Handrail Brackets

Single Acting: Single acting hinges swing in one direction.
Double Acting: Double acting hinges swing in both directions.

Plain Bearing: Plain bearing is the simplest type of bearing. They are a good low cost option for lightweight doors.
Ball Bearing: Ball bearing hinges have ball bearings to act as a buffer between the knuckles. They tend to be quieter and more durable than plain bearing hinges. They are recommended for heavy doors and doors fitted with closers.
Roller Bearing: Roller bearings are able to support very heavy loads. Many of our heavy duty gate hinges are equipped with roller bearings.

Face Frame: Face frame cabinets have a “frame” that attaches to the front of the cabinet. The face frame gives the cabinet box extra strength while adding dimension to the door fronts. Face frame cabinets are commonly made by American cabinet manufactures.
Frameless: Frameless cabinets do not have a face-frame, and instead rely on thicker side panels for strength. Frameless cabinets are very common in Europe, but have steadily been making their way into America, as they lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs.

The center to center is the distance from the center of one screw hole to another. Most manufacturers use this measurement to identify the size of the pull.

Square Corner: Square corner hinges offer an upscale look. Corners must be mortised by hand.
Radius Corner: Radius corners are typically only available on residential grade hinges. Corners are mortised using a router.

The diameter of the hole that is drilled into the back of the door to accommodate the hinge.

Decorative adornments on the top and bottom of the hinge's pin.

Contemporary: Clean sleek lines. The most modern of styles.
Glam: Glitzy and glamorous
Global: These designs draw their inspiration from countries around the world.
Mid-Century Modern: Hardware inspired by the Mid-Century Modern movement of the 1950s.
Nature: Shapes and details from the natural world.
Old-World/Rustic: Many products of this style have distressed finishes and a handmade appearance.
Retro: Popular hardware designs from the past.
Traditional: Classic designs with thoughtful shapes and details.
Transitional: A nice blend of contemporary and traditional style.

Architectural Grade: Architectural grade hinges are typically used for custom doors and hardware upgrades. They are of higher quality and made of thicker material.
Residential Grade: These hinges are used in most tract type housing. They are relatively thin and best used on light weight doors.

The product's measurement from top to bottom.

At HardwareSource we are proud to carry many top of the line manufacturers. You can filter products by some of our top brands here.

The substance a product is made from.

The measurement from one side to another when the hinge is in the open position.

The degree the hinge will open to.

The overlay dimension is measured from the edge of the cabinet opening to the edge of the cabinet door when the door is in the closed position.

Clip-On: Clip on hinges attach to the mounting plate by snapping into place.
One-Piece: One-piece hinges are permanently attached to the mounting plate.
Screw-On: Screw-on hinges attach to the mounting plate by securing a screw.

Hinges without predrilled holes do not come with any holes for installation. Holes can be manually drilled into them at custom intervals.

To determine the screw hole spacing, on the door side of the hinge, measure the distance from the center of one screw hole to the center of the other.

The length of the screw from end to end.

The screw size refers to the diameter of the screw head.
Size 2 = 11/64"
Size 3 = 13/64"
Size 4 = 15/64"
Size 5 = 1/4"
Size 6 = 9/32"
Size 7 = 5/16"
Size 8 = 11/32"
Size 9 = 23/64"
Size 10 = 25/64"
Size 12 = 7/16"
Size 14 = 1/2"

Self closing hinges have a light spring action that prevents cabinet doors from hanging open.

Soft closing hinges prevent doors from slamming by quietly and smoothly closing the door.

Flush: For inset doors where the door is flush with the cabinet.
Offset: For doors that are only partially inset into the cabinet.

Some manufacturers test their products for weight ratings. For those that do not, you will need to use your best judgement when outfitting your door or gate.