard door hinge, for a normal size door”.
“Umm…”
If you sell door hardware, this will be a familiar scenario.
If you buy door hardware, this will also be a familiar scenario and right now you’d be expecting a raft of questions to establish exactly what hinge you need for your project or facility.
And why would these questions be needed? Surely there are only a couple of types of hinge? As with anything in life, it couldn’t be that simple.
In this detailed guide, we'll delve into the various types of hinges available, each tailored for different types of doors and applications. Whether you're a facility manager, a maintenance contractor, or a builder, let us help you understand these common and not-so-common types of hinges.
Table of Contents
- Butt hinges
- Gate hinges
- Window hinges
- Lift off hinges
- Rising and falling hinges
- Loose pin hinges
- Concealed hinges
- Pivot hinges
- Spring hinges
- Piano/continuous hinges
- Conductor hinges
- Kitchen cabinet hinges
- Backflap hinges
- Counterflap hinges
- H and HL hinges
- Collinge hinges
- Hurlinge/flush/interleaf hinges
- Swing clear hinges
- Cranked hinges
- Adjustable hinges
- Weldable hinges
- Trestle hinges
- Unequal hinges
- Cabinet hinges
- Specialist hinges
1. Butt Hinges
● Description: The quintessential type of butt hinge is widely used, and is easy to install and maintain.
● Application: Commonly found on interior and exterior doors and timber windows.
● Features: Comprises two plates connected by a fixed pin. 3 or 5 knuckle variants.
There isn’t one type of butt hinge, there are various bearing types and butt hinges with special features.
Butt hinge bearing types:
Concealed bearing - increased load bearing and aesthetically pleasing.
Hi-load/thrust bearing - visible bearings but with a high load capacity. Disc or bushed bearings.
Ball bearing - large knuckles as it houses ball bearing races. Low friction, quiet operation.
Washered - two common variants are double stainless steel and double phosphor bronze washered hinges. Used on light to medium duty internal doors. Single washered variants are available.
Plain bearing - for lightweight doors as there is no bearing surface between the hinge knuckles.
Butt hinge special features:
Security/dogbolt - for use on outward opening external doors. A security pin protrudes from one leaf and engages with a recess on the other. Should the hinge knuckle joint be forcibly removed, as the hinge leaves are fixed together, the door will remain in the frame, keeping your facility secure.
Anti-ligature/hospital tip - the top and bottom of the knuckle joint are chamfered or angled to reduce ligature points. Used in hospitals and monitored facilities.
Projection/broad butt - used where doors need to open around a reveal, architrave, or obstacle. The depth of throw is dependent on the overall width of the hinge. The greater the throw, the more the hinges project the door out and around the obstacle.
Parliament hinges - perform the same job as a projection hinge (above) but the height of the knuckle joint is reduced. This makes them the more aesthetically appealing choice but they do have reduced load-bearing capacity.
2.Gate Hinges
● Description: A variety of designs in different finishes and lengths. Usually unequal leaf sizes with a narrow leaf on the frame and a longer leaf fitted across the face or horizontal bars of the gate.
● Application: Commonly used on barn doors, timber and metal gates, and some exterior doors.
● Features: Provides strength over a large area, suitable for heavier gates and doors.
Common Gate Hinge Types:
Tee hinges - shaped like the letter 'T' and drilled for screw fixing. Often seen on garden gates, shed doors, and exterior applications. Decorative tee hinges can be used on internal doors in traditional properties. Black, beeswax, or pewter tee hinges work well on interior ledge and brace doors, installed with a thumblatch.
Hook and band hinges - straight and cranked versions available, fixed with coach bolts and screws. The long band has an enclosed hook on one end that sits on the top of a pin. The pin is fixed to a plate which in turn can be fixed to a timber upright, or driven or built into a wall. They’re also referred to as coach hinges or hook and ride hinges. Hook and band hinges when both fitted in the same orientation allow for the gate or door to be lifted off if required.
Reversible gate hinges - similar to hook and band hinges, they have a long strap with a fixed pin but it is fixed by two decorative cups. They’re ideal for heavy gates and doors that don’t require to be lifted off or removed.
Adjustable gate hinges - like a hook and band hinge in appearance but include nut adjustment. This allows for the the gate to be adjusted so it hangs true.
Strap hinges - like a tee hinge, they are characterized by their long arms resembling straps. Unlike a tee hinge, they have two equal length arms. Check sizes when ordering as the measurements are usually per leaf, not overall width as per a butt hinge.
A good rule of thumb for a wide gate is for hinges to extend at least one-third of the way across the width. If the gate or door is tall, consider fitting a third hinge.
When hanging a pedestrian gate or door on these types of hinges, the best practice is for the hinge to extend halfway to two-thirds across the width.
3. Window Hinges
● Description: Standard or scissor type mechanisms for UPVC, timber, and metal windows.
● Application: For side hung and top hung casement windows and fanlights.
● Features: Concealed window hinge variants with options for restricted opening or emergency egress.
Common Window Hinge Types:
Butt hinges - a traditional yet visible way of hanging timber casement windows. Used in conjunction with a casement stay, to hold the window open in predesignated positions.
Stormproof hinges - used predominantly on timber windows with a stormproof section. They have 90° cranked leaves that close together with no gap. This ensures a minimal gap between the window and the frame.
Friction hinges - hold the window open at an angle using friction.
Differing lengths to suit window widths and weights. Sold in pairs. Top hung or side hung variants for UPVC, aluminium, and timber windows. Available with egress, easy clean, or opening restriction.
4. Lift Off Hinges
● Description: Similar in appearance to a butt hinge but they allow the door to be lifted off of the lower frame portion of the hinge. Also known as journal support hinges
● Application: For areas requiring ease of access. These removable hinges allow for doors in corridors or into storage spaces to be quickly and easily removed.
● Features: A 2-knuckle hinge with either a single or double pin. Washered and non-washered variants. Handed for clockwise or anti-clockwise closing doors.
Lift off ball hinges are available, often called Solifer hinges.
5. Rising and Falling Hinges
● Description: A 2-part hinge that will either provide some self closing (rising butt hinge) or allows a door to naturally fall open (falling butt hinge).
● Application: Often found in bathroom cubicles. Preparation is required at the top of the door for rising butt hinges.
● Features: Handed units for clockwise or anti-clockwise closing. Rising butt hinges will pull a door closed with a low force, providing privacy and a clean aesthetic. Falling butt hinges allow a door to fall open, showing the availability of a WC.
6. Loose Pin Hinges
● Description: Similar to a plain bearing butt hinge but with a removable central pin. Various finishes available to match your door hardware.
● Application: For lightweight internal doors that are not security doors, and may need to be removed for ease of access.
● Features: A cost effective way to hang doors, typically residential interior doors. Lightweight with a slim knuckle and button tipped pin.
The standard alternatives to loose pin hinges are fixed pin and non-removable pin hinges.
7. Concealed Hinges
● Description: These hinges are hidden when the door is closed, offering a sleek and invisible appearance.
● Application: Perfect for modern interior doors, cabinet doors, and furniture. Check door thickness and door weight before selecting the right model.
● Features: Completely concealed, ensuring an unobtrusive finish. Fire rated options and a variety of finishes and sizes are available.
8. Pivot Hinges
● Description: These pivots allow rotation around a single point, rather than fixed at the side as with heavy duty hinges. They allow a door to open both ways.
● Application: Ideal for overlay doors, large panels, jib doors, and heavier internal doors. Commonly found on breakout WC doors.
● Features: Mounted at the top and bottom, offering a different aesthetic and functionality. Side load, end load, and double action pivot hinges are available.
9. Spring Hinges
● Description: Self-closing action; when the door is opened, the spring mechanism returns it to the closed position.
● Application: Single and double action doors that require self-closing, without using a controlled door closer. Often seen on saloon doors.
● Features: Large barrels instead of jointed knuckles. The tensions of the internal springs can be adjusted.
10. Continuous Hinges (Piano Hinges)
● Description: These long, continuous hinges run the full length of the door. Available in different gauges, materials, widths, and finishes.
● Application: Suitable for heavy doors through to cabinets, providing even support.
● Features: Distributes weight along the entire door length.
11. Conductor Hinges
● Description: A 2-piece hinge with integral wires for the concealed transfer of power to the door from the frame.
● Application: Use as a middle hinge of three when installing access control, electric locks, or air transfer grilles.
● Features: Typically carry 24V, load bearing, low maintenance, and a maximum current per conductor of 2amp. Fire rated models available.
12. Kitchen Cabinet Hinges
Kitchen cabinet hinges are a different beast from a traditional cupboard hinge so see no.24 below for cabinet hinges (small butt-type hinges) for use on joinery and cabinetry.
● Description: An uneven leaf hinge with mounting plate.
● Application: For overlay and inset kitchen cabinet doors.
● Features: Bore-in or overlay hinges. Different opening angles, mounting plates, cover caps, and door thicknesses. Functions include soft close and push to open.
13. Backflap Hinges
● Description: An equal leaf hinge with small knuckles that only protrude on one side of the hinge leaves.
● Application: Table flaps and box lids.
● Features: Provides a flat surface once installed so tables or boxes can open all of the way without hindrance.
14. Counterflap Hinges
● Description: The reverse of a backflap hinge but it is still an equal leaf hinge with a knuckle that only protrudes on one side of the hinge leaves.
● Application: Counterflaps, tabletops, and countertops.
● Features: Provides a flat surface once morticed into the counter, allowing objects to be placed on top.
15. H/HL Hinges
● Description: Named after their shape - ‘H’ and ‘HL’ hinges are plain bearing, traditional in design and manufacture.
● Application: Smaller versions for joinery and cabinetry, larger versions for traditional wooden ledge and brace doors.
● Features: Ornamental or square-ended designs in a variety of finishes. HL hinges have a horizontal protruding arm for reinforcing the panels or uprights of the door.
16. Collinge Hinges
● Description: A strap-design ball and socket hinge, traditionally made from cast iron but also available in steel, brass, and stainless steel.
● Application: For use on doors and gates on period properties.
● Features: Charles Collinge hinges are available in a wide range of sizes. They’re comprised of one long horizontal leaf with a narrow cup plate for mounting to the frame.
17. Hurlinge/Flush/Interleaf Hinges
● Description: An uneven leaf hinge where the smaller leaf opens and closes back into the larger leaf.
● Application: A quick-fixing non-mortice option for full sized lightweight doors and cupboards. Called flush hinges as the leaves lie flat together.
● Features: Loose or fixed pin models. Various sizes and finishes, some with locating lugs on the knuckle providing easy alignment when fitting.
18. Swing Clear Hinges
● Description: Also known as offset hinges, one or both leaves are cranked.
● Application: Full sized doors that need to open past the line of the frame, in areas that require a clear and wide opening to provide ease of access.
● Features: Various sizes and finishes to suit different door weights and styles. Fire door versions available.
19. Cranked Hinges
● Description: Similar to swing clear hinges, with double or single cranked leaves.
● Application: Smaller doors, windows, and gates where additional clearance is required.
● Features: A wide range of designs for timber and metal doors and gates. Drilled for face fixing. Includes cranked flush hinge options.
20. Adjustable Hinges
Like cranked hinges, there are a huge number of different adjustable hinges, including gate hinges as we’ve already mentioned.
● Description: Butt-type hinges, concealed hinges, or surface mounted models. Hinges for UPVC, timber, and composite doors and gates.
● Application: For inward and outward opening doors and gates. Providing flexible installation, versatility in use, and adjustment during maintenance.
● Features: 2D, 3D, and 4D variants. Mode of adjustment is dependent on hinge models and brands e.g. allen key, nut, or screwdriver.
21. Weldable Hinges
Butt, lift off, piano, bullet, tee, flag - nearly every hinge type can be provided in a weldable form.
● Description: Highly secure compared to screw fixing hinges. Durable and heavy duty weldable materials, with a variety of hinge types.
● Application: Metal doors, gates, storage containers and units, vehicles, and trailers.
● Features: Plain leaves of varying shapes and dimensions. No screw or bolt fixings. Marine application hinges have a brass pin to minimise rust.
22. Trestle Hinges
● Description: Trestle joint hinge, trestle table hinge, pasting table hinge - all refer to this equal leaf hinge that has a rotating, scissor-like opening action.
● Application: Pasting and trestle tables, A-boards and frames.
● Features: Two long, flat, equal length leaves with one central pivot point. Different length hinges in a variety of finishes to suit different table and board sizes.
23. Unequal Hinges
● Description: A huge range of designs, sizes, and finishes. The narrow leaf fits onto the frame.
● Application: From lightweight cabinets, doors, and furniture, to storage solutions, heavy shutters, and gates.
● Features: The common feature is two leaves of differing lengths, sizes, or shapes.
24. Cabinet Hinges
There are nearly as many varieties of cabinet and cupboard hinges as there are door hinges. We’ve already covered kitchen cabinet hinges above, see no.11. This section covers joinery-style cabinets and storage unit hinges.
● Description: Small, decorative hinges with equal leaves. Can appear similar to a butt hinge, trestle hinge, or a mortice type such as barrel hinges.
● Application: Timber cupboards, boxes, doll houses, cabinetry, desk tops, and cabinets.
● Features: Typically with a low load bearing capacity, in a wide range of finishes and designs as they’re usually visible.
Well-known Cupboard Hinge Types:
Snake hinges - so called because of their twisting, serpentine design. Ideal for narrow cabinet doors.
Butterfly/half butterfly hinges - when fully open the leaves echo the pattern of a butterfly’s wings. Often used on boxes due to their decorative patterning.
Barrel hinges - compact and concealed, great for small cabinets, decorative boxes, and lightweight doors. When installed, only the barrel joint is visible, offering a neat finish.
25. Specialist Hinges
How long have you got to read about specialist hinges, as we could be here a while?
Don’t worry, we won’t put you through that as it’s a whole niche area under the umbrella of hinges but here is a flavour of what is out there to explore:
● Glass door hinges
● UPVC door/flag hinges
● Partition hinges
● Hinge systems such as BAKA from Simonswerk
● Modular hinges
● Locker and cabinet specific hinges
● Wrap around cabinet hinges
● Westgate hinges
● Reinforced hinges
● Desk and card table hinges
● Butler’s tray hinges (an old favourite of some Door Controls Direct staff!)
Choosing the Right Hinge Type
The selection of the appropriate hinge type depends on various factors. They include the weight of the door or gate, frequency of use, and the desired aesthetic. For instance, heavy or large doors in commercial settings may require heavy-duty hinges or hi-load hinges, while interior doors in residential properties are often fitted with loose pin or plain bearing hinges.
Remember, the right hinge not only supports the door's weight but also contributes significantly to the door's overall performance and appearance. If your door is already hung on some standard issue butt hinges, you can easily retrofit hinge fronts for an additional decorative element.
Fire door hinges are available in many types, sizes, designs, and finishes. Simply ensure you install the correct number of hinges, in the tested positions, with intumescent hinge pads where required. Look for the CE mark too. Ensure the hinge capacity can accommodate the adjusted door weight, not just the weight of the door leaf.
Wrapping Up: Navigating the Hinge Landscape
If you made it this far, well done. You deserve some recognition, and likely an eye break.
As you’ve seen there is a wealth of door hinge types. Understanding them is key to ensuring the functionality and longevity of your doors. Whilst this isn’t an exhaustive list, we think it’s pretty darn comprehensive, and certainly covers the main door hinges, and a few window hinges for good measure.
This guide aims to be a valuable and informative resource, helping you navigate the world of door hinges with confidence.
Whilst this guide has covered the types of hinges, we haven’t touched on:
● Classification, certification, testing, and grading
● Drilling patterns
● Finishes and decorative details such as finials
● Material and processes
After reading this far, we wouldn’t put you through that, but they can impact the choice you make for your built environment.
As you close the door on this guide, equipped with the knowledge to choose the right hinge, remember that our team at Door Controls Direct is always ready to assist with any further details or specific queries, ensuring your door hardware choices are as precise and reliable as the hinges that support them.
Get in touch today:
T: 01305 263300
E: [email protected]
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