Door Hinge Buying Guide: Sizes, Materials & RFQ Checklist
Door hinge selection begins with door and frame construction, hinge dimensions, expected movement and installation conditions. A finish name alone is not a specification.
A dimensioned butt-hinge option to compare
102 × 76 × 3.0 mm Brushed Stainless Butt Hinge
Current specification: 102 × 76 × 3.0 mm with a 15.0 mm barrel. Compare the drawing with your door and frame; confirm grade, screws, quantity and packing.
1. Match the hinge type to the door construction
| Hinge type | Typical use | Key confirmation points |
|---|---|---|
| Butt hinge | Wood or metal doors with mortised leaves | Leaf height/width/thickness, knuckle, pin, corners, hole pattern and handedness |
| Non-mortise hinge | Applications intended to close without cutting a full leaf mortise | Closed geometry, leaf nesting, screw clearance and door gap |
| Flag or lift-off hinge | Removable doors, panels or equipment | Lift direction, male/female orientation, pin diameter and load direction |
| Spring or self-closing hinge | Doors requiring a closing force | Adjustment method, door weight, opening limit and required closing behaviour |
| Special/security hinge | Doors needing security pins, concealed fixings or unusual movement | Security feature, frame detail, opening direction and installation drawing |
2. Define hinge size without ambiguous shorthand
Supplier shorthand such as 4 × 3 × 3 may refer to nominal height, open width and thickness, but the unit and ordering convention must be confirmed. Include a drawing that labels:
- overall leaf height;
- open width and individual leaf width;
- leaf thickness;
- knuckle length and barrel or pin diameter;
- hole diameter, spacing and countersink;
- corner shape and screw requirement.
Do not infer metric dimensions from an inch label when replacement compatibility matters. Use the printed card or approved drawing for the selected SKU.
3. Decide on pin, bearing and removal requirements
State whether the door must be removable, whether the pin should be fixed, loose or security-protected, and whether a bearing construction is required. If a hinge is described as bearing or silent, request the actual construction and sample performance rather than relying on the title alone.
4. Estimate duty from the complete door system
The number and spacing of hinges depend on the door size, weight, centre of gravity, frame rigidity, installation quality and operating frequency. Provide these inputs and follow the project engineer or door-system specification. A hinge image cannot establish a safe load. For critical doors, confirm the applicable test or certification requirement before quotation.
5. Material and finish are separate decisions
A hinge can have a stainless appearance without a verified stainless grade, and a 304 marking on one option should not be applied to every finish in the family. Specify base material, grade and finish separately. If the application is exterior, humid, coastal or exposed to chemicals, describe the environment and request the relevant material/coating evidence.
6. Confirm door direction and installation
Send a plan view showing the pull/push side, left/right handing if relevant, frame rebate and desired opening. For lift-off, flag and asymmetric hinges, include the installation orientation. Confirm whether screws are supplied and whether their material and head form match the hinge holes and substrate.
Door-hinge RFQ checklist
| Door and frame | Material, size, weight, thickness, rebate and installation drawing |
|---|---|
| Hinge geometry | Type, leaf dimensions, thickness, knuckle/pin and hole pattern |
| Movement | Opening direction/angle, removable pin, lift-off, spring or security requirement |
| Environment | Interior/exterior, humidity, corrosion exposure and finish requirement |
| Accessories | Screws, decorative caps, mounting plates or other parts—confirm inclusion |
| Commercial | Quantity per specification, packing, destination, sample and delivery requirement |
Common buying mistakes
- Ordering from a photo without confirming dimensions and hole pattern.
- Applying one material grade to every colour or size in a mixed listing.
- Ignoring pin removal or handing on security and lift-off hinges.
- Using an unverified load claim without door-system inputs.
- Assuming screws or accessories are included.
Browse and enquire
Review the door hinge collection. Select the closest SKU, then attach a door/frame drawing so the sales team can identify any remaining confirmation points.
Prepare a door-hinge quotation
Send the hinge drawing or dimensions, door and frame details, quantity, finish and destination.