Butt Hinges

Choosing Butt Hinges for Door and Frame Preparation

Butt hinges are one of the most common hinge formats used on swinging doors. Two leaves meet around a pin and knuckle assembly, with the leaves typically mortised into the edge of the door and the jamb. The collection includes residential and commercial sizes as well as specialty formats, so the most important first step is matching the hinge to the existing door and frame preparation.

Measure the hinge height and width with the hinge opened flat, then identify the corner treatment. Square-corner, 1/4-inch radius, and 5/8-inch radius hinges require different mortise shapes. A replacement hinge with the wrong radius may physically fit the opening but leave gaps or require cutting the door or frame. Leaf thickness and screw-hole pattern can also differ between residential and heavier-duty hinges.

Bearing construction affects how the hinge is suited to the opening. Plain-bearing hinges are common on many residential and lighter-duty doors, while other hinge families use bearing systems intended for different door weights or use levels. Pin configuration can also matter. Depending on the opening, the hinge may use a removable pin, fixed pin, non-removable pin, or another specialty arrangement. Confirm the product specifications rather than assuming hinges with the same outside dimensions are interchangeable.

Some products in this collection serve more specialized applications, including swing-clear hinges and screen-door hinges. Swing-clear designs change the pivot relationship to move the door farther out of the opening when open, while other specialty hinges may have unique handing, leaf shapes, or mounting requirements. These should be selected by their intended function rather than simply by overall hinge size.

For replacement work, compare the existing hinge size, corner radius, thickness, screw pattern, pin style, material, and finish before ordering. For a new opening, coordinate the hinge with the door thickness, frame preparation, door weight, use level, and any project-specific requirements. Once mechanical compatibility is established, finish can be matched to the lockset, door closer, kick plate, or other visible door hardware.