6-minute read · Commercial hardware buying guide
A hinge replacement needs to match the door's mounting details as well as its workload. Start with height, open width, leaf thickness, and screw pattern; then check the required bearing and special features.
This guide explains those terms so you can compare the right products and state quantities clearly. It is especially useful when the existing hinge has no readable model number.
Height, open width, thickness, and holes.
Door size, weight, traffic, and mounting.
Spring, pin security, or electrical transfer.
In this guide
Shop this guide: Hinges and Pivots · Door Closers and Operators
1. Measure the hinge in the right directions
The two flat plates are the leaves. The rounded sections around the pin are the knuckles. A full-mortise hinge has both leaves recessed into the door and frame.
- Height: measure along the pin/barrel direction.
- Open width: measure across both leaves with the hinge opened flat, following the manufacturer's drawing.
- Leaf thickness: record the plate thickness or exact weight classification.
- Mounting details: record corner shape, screw-hole count and spacing, and any special preparation.
For example, “4½ × 4½ inches” describes height and full open width, not the width of one closed leaf. Two hinges with that same size can still have different thicknesses or hole patterns.
2. Describe the door the hinge will support
Record door height, width, material, thickness, and weight if known. Add traffic, exterior exposure, and whether the door has a closer or operator. These details help establish the appropriate hinge duty and arrangement.
If the door has dropped or moves at its attachment points, include photos of the door and frame mounting. Replacing the hinge alone may leave damaged reinforcement or loose attachment unresolved.
3. Understand the main hinge features
| Term or feature | What it tells you | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Standard or heavy weight | A construction/duty distinction that includes leaf thickness | The existing recess and the manufacturer's application guidance |
| Bearing hinge | Uses a bearing arrangement to support movement | Door load, use, and the specified hinge family |
| Spring hinge | Adds a spring closing action | The required closing arrangement and permitted application |
| Electrified hinge | Transfers wiring between door and frame | Wire count, connectors, electrical limits, and compatible harnesses |
| Continuous hinge | Supports the door along much of its height | Length, mounting preparation, clearance, and application |
These features can overlap. An electrified hinge can also be a heavy-weight bearing hinge. Choose the complete configuration rather than treating one feature as the whole specification.
Shop products for this guide
Compare current hinge and pivot options by the job they perform. Verify size, mounting, load, and preparation; treat a change to spring, electrified, or continuous hardware as a separate application decision.
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4. Check finish, material, and pin features
Finish describes the surface appearance; base material describes what the hinge is made from. A satin-chrome finish does not, by itself, mean stainless steel. Match both the appearance and environmental suitability required for the project.
If the specification calls for a non-removable pin, security studs, or an electrical option, include the exact feature in the request. Those terms describe different components and functions.
5. State quantities as individual hinges
Write the number of door leaves and the individual hinge quantity. Here, a door leaf means one moving door panel; a pair has two. The flat plates of each hinge are its hinge leaves. “Two door leaves, six individual hinges to the approved set” is clearer than “two hinge sets.”
Use the door and hinge manufacturers' requirements to establish the count and locations. Confirm electrical-hinge placement separately where the wiring arrangement requires it.
Your hinge request checklist
- Door location, dimensions, material, and weight if known.
- Existing hinge model and photos of both leaves.
- Height, full open width, thickness, corner shape, and screw pattern.
- Mounting condition, traffic, closer/operator, and exterior exposure.
- Required material, finish, pin features, and any electrical details.
- Number of leaves and individual hinge quantity.
For a rated opening or a change in hinge type, include the door/frame labels and have the permitted installation confirmed before altering the preparation.
Compare more hinge and pivot configurations
Review more hinge and pivot configurations. Select by verified load, dimensions, bearing construction, mounting, and any electrical requirements.
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Explore the full catalog for more options
Frequently asked questions
Is a larger hinge automatically a better replacement?
No. It needs to suit the preparation, attachments, door load, and use. A different size may require changes beyond the hinge itself.
Can I replace a plain hinge with a spring hinge?
Have the closing arrangement and application reviewed first. A matching footprint does not establish that the spring configuration is suitable.
Do all 12-wire hinges use the same connector?
No. Match the connector system, harness, electrical limits, and lock requirements as well as the wire count.
Resources for planning and verification
- McKinney manufacturer resources — Find current model information, templates, and application guidance.
- Steel Door Institute rated-assembly guidance — Review assembly considerations before altering rated openings.
- OpenAxis hinge collection — Compare catalog options and prepare a model-specific request.
- McKinney recommended hinge types — Compare hinge families and the applications each is designed to address.
Find the hinge that fits the door you have
Shop the hinge catalog once the size, duty, and features are known. If you need help matching the existing hinge, send its measurements, photos, door details, and individual quantity.
