Welcome to the Factory Direct Hardware Learning Center. This resource is designed to help homeowners, contractors, builders, designers, and property managers understand door hardware, cabinet hardware, hinges, locks, smart home products, commercial hardware, and related building hardware.
New guides are added regularly to help you choose, measure, install, and maintain door hardware, cabinet hardware, smart locks, hinges, and commercial hardware.
Use these guides to compare product types, understand common hardware terms, measure correctly, and find the right products for your project.
Door Hardware Guides
Learn about interior and exterior door hardware, including door knobs, door levers, handlesets, deadbolts, privacy hardware, passage hardware, dummy hardware, and keyed entry hardware.
- Door Knobs vs. Door Levers: What’s the Difference?
- Privacy vs. Passage vs. Dummy Door Hardware
- How to Choose Front Door Hardware
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Cabinet Hardware Guides
Find helpful information on cabinet knobs, cabinet pulls, cabinet hardware sizing, finish selection, and cabinet hardware placement.
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Measuring Guides
Measuring correctly is one of the most important steps when replacing or selecting hardware. Upcoming guides will cover backset, bore size, door thickness, cabinet pull center-to-center spacing, handleset measurements, hinge sizing, and more.
- How to Measure Door Backset – Coming Soon
- How to Measure Cabinet Pull Center-to-Center – Coming Soon
- How to Measure for a Replacement Handleset – Coming Soon
Installation Guides
Installation guides will help explain common hardware installation steps, replacement considerations, and product compatibility topics for residential and commercial hardware projects.
- Cabinet Hardware Placement Guide – Coming Soon
- How to Replace a Deadbolt – Coming Soon
- How to Install Door Hinges – Coming Soon
Commercial Door Hardware Guides
Commercial hardware guides will cover products used on offices, retail spaces, schools, healthcare buildings, multifamily properties, service doors, and other commercial openings.
- Exit Devices Explained – Coming Soon
- Mortise Locks vs. Cylindrical Locks – Coming Soon
- Fire Rated Door Hardware Guide – Coming Soon
- ADA Door Hardware Requirements – Coming Soon
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Hinge Guides
Learn about common hinge types, hinge finishes, hinge sizing, ball bearing hinges, plain bearing hinges, spring hinges, pivot hinges, continuous hinges, and related door hardware.
- Ball Bearing Hinges vs. Plain Bearing Hinges – Coming Soon
- How Many Hinges Does a Door Need? – Coming Soon
- Spring Hinges Explained – Coming Soon
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Smart Home and Electronic Lock Guides
Smart lock guides will help explain electronic deadbolts, keypad locks, connected locks, smart home compatibility, and common smart lock features.
- Smart Locks vs. Traditional Deadbolts – Coming Soon
- Electronic Deadbolt Guide – Coming Soon
- Smart Home Lock Basics – Coming Soon
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Hardware Glossary
Future glossary entries will explain common hardware terms such as backset, bore, latch, strike plate, handing, rose, escutcheon, ANSI grade, BHMA, mortise, tubular latch, and cylinder.
Browse All Hardware Guides
View the full Hardware Guides blog to see all current Factory Direct Hardware articles.