You might not give much thought to the door hinges in your home until it comes time to replace them. To help you make the right choices, in this article we will share our complete guide to choosing the right door hinges for your home.

What are door hinges?

Door hinges are the hardware used to affix your door to your door jamb, allowing it to open and close. They are an essential part of your door installation and come in a number of sizes, types, and designs to suit your needs.

Because they are so varied, it’s important to choose the right type of door hinge for your door type to ensure they stand up to the weight and provide years of smooth operation.

Signs You Need to Replace Door Hinges

There are several signs that tell you it’s time to replace your door hinges, including the following:

  • Your door is sagging away from the door jamb when open.
  • It’s difficult to open and close your doors.
  • Your doors don’t remain tightly shut (this can also be an issue with the door handle).
  • Your doors are noisy and squeaky.
  • The hinge’s screws are pulling away from the door jamb.
  • Your door hinge is clearly damaged.

How often should door hinges be replaced?

There really isn’t a recommended replacement time for door hinges. Instead, you really only need to replace your door hinges based on the above issues, or when replacing your door handles with a different colour finish.

Your Door’s Weight and Size

Interior doors come in many different sizes and styles that impact the weight of the door. Hollow doors are far more lightweight than solid doors and require a heavier-duty style of hinge. The same goes for the door size. A larger hollow door, for example, might require the same heavy-duty hinges as a small solid door.

As well, while the standard size for an interior door hinge is 3 inches, solid doors or doors with heavy glass inserts require a taller hinge of about 4.5 inches to help manage the weight. You can also consider adding a third middle hinge for heavier doors instead of just a top and bottom hinge.

Your Door Hinge Size

When replacing a door or door hinges, measure your existing door hinge size based on its height, width, and radius. The radius refers to the curved corner of the hinge. Curved hinges come in either a ¼-inch or ⅝-inch radius.

Not all door hinges have a curved corner, so if your hinge is squared off, then you don’t have to worry about this measurement. The easiest way to measure the radius is to consider if the curve is closer to the size of a dime or a nickel.

You’ll find that most standard interior door hinges are about 3 inches, but this can vary depending on the age of your home, the weight and size of the door, and the workmanship of the door installation.

There are many DIYers who have installed the incorrect door hinges, leading to issues with door jamb damage and operation. If the door hinge is smaller than 3 inches, we highly recommend replacing the hinges with a standard 3-inch hinge to be safe!

Follow these steps to get accurate measurements:

  • Remove the door hinge.
  • Measure the height and width of the hinge with the hinge fully open.
  • Measure the thickness of your door from the side.
  • For radius, a nickel indicates a ⅝-inch radius, and a dime indicates a quarter inch.

We always recommend taking your existing hinge to the hardware store to make sure you find the right match.

Measuring Door Hinges for a New Door

When installing a new door, the most important measurement is the door thickness. The average interior door purchased at your local home improvement store is hollow and 1⅜ inches.

They typically won’t be much wider than about 30 to 32 inches for most rooms. In this case, you require a 3-inch door hinge. A door that is thicker, wider, or heavier, such as a solid or glass door, will require a larger hinge based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Interior vs. Exterior Door Hinges

There are basically two main categories of door hinges: interior and exterior. This is the first thing to look for when choosing your door hinges, as exterior hinges are much larger at an average of 4 inches and have a heavier duty than what is needed for interior doors. Also, as mentioned, a standard interior door is 1⅜ inches thick while an exterior door is 1¾ inches thick, which means an exterior hinge will be too deep.

Radius vs. Square Door Hinges

It can be confusing knowing whether you need a radius or square door hinge when installing a new door. There really isn’t a difference between the two other than that it is easier to create a square inset when installing the door than it is to match the hinge radius!

If you’re replacing the door, choose the hinges that will fit in the existing door jamb to make life easier, unless the door you’re installing is heavier and requires a taller size hinge.

Butterfly Door Hinges vs. Standard Door Hinges

Butterfly door hinges have an insert in the metal strap that resembles a butterfly wing, hence the name. They are designed to provide a wider door opening than a standard door hinge.

They are most commonly used on closet doors or doors that open outwards, providing enough room to open the door fully and out of the way for easier access.

Door Hinge Finish

Today, door hinges are available in different finishes including edgy, modern black. Black hinges are also suitable for the modern farmhouse look, creating a bold accent against white doors.

Although hinges are not too noticeable, choosing the right finish can add a more polished, intentional look to your doors. For example, you can match the hinges on doors leading off your kitchen are, a such as a mudroom, pantry, or laundry room to your kitchen cabinet handles.

Contact the Door Hinge Experts

By choosing the right door hinges for your doors, you’ll ensure they operate properly, last longer, and provide a more pleasing look to your home.

Reach out to the professionals at Cosmaroma to find the ideal door hinges for your door replacement, installation, and repair needs. We offer a fantastic selection of high-quality door hinges, including our own brand, PorteGuard. You can call us at (855) 457-1039 or contact us online.