How Many Hinges per Door: 2, 3 or 4 by Door Height
Order two hinges per leaf for a door up to 1524mm (60 in) high, three up to 2286mm (90 in) and four up to 3048mm (120 in). Add one on a door wider than about 940mm (37 in), and step up leaf thickness for a heavy door. A fire door follows its certificate.
The set to order
| Part | What to check | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless butt hinge | Three per leaf on a door up to 2286mm. Leaf 2.0mm or 2.5mm by door weight. | SSH012, SSH013, SSH016 |
| Black butt hinge | BL028 is 4 x 3 in x 2.5mm. Photographed with a screw pack. | BL028, BL029 |
| Brass butt hinge | For brass door furniture on doors with no fire rating. | B024, B025 |
| Non-mortise hinge | No recess to cut. For light doors. SSH021 size confirmed against your drawing. | SSH018, SSH019, SSH021 |
| Flag hinge | Lifts off the pin. IH01 is handed, so state left or right on the order. | SSH017, IH01 |
| Rising butt hinge | State the hand of each door. | SSH022 |
| Spring hinge | At least two per door. Tension adjustable. BL031 is the non-mortise form, 3.3mm. | SSH023, BL030, BL031 |
| Security hinge | Raised studs seat in sockets on the opposite leaf, as photographed. 3mm stainless, for wooden doors. | 6*3*3MM |
| Double action hinge | Non-handed, 90 degrees each way, self-closing. | SSH031 |
Hinges per leaf by door height
The trade rule is one hinge for every 762mm (30 in) of door height, and any part of that length counts as a full hinge. North American hinge makers publish it, and NFPA 80 uses the same count on swinging fire doors. Take it as trade practice and check it against your project specification.
Most doors between 2032mm and 2134mm high land on three hinges, so three per leaf is the number to price first.
| Door height | Hinges per leaf | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1524mm (60 in) | 2 | Service cupboards and low doors |
| 1525mm to 2286mm (60 to 90 in) | 3 | Most room, apartment and entrance doors |
| 2287mm to 3048mm (90 to 120 in) | 4 | Tall lobby and feature doors |
| Over 3048mm (120 in) | 1 more for each further 762mm | Send the drawing |
Hinges per leaf by door weight and width
Height gives the count. Weight and width tell you when that count is not enough, because a wide leaf pulls harder on the top hinge and on the frame. Trade practice is to add one hinge above about 940mm (37 in) of width, and to move to a thicker leaf as the door gets heavier. The table is a starting point for a door 2100mm high.
To estimate weight, multiply height, width and thickness in meters by the density of the material. A door of 2100 x 900 x 45mm is 0.085 cubic meters. That is about 43kg at 500kg per cubic meter for solid softwood, and about 60kg at 700kg per cubic meter for hardwood. Glass panels and steel skins change the figure, so weigh one door if you can.
We list hinge sizes and leaf thickness, not a load per hinge. Put the door weight on the order and the hinge is confirmed against your drawing. If your specification calls for an EN 1935 grade, send that as well.
| Door | Hinges per leaf | Leaf thickness to start from |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow-core interior door | 3 by the rule, 2 is common in housing | 2.0mm |
| Solid timber door, 45mm thick | 3 | 2.5mm |
| Solid door wider than 940mm | 4 | 2.5mm to 3mm |
| Heavy door with a steel skin or a lining | 4 | 3mm, confirmed against the door weight |
Which hinge to order for each door
| Door | Hinge | Models | Listed size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber door, leaves let into door and frame | Stainless butt hinge | SSH012, SSH013 | 3.5 x 3.5 in x 2.5mm; 4 x 3 in x 2.0 or 2.5mm; 4 x 4 in x 2.0mm; 5 x 3 in x 2.5mm |
| Same door, wider size range | Stainless butt hinge | SSH016 | Seven sizes from 2 x 2 in x 2mm to 4 x 4 in x 2.5mm |
| Black door furniture | Black butt hinge | BL028 | 4 x 3 in x 2.5mm |
| Brass door furniture | Brass butt hinge | B024, B025 | B024: leaf 2.0mm to 3.5mm. B025: size to your order |
| Light door where nobody will cut a recess | Non-mortise hinge, one leaf folds into the other | SSH018, SSH019 | 102 x 72.5 x 2.5mm |
| Door that must lift off its frame | Flag hinge | SSH017, IH01 | SSH017: 4 x 3 in x 2.5mm. IH01: 131 x 58mm, 3mm, handed |
| Door that must rise over a carpet or a floor step | Rising butt hinge | SSH022 | 4 x 3 in x 2.5mm |
| Door that closes itself without a closer | Spring hinge, tension adjustable | SSH023, BL030 | SSH023: 3.5 x 3.5 in, 4 x 3 in or 4 x 4 in, 3.0mm. BL030: 125 x 83 x 3.5mm |
| Outward-opening timber door, knuckles on the outside | Security hinge with studs | 6*3*3MM | 3mm leaf, custom sizes available |
| Cafe or kitchen door that swings both ways | Double action hinge | SSH031 | 75 x 100mm, 1.5mm |
Fire doors: the certificate decides
A fire door was approved with a stated set of hardware. Its certificate or test evidence names the hinge type, the number per leaf and where they sit. That document overrides the height rule above and every table on this page. We do not list a fire rating on any hinge, so send the certificate before you order and have the hinge checked against it.
- Do not order brass hinges for a fire door: trade practice is steel or stainless, because brass melts at a lower temperature.
- Do not add or swap a hinge on a certified door without the certificate holder agreeing.
- Local rules differ, so confirm the door with the authority for your project.
What to send with a hinge order
- Door height, width and thickness.
- Door weight, or the material so it can be estimated.
- Number of leaves at each size, not only the number of openings.
- Door and frame material: timber or metal.
- Whether the leaves are let into the door or fixed without a recess.
- Handing, for IH01 and SSH022.
- Finish, one code for the whole opening.
- Stainless grade where the listing gives two: BL028 and SSH023 list 201 and 304, so state 304 for wet or coastal doors.
- Whether you count in pieces or pairs.
Count it once: an example schedule
Hinges are often quoted by the pair, so three hinges is one and a half pairs. Forty doors at three hinges each is 120 hinges, which is 60 pairs, not 40. Six tall doors at four hinges add 24 hinges, or 12 pairs. State pieces on the purchase order and the count cannot be read two ways.
What goes wrong on site
- Two hinges on a 2100mm door: the top hinge carries the pull and the door drops at the lock edge.
- Hinges not on one vertical line: the pin wears and the latch misses the strike.
- A recess cut too deep: the door binds on the hinge side and will not close.
- Mixed knuckle counts or finishes on one leaf, usually from two part-shipments.
- One spring hinge on a door: use at least two, set to the same tension.
- A pin that can be reached from outside on an outward-opening door.
Questions buyers ask
Does a standard 2100mm door need two or three hinges?
Three. The trade rule of one hinge per 762mm gives three for anything from 1525mm to 2286mm. Two on a light interior door is common in housing, but it leaves no margin if the door is replaced by a heavier one.
Does a 900mm wide door need a fourth hinge?
Not by width alone. Trade practice adds a hinge above about 940mm. A 900mm door that is unusually heavy may still justify a fourth hinge or a thicker leaf, so send the weight.
How many hinges does a pair of doors take?
Count each leaf as its own door. A pair at 2100mm high takes three per leaf, which is six hinges for the opening.
Are hinges sold in pairs or pieces?
Both are used in the trade, which is why three per door is sometimes written as one and a half pairs. State pieces on your order so the total cannot be misread.
Do the hinges come with screws?
BL028, BL029, BL030 and BL031 are photographed with screws, and SSH031 lists them. For other models, state on the order whether you need screws and whether they go into timber or metal.
Can I use spring hinges instead of a door closer?
On a light door that only needs to swing shut, yes. A spring hinge has no speed control like a hydraulic closer, so use a closer where the door must close at a controlled speed or latch every time.
Sources
Codes change and vary by place. Confirm with the authority for your project.