Do you put hinges on door or frame first?

When installing a new door, one of the first steps is deciding whether to attach the hinges to the door or the door frame first. This seemingly simple decision can actually have implications for the ease and success of the door installation project. In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of putting hinges on the door versus putting them on the frame first, and provide recommendations to help you decide the best approach.

Putting Hinges on the Door First

Attaching hinges to the door first is perhaps the more common and intuitive way to go. Here are some benefits and downsides to this approach:

Pros:

You can test the door’s fit and operation. By attaching hinges and hanging the door first, you can open and close the door, checking for proper clearance and alignment in the frame opening. This allows you to identify and fix any issues before securing the door frame.
It’s easier to adjust hinge placement on a detached door. If you need to move the hinges up or down to properly align with hinge cutouts in the frame, it’s simpler to do this with the door not yet attached to the frame.
You avoid marring the frame while installing hinges. Attaching hinges to the door rather than the frame reduces the risk of scratching or damaging the door frame while screwing hinges in place.

Cons:

The door is unstable. Without the frame attached, the weight of the door can cause it to sag or be difficult to properly position and align.
It doesn’t mimic typical installation order. Most professional carpenters attach the frame first, then hang the door. Putting hinges on the door first goes against this standard order.

The door could get damaged. With the door detached from the frame initially, it could get knocked or blown over, resulting in dents or scratches.

Putting Hinges on the Frame First

Alternatively, you could attach the hinges to the door frame/jamb first before hanging the door. Here are some potential benefits and downsides with this method:

Pros:

It’s more stable. With the frame securely fastened first, it provides a sturdy base for hanging and supporting the weight of the door.
It mirrors typical professional installation. Most carpenters put the frame with hinges in place first, so this follows best practices.
Allows checking hinge placement with the frame in place. You can confirm that the hinge cutouts in the door frame line up properly with your desired hinge positions.

Cons:

Harder to adjust hinge positions. Moving frame-mounted hinges means unscrewing them from the solid frame if placement needs adjustment.
Could scratch frame when installing hinges. Drilling screws into the frame risks marring the surface with slipped driver bits.

Can’t check door fit and alignment until after hanging. You won’t know if the door has proper clearance or closes correctly until after attaching it.

Recommendation for Which to Do First

So with the pros and cons of each method considered, what is the best choice for putting hinges on first – the door or the frame? Here are some general recommendations:

For new construction and full door/frame replacement, put hinges on the frame first. This follows standard installation procedures and allows securely fastening the frame into the rough opening first.

For door replacement in an existing frame, attach hinges to the door first. This allows test fitting and alignment in the existing frame before final hanging.
For extremely heavy doors like exterior doors, attach hinges to frame first. The sturdy attached frame helps support the weight better than hanging such a heavy door off detached hinges.
For doors that need precise alignment like bathrooms, put hinges on door first. You can finesse and tweak the fit better with the door separate from the frame initially.

There are good reasons for putting hinges on the door before the frame or vice versa. Consider the specifics of your door installation project, your own skills and confidence level, and go with the approach that seems to make the most sense. And remember you can always pivot if needed – just be prepared to patch extra screw holes!

How to Install Hinges on a Door

Once you’ve decided whether to mount the hinges to the door or frame first, here is an overview of the process for installing hinges on a door properly:

Mark hinge positions on the door and frame. Use a combination square or measuring tape to mark identical positions on both components.

Drill pilot holes for screws. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than screw diameter to avoid splitting wood.
Fasten one hinge to the door/frame with top and bottom screws. Don’t fully tighten yet.
Align door and fasten a second hinge top and bottom. Check door/frame alignment and make adjustments.

Install third hinge and any remaining hinges, partially tightening screws.
Check door operation and make final adjustments to alignment.
Tighten all hinge screws fully once proper alignment is achieved.

Install door handles, locks, and any other needed hardware.

Following this proper sequence helps ensure the door will be hung true in the frame for smooth operation. Pay close attention to proper hinge placement and door alignment as you go.

Tips for Hanging Doors Perfectly

Here are some additional tips to hang a door perfectly using the method above:

Number hinges and mark corresponding locations on the door and frame to match hinge placement exactly.
Shim hinges if needed to adjust door position – don’t rely solely on hinge screws.
Use solid blocking behind hinges for thicker exterior doors to prevent sagging.

Go slowly when adjusting alignment – make small tweaks and recheck.
Have someone help support heavier doors while adjusting and finalizing the fit.

How to Install Hinges on a Door Frame

Here are step-by-step instructions focused on installing hinges specifically on the door frame first:

Install door frame in rough opening following usual methods and secure in place with shims and nails/screws.
Mark hinge positions on frame edge using combination square and pencil. Mark identical positions on door.
Drill pilot holes in frame for each hinge screw using properly sized bit.

Fasten top and bottom screws of one hinge into frame. Don’t fully tighten yet.
Partially install second and third hinges in same manner with a few screws each.
Hang door on hinges and align hinge barrels with pilots on door edge.

Install screws in door side of hinges and check alignment as you go.
Fully tighten all hinge screws when proper alignment is achieved.

The key is taking care to drill proper pilot holes in the frame first before inserting screws. Rushing this step risks splitting the frame edge. Go slowly and check alignment frequently when hanging the door to get it right.

Tips for Hanging Doors on Frames

Additional pointers for success installing hinges on the frame first include:

Secure frame jamb with extra nails if needed for stability with heavy doors.
Pre-drill holes slightly smaller than screws to avoid splitting wood frame edge.

Use shims under the jamb if necessary to fine tune position relative to floor.
Ensure all screws are fully tightened for stability once alignment is perfect.
Fill old screw holes with wood putty if needing to reposition hinge placement.

How Many Hinges for Different Door Sizes

The number of hinges needed for proper support depends on the size and weight of the door:

Door Height	Number of Hinges Recommended
Up to 60 inches	2 hinges
60 to 90 inches	3 hinges
90 to 120 inches	4 hinges

For exterior doors or heavy, solid wood doors, moving up one hinge size is recommended for additional strength. So a standard 80-inch exterior door would use 4 hinges instead of the 3 for a typical interior hollow core door of that height.

Hinge Placement Standards

Proper hinge placement helps ensure correct door operation. Standard recommendations for spacing on doors are:

Top hinge – 4 to 5 inches from top of door to top hinge screw
Bottom hinge – 10 to 12 inches from bottom of door to bottom hinge screw
Evenly space middle hinges between top and bottom hinges

Make sure there is sufficient clearance for trim and moldings around the door frame when marking hinge positions. Sticking with standard spacing helps achieve the proper look and door functionality.

Various Types of Door Hinges

There are several types of hinges used for different door installation situations:

Butt Hinges

The most common type used for cabinet and interior doors. Consists of two rectangular plates joined by a pin. Provides pivotal motion to open/close the door.

Continuous (Piano) Hinges

Long hinge made of interlocking coils of steel. Runs nearly the full length of the door edge. Provides stability for heavy doors.

Tee Hinges

Made from interlocking flanges in a T-shape. Commonly used on exterior gates since they are durable and weather-resistant.

Concealed Hinges

Designed to hide from view within cabinets. Allows doors to open wide close to adjoining cabinet walls.

Butterfly Hinges

Consist of two rounded flanges that pivot. Used for decorative appeal on cabinets, jewelry boxes, and hope chests.

Suicide Door Hinges

Special cabinet hinges that allow doors to open a full 270 degrees. Provides complete access to cabinet interior contents.

Spring Hinges

Contains springs that hold doors closed and help pop them open when released. Common on screen doors, saloon doors, and various architectural doors.

There are also specialty hinges designed for unique mounting situations, like hinges made for overlay doors or inset cabinet doors. Pick hinge types suited for each specific door installation need.

How to Remove a Door to Plane It

If a newly hung door sticks or drags on the floor, it may need planing to correct the fit. Follow these steps to remove and plane a troublesome door:

Remove hinge pins and lift door from frame. Keep all hardware together.

Lay door on sawhorses or flat work surface with problem side facing up.
Use hand plane or belt sander to remove material from bottom or sides as needed.
Test periodically by propping door back in frame to check fit and reveal high spots.

Sand down high spots and test fit again until door clears jamb and floor.
Rehang door in frame and reinsert all hardware once proper fit is achieved.

Take your time planing and sanding to remove the absolute minimum material needed. Be very careful not to over-plane the door and create new gaps or problems.

Tips for Planing Doors

Some additional pointers to successfully plane a door include:

Mark problem areas with pencil before removing door.
Wrap tape around door edge to prevent splintering.

Make light passes and frequently check progress.
Plane diagonally across door rather than straight with grain.
Finish by sanding door edges lightly to blend planed areas.

With patience and proper technique, a slightly misfit door can be finessed to work properly. Just take it slowly and carefully.

How to Hang a Door Without Hinges

In some specialized cases, it’s desirable to hang a door without using standard hinges. Here are some alternative options:

Sliding Door Hardware

Sliding door track systems allow a door to slide open along a track rather than swinging on hinges. Available in bypass and pocket track styles to provide flexible opening and space-saving options.

Pivot Hinges

Floor-mounted pivot hinges let doors rotate around a central pivot pin. Allows wide opening for entryways or where swinging doors would obstruct space.

Concealed Magnetic Catches

Powerful magnetic catches can securely hold doors closed and replace hinges in some situations. Allows very clean, minimalist door installation look.

Barn Door Hardware

Barn door rails with trolley systems enable doors to glide left or right on a wall- or ceiling-mounted track. Perfect for rustic or industrial style rooms and limited spaces.

So if you need to or want to forego ordinary door hinges, these options allow hanging doors in creative new ways suitable for all types of rooms and spaces.

Cautions About Hingeless Doors

A few words of caution about foregoing hinges on doors:

Hingeless systems may not provide adequate strength and security for exterior doors or keeping children/pets contained.

Without hinges, doors lose the ability to swing completely out of the way into a room.
Tracks and hardware can collect dust and may be noisy to operate.
Installation is usually more complex for hingeless hanging options.

Hingeless doors add stylistic flair in the right spots but lose some functionality compared to traditional hinged doors. Consider both benefits and drawbacks before committing to a hinge-free installation.

Conclusion

Knowing whether to install hinges on the door or frame first, proper hinge placement, and techniques for adjusting and planing doors are all important skills for hanging doors successfully. With practice and patience, you can master the nuances of installing door hinges and hanging doors perfectly on the first try. Just follow fundamental guidelines and don’t rush the process. Get the hinge positions right from the start, and you’ll get years of smooth door operation for your efforts.