Determining hinge size depends on the type of hinge. For door hinges, the process is straightforward:
Measuring Door Hinges
To accurately measure a door hinge, follow these steps:
- Open the hinge fully. This allows you to measure both the leaf (the part attached to the door and door frame) dimensions.
- Measure the height and width. Use a ruler or tape measure to find the distance from the top to the bottom and from side to side of the fully opened hinge leaf. As noted in several sources (Access Hardware, Direct Door Hardware), for many hinges, the height and width are the same. Monroe Engineering advises measuring the distance from the outside of one end to the outside of the other end of the fully opened leaf to find the width.
- Note the measurements. Record the height and width to ensure you purchase the correct replacement.
Important Considerations:
- Door thickness: The thickness of the door influences the hinge's length and sometimes the width (Essentra Components). Thicker doors need longer hinges.
- Hole Diameter (Cabinet Hinges): For cabinet hinges, the diameter of the hole in the door where the hinge sits is crucial (Eurofit Direct). Common sizes include 26mm, 35mm, and 40mm.
- Hinge Type: The type of hinge (e.g., butt hinge, strap hinge, concealed hinge) affects the measurement process and the dimensions to consider.
Measuring Other Hinges
For hinges on items other than doors (like sunglasses or eyeglasses), the measurement process might differ. For example, to find the right size replacement for eyeglasses, measure the hinge-to-hinge distance of a well-fitting pair (Ray-Ban).
