How to Install Hinges on a Door

1. Determine the General Placement of the Hinges

   If the door will swing inward, into the room, then the pin side of the hinge will be on the inside of the door. Place the top hinge 5 inches from the top of the door and the bottom hinge 10 inches from the bottom of the door. If the door frame is already mortised, follow that placement pattern for the door.

   A door hinge is installed so that one-half of the hinge is on the door frame and the other half of the hinge is on the side of the door. Unless the door is pre-hung on an attached doorframe, this is an essential step to hanging a door.

2. Establish the Work Area

   Spread the old towel on the floor to cushion the door. Place the door on its side, with the handle side of the door facing the floor. For holding the door on its side, it helps to have an assistant hold the door. You can also clamp it in place with a wood clamp securing the door to a solid object, such as a chair.

3. Mark the Hinge Placement on the Door

   Use the tape measure to mark the on-center placement points for the hinges. Lay a hinge down on the mark. The pin side should be on the side of the door swing. The hinge must step back from the edge of the door. To achieve this, let the hinge drape open so that one side of the hinge hangs down, with the other end of the hinge resting on the side of the door. Mark around the hinge with a pencil.

   Tip

   If you find it difficult to see or follow the pencil marks, instead place a single screw in the hinge to hold it in place, and then use the utility knife to score along the edges of the hinge for a more distinctive line. Remove the screw and hinge once finished.

4. Cut the Outline With the Knife

   With a fresh blade in place, use the utility knife to cut around the pencil marks to the depth of the hinge thickness (about 1/16-inch).

   If you used the utility knife to mark the outlines of your hinge, use a small router set to the depth of the hinge to cut along the knife lines.

5. Sharpen the Chisel

   Unless you have a new chisel, you will need to sharpen it. Lay the chisel on a solid flat work surface. File the chisel to sharpen it or use a whetstone.

6. Mortise the Hinge

   With the hammer and chisel, cut away the inside area of the pencil marks or knife cuts. Work slowly and be patient. Make sure that the depth does not exceed the thickness of the hinge. Flatten out the mortise area by gently scraping by hand with the chisel. Scrape in the direction of the wood grain.

7. Check the Hinge Depth

   Place the hinge in the mortise. Run your finger across the top of the hinge to verify that it is flush with the door surface. If the hinge is too high, work the mortise again with the chisel to remove more waste material.

   Tip

   If you accidentally cut the mortise area too deep, cut out a spacer with thin cardboard to raise the top of the hinge to the door level.

8. Install the Hinges

   Use the cordless drill and the screws provided with the hinges to mount the hinges to the door.

Tips For Installing Hinges on a Door

• Level the hinges: The hinge must be level across the surface. If it is uneven or if it is mounted below the surface level, the door will not close properly.
• Be patient: Mortising a door hinge with a hammer and chisel is more about patience than skill. Work slowly and patiently to avoid cutting too deeply and splintering away other parts of the door.
• Buy a quality chisel: If you do not own a quality wood chisel, buy one at your local home center or hardware store. If you already have a chisel, sharpen it on a whetstone.
• Use a self-centering bit: The hinge holes need to be exactly in the center. If not, you risk shifting the hinge and the door out of place. The easy way to accomplish this is to use a self-centering bit. Self-centering bits cost $5 to $10 and have a wide range of uses outside of installing door hinges.
• Use the right hinges: Pin door hinges, good for interior doors, have pins that can be removed by tapping them upward with a nail and hammer. Ball-bearing hinges have sealed pins that cannot be removed and work well for heavy doors. Spring door hinges close a door automatically. Spring door hinges are good for garages and back doors.

When to Call a Professional

Because mortising door hinges can be an exacting process, call a fine carpenter to help you if you doubt your abilities. Mortising hinges does not allow for second chances if you make a mistake. If you need to mortise a large number of doors, you may want to have a carpenter do the time-consuming work for you.