The hinge side of a door is the vertical edge of the door that attaches to the door frame with hinges. When you are facing the door from the outside, the hinge side is on the left. Understanding which side is the hinge side is important for properly installing and opening doors.
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What are Door Hinges?
Door hinges are metal plates that connect a door to its frame allowing it to swing open and close. Hinges are made up of two plates called leaves that are connected by a pin. The hinge leaves are screwed or bolted to the door and frame.
There are several different types of door hinges:
Butt Hinges
Butt hinges are the most common type of basic door hinge. They are simple rectangular plates that allow for 180 degree door swing. Butt hinges are available in a variety of sizes and materials like brass, steel, and stainless steel.
Spring Hinges
Spring hinges contain a spring coil that pushes the door closed after it has been opened. Thisautomatic closing is useful for doors that need to close reliably like gates, cabinets, or screen doors.
Concealed Hinges
Concealed cabinet door hinges are mounted on the inside surface of the cabinet door and frame. When closed, the hinge is completely hidden from view for a seamless look. They allow the cabinet door to open wide for full access inside the cabinet.
Tee Hinges
Tee hinges or strap hinges are shaped like the letter T. They are commonly used on exterior gates and feature extra long leaves that can wrap around a gate post. The strap design provides stability and strength for heavy doors.
Pivot Hinges
Pivot hinges are placed at the top and bottom of a door rather than the side. They allow doors to swing open in either direction. Pivot doors will close on their own thanks to gravity.
Identifying the Hinge Side of a Door
On standard doors, the hinge side will be on the left when facing the door from the outside. If you are on the inside facing out, the hinge side will be on your right.
Here are some tips for quickly finding the hinge side:
– Look at the door frame for hinge knuckles or hinge plates. This is the clearest indicator of hinge location.
– Push against the door to see which side has some give. The hinge side will be more firmly attached while the latch side will move more freely.
– Look for another door in the same orientation, for example, the door to an adjoining room. The hinge side will match.
– Find the strike plate on the door frame that the latch inserts into. The hinge side will be opposite this.
– Door handles and locks are always installed on the latch side, opposite the hinges.
Why Does the Hinge Side Matter?
Identifying the hinge side is important for several reasons:
Installing Doors
During new construction or door replacement, properly recognizing the hinge side will ensure the door is hung correctly within the frame. Mortise hinges into the wrong side and the door will not function properly.
Opening Doors
In order to move through an interior or exterior door, you must pull or push the correct side. Pushing on the hinge side will accomplish nothing, while pulling on the latch side allows the door to swing open. Locating the hinges indicates the correct side to interact with.
Measuring Door Size
Door size is always measured from the hinge side to the latch side. If you get this backwards, any replacement door you order or make will have the incorrect dimensions. Measuring the incorrect way could lead to costly mistakes.
Installing Door Hardware
Things like locks, handles, and jamb guards must go on the latch side of a door, opposite the hinges. Installing hardware on the hinge side will prevent proper door function.
Hanging a Door Stop
A door stop will be placed on the latch side to prevent doorknob impacts on the wall. The hinge side would allow the door to simply swing past the stop. Identifying hinge location ensures you add protection on the correct side.
How Does Hinge Side Impact Swing Direction?
The hinge side determines which direction a door will swing open, either to the left or right. Here is how hinge placement impacts door opening direction:
Right Hinge Doors
Doors with hinges on the right will swing towards the right when opened. Looking at the door from the outside with hinges on the right means it is:
– A right-handed door
– A left-handed reverse door
– A left-hand reverse beveled door
Left Hinge Doors
Doors with hinges on the left will swing towards the left when opened. With hinges on the left, looking from the outside this is:
– A left-handed door
– A right-handed reverse door
– A right-hand reverse beveled door
Door swing direction is an important factor when planning door placement. You need to ensure the door swings safely into an open area and does not obstruct other doors or traffic flow when opened.
Standard Interior Door Hinge Placement
The vast majority of interior doors in homes and offices have hinges on the left side. Looking at the door from outside the room, the hinges will be on the left, allowing the door to swing left into the room.
Having doors consistently hinged on the left side creates a standard for safety and accessibility:
– Allows hall doors to swing away from the staircase to prevent obstruction
– Keeps doors from hitting each other or furniture
– Allows people to intuitively understand which way any door will open
– Enables wheelchair users to open doors easily with a right-handed swing
New residential construction follows the standard left hinge placement for all interior rooms. Commercial buildings often use this same standard for office doors and corridors.
Bathrooms
Bathroom doors are a notable exception where hinges may be placed on the right instead. This allows the door to swing into the room rather than into the hallway. Right hinge placement provides more privacy and space efficiency by having the door tucked away into the bathroom.
Standard Exterior Door Hinge Placement
Front exterior doors usually have hinges on the right looking at the door from outside the home. This allows the door to swing into the house for security and weather protection.
Having an outward swinging door on a home could allow intruders to gain easy entry by removing the hinge pins. An inward swing also prevents the door from being caught by wind gusts.
Side and back exterior doors like garage entry or patio doors will have hinges placed towards the interior of the home for the same reasons.
Commercial Buildings
In public buildings, exterior doors will open outwards to allow people to quickly exit in an emergency. Commercial doors must swing with the direction of egress to facilitate evacuation.
How to Change Door Swing Direction
In some cases, you may need to alter the swing direction of a door by moving the hinges to the opposite side:
Switch Door Hardware Side
Start by relocating door hardware like locks and handles to the new latch side. Fill old mortises and drill new ones on opposite sides.
Remove Hinge Pins
Take out the hinge pins, separating the door from the frame but keeping hinge leaves in place. Have someone support the door.
Remove Hinge Screws
Unscrew or unbolt the hinge leaf from the door first. Fill old screw holes with wood putty.
Remove Frame Hinge Leaf
Carefully chisel out the mortised hinge leaf in the frame. Save leftover pieces to use as a template.
Mortise New Hinge Position
Trace the old hinge leaf on the opposite side of the frame. Chisel out a new mortise hole to inset the hinge leaf.
Install Hinges
Screw the hinge leaf into the new mortise, check door fit, then reattach the other leaf to the door. Insert hinge pins to complete.
Check Operation
Fully open and close the door to confirm proper swing direction and closure. Make adjustments as needed for smooth operation.
Special Hinge Options
While most doors have hinges on one side, some specialty hinges allow alternative positioning:
Double-Acting Hinges
Double acting hinges have pins on both sides, allowing the door to swing freely in either direction. The top and bottom hinges are offset to allow clearance.
Continuous Hinges
Continuous hinges are long hinges that run nearly the full length of the door. This provides an extremely stable pivot point. They work on doors that open in both left and right directions.
Pivot Hinges
Pivot hinges on the top and bottom of doors allow for true two-way swinging capability. The door will swing evenly in both directions.
Conclusion
Identifying the hinge side of a door is a basic but essential skill for properly hanging, measuring, and installing doors. While most interior doors follow a standard left hinge placement, exterior doors often have right side hinges. Knowing the hinge location determines the direction a door will swing when opened. This helps ensure doors provide safety, accessibility, privacy, and fit correctly within the surrounding space. With a few techniques, you can easily figure out which side is the hinge side on any door.