Hinges are available in a variety of sizes. Whether you’re planning to install them on a door, gate, cabinet or any other surface, you’ll need to choose hinges in the right size. Most hinges feature several common measurements. Referring to these measurements will allow you to determine whether a hinge is the right size for your application.
Gauge
Gauge refers to the thickness of a hinge. The higher the gauge, the thicker the hinge. As a result, high-gauge hinges are typically stronger than their low-gauge counterparts. They can accommodate heavier objects while withstanding greater stress.
Width
Width is the distance from the end of one leaf to the end of the other leaf when the hinge is open. It’s influenced primarily by the size of the leafs. Hinges with bigger leafs will have a higher width than those with smaller leafs.
You can identify width by fully opening the hinge. With the hinge fully open, measure the distance from the outside of one end to the outside of the other hinge. This distance is the hinge’s width.
Length
Length is the distance from the bottom of the leafs to the top of the leafs. It’s also known as height, as it reflects the height of hinges.
Most hinges are designed with two leafs of equal size. The leafs are pressed together to form a knuckle with a hollow center. A pin is then inserted into the center of the knuckle, thus holding the two leads together and completing the hinge. Length is simply how tall a hinge is from the bottom to the top.
Knuckle Length
Another hinge measurement you need to know is knuckle length. Some people assume that knuckle length is the same as the aforementioned hinge length, but this isn’t the case. Knuckle length focuses on the length of each individual section of a hinge’s knuckle.
Knuckles are comprised of multiple sections that act like teeth. The teeth allow the hinge’s leafs to join together. Knuckle length refers to the height of each individual section. Some hinges have a knuckle length of 0.25 inches, whereas others have a knuckle length of 0.5 inches.
Pitch
Finally, there’s pitch. The pitch of a hinge represents the width of its knuckle. You can identify the pitch by measuring the distance across the hinge’s knuckle. Keep in mind, though, that pitch doesn’t take into account the hinge’s leafs. It only focuses on the knuckle.