Types of Hinges & Their Uses
Types of Hinges & Their Uses
Hinges are an essential part of our daily lives. They often go unnoticed, but hinges are what make doors, windows, cupboards and other essential things function. Hinges should open and close with ease, they should be secure and ideally, they should fit the style of their surroundings.
Finding the right hinges may or may not be easy. If you’re simply replacing old or worn out hinges, you can usually fit new ones that match the old ones.
If you need to upgrade existing hinges, say to change the way they function or for aesthetic reasons, then it’s a bit more complicated. It’s also more difficult if you’re building something from scratch. You need to choose a hinge that fits the application and also functions and looks the way you need.
Hinges come in many types, and there are also different sizes, materials and finishes for each type of hinge.
In this article, we’ll make it easier for you to find the right hinge. We’ll look at all the types of hinge that are in common use, how they function and where they’re normally used.
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Understanding door hinges
The most obvious use for hinges is on doors.
Most doors are fitted with two metallic butt hinges, but other types of hinges are also used on doors. Alternative door hinges are chosen according to the environment a door is located in, the way it is designed and according to functional and aesthetic requirements.
Alternative hinges may be needed to add extra strength to a door that’s in heavy use or to fit doors made of certain materials. Otherwise, a door might need to have a special function such as extra wide opening or self closing, or it may require more decorative hinges.
Lots of doors also need to be fitted with fire rated hinges. Fire door hinges are made of metals with a higher melting point, they’re normally larger and they may have other design features to improve their resistance to heat.
12 types of hinges you should know
There is a huge range of hinge types available for many different doors, windows and other applications.
There are 12 types that are widely used. Each of these types works in a specific way, making it suited to certain uses. They also have different strength and aesthetic qualities as well.
- Butt hinges
- Spring hinges
- Parliament hinges
- Flush hinges
- Flap stay hinges
- Continuous hinges
- Double cranked hinges
- Strap hinges
- Concealed hinges
- Cabinet/overlay hinges
- Friction window hinges
- Butterfly hinges
Butt Hinges
Butt hinges are the most well known type of hinge. They are very simple, and they’re also well suited to most uses. Butt hinges are known for being used on doors and cupboards, but they can be used in a huge range of applications.
In their simplest form, butt hinges consist of two flat leaves with knuckles on their edge. A pin runs through the knuckles, and the hinge swivels on this pin. When a butt hinge is closed, the two leaves butt against each other and are completely flat.
Butt hinges are usually fitted into morticed slots so they close cleanly. They can also be fitted with security dogbolts that provide additional security when the hinge is closed.
There is more than one type of butt hinge:
Ball bearing hinges
Ball bearing hinges are butt hinges fitted with bearings in the knuckle to give a smoother opening and closing action. The bearings also help to prolong the life of the hinge. Where bearings are not used, washers may be used as an alternative. Otherwise, the knuckles will simply be left bare.
Rising hinges
Rising hinges are butt hinges featuring an angled knuckle at the point at which the leaves join. This angled knuckle causes the door to naturally fall in one direction, providing an automatic opening or closing action.
Rising hinges are normally suited to medium and light weight loads. They’re often used in an office or industrial setting and are known for their use on internal toilet cubicles.
Lift off hinges
Lift off hinges are butt hinges that have a long pin on one leaf and a long pin receiver on the other leaf. The door is lifted up to take the pin out of the hinge, allowing removal of the door. Lift off hinges are often used on internal doors where it’s helpful to be able to take the door completely off at certain times. They can be used in houses as well as in offices and industrial buildings.
Spring hinges
Spring hinges are hinges with an internal, spring operated door closing mechanism that automatically closes a door if it is left open. Spring hinges are often butt style hinges with a barrel containing a spring instead of knuckles. They also come in other, non-butt style designs.
Spring hinges are usually medium load bearing and suited to doors that are in frequent use. They’re often found on doors in industrial or office environments.
If a door only needs a closing mechanism, door closers such as overhead closers make a good alternative. Door closers are often used for heavier doors, such as fire doors.
Parliament hinges
Parliament hinges are medium load bearing hinges that are usually used on doors. They are used when it’s helpful to be able to open a door wider than usual and also for aesthetic reasons.
Parliament hinges are similar to butt hinges, but they have extra wide leaves that protrude from the door. The extra wide leaves make it possible to open the door wide enough to sit flat against the wall. As well as this, the extra wide leaves on parliament hinges look aesthetically pleasing and are used for decorative reasons on prominent doorways.
Public and historical buildings may feature parliament hinges, and they’re also used in domestic settings in locations such as patio doors or french doors. They may also be used in industrial buildings or offices, mainly for functional reasons.
Flush hinges
Flush hinges, otherwise known as interleaf hinges, are similar to butt hinges in the way they function. The difference is that the two leaves of a flush hinge do not sit flush against each other. One leaf is designed to fit inside the other leaf when the hinge is closed to give a flush finish.
Flush hinges are normally medium to lightweight hinges. They’re often used on cabinets and other pieces of furniture.
Flap stay hinges
Flap stay hinges are specialist hinges used to control the motion of doors and lids. They have in-built mechanisms that control the motion of a door or lid when someone opens or closes it. The mechanism acts to ensure it either opens widely, stays in position or closes gently.
Continuous hinges
Otherwise known as piano hinges, continuous hinges are butt style hinges that are sized to fit along the entire length of the two surfaces they close. Piano hinges are designed for use in heavy load bearing applications. They provide extra strength by distributing weight along the entire length of the hinge. Common uses are for desks, storage boxes and pianos.
Double cranked door hinges
Double cranked hinges feature two interlocking leaves that both have a 90 degree bend in their centre. The bends in double cranked door hinges allow a door to be opened fully around so it sits against the wall to the side of the door.
Double cranked hinges are less attractive than other types of widely opening hinge. They’re often found in hospitals or industrial buildings, where functionality is more important than aesthetics.
Strap hinges
Strap hinges are a traditional type of hinge that feature a long strap with a knuckle or other part that rotates around a fixed point.
T-hinges
T-hinges are a common and well known type of strap hinge. T-hinges can be used on gates, doors and for other uses. They are well known for their use on internal doors in period properties.
Hook and band hinges
Hook and band hinges are similar in function to T-hinges, but they are generally less aesthetically appealing. The most common use is as gate hinges.
Concealed hinges
Concealed hinges are hinges that open and close with a mechanism hidden inside morticed slots. Various styles are available, and they can feature self closing mechanisms. Concealed hinges are used when it will be more attractive to have the hinge completely hidden when it is closed. Designer furniture and kitchen cabinets are examples of where concealed hinges are used.
Cabinet/overlay hinges
Overlay hinges are a modern type of kitchen door hinge. They’re often referred to as cabinet hinges.
Overlay hinges feature two, uneven shaped leaves that close around a mechanism. This mechanism allows a door to be opened wider than with other hinge types, such as butt hinges. The mechanism is also designed to pull doors completely shut and create a soft opening and closing action.
An alternative to overlay cabinet hinges is the more traditional inset hinge. These lightweight hinges feature leaves with 90 degree bends and are fitted so the door sits flush with the surface of the cupboard.
Friction window hinges
Window hinges normally work using friction to hold a window in place when it’s open. They are made with arms that are fitted together with rivets, and friction at the point of the rivet is what holds the window in place.
Friction hinges are common on UPVC windows, although they are often used on timber windows as well. Storm hinges are another type of window hinge. Butt hinges are also used on windows in tandem with friction hinges.
Butterfly Hinges
Butterfly hinges function in the same basic way as butt hinges, but the leaves of the hinge are designed to be decorative. They’re often used on cabinets and decorative items of furniture. They are normally lightweight hinges.
Types of UPVC door hinges
Butt hinges are a common hinge type for UPVC doors. UPVC doors that are designed for butt hinges will have pre-morticed areas on the door and the frame, designed to accommodate the hinge. As well as morticed slots for housing the hinge, there will also be pre-drilled holes for fitting the hinge securely with screws.
Other types of UPVC door hinges are flag hinges and rebated hinges. UPVC doors fitted with these hinges will have points designed to securely hold each hinge type.
Kitchen door hinge types
Kitchen cabinet door hinges come in various types. It is possible to use simple butt hinges on kitchen doors, but specialist hinge types are normally a better choice. Kitchen cupboard doors often benefit, for example, from opening further than usual, from automatically closing or from closing softly and quietly. Specialist hinges are needed for this.
Some common kitchen door hinge types are:
The right choice not only depends on how you want the door to open and close but also on the design of the door and the surrounding cabinet.
Cabinet hinge types
Various types of hinge can be used for cabinets. Cabinet hinges are usually chosen for a mix of aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Some common cabinet hinge types are:
- Cabinet/overlay hinges
- Butterfly hinges
- Flush/interleaf hinges
- Spring hinges
Cabinet hinges normally don’t need to be durable or load bearing. They do, however, need to function in specific ways, and they often need to provide aesthetic appeal.
Key takeaways for understanding different hinge types
Hinges come in a huge range of designs, and there are even more types than we’ve covered in this article. As well as different types, every hinge comes in a range of sizes and materials. Make sure you take the time to pick exactly the right hinge for your job. The right hinge will serve you for many years without any trouble, while the wrong hinge will probably soon need replacing.