Washered Hinges

A washered hinge carries a thin bearing washer between the knuckles. That single component takes the friction that would otherwise wear the pin, so the hinge stays quiet and the door keeps its alignment under a heavier leaf. It is the standard upgrade from a plain butt hinge on solid or engineered doors.

When to specify washered

Use washered hinges on solid core doors, tall leaves and any door that will be opened dozens of times a day. Hang on three as a minimum, four if the leaf is heavy, and check the hinge grade against the door weight rather than guessing from the size.

For lighter doors, plain butt hinges are enough; for a concealed look use concealed hinges, and for doors that must open flat against a wall use parliament hinges. Certified leaves need fire rated hinges instead. Compare all types in door hinges.

Finishes that match the rest of the door

Washered hinges are stocked here in polished chrome, satin chrome, polished and antique brass, satin stainless and black finishes, mostly from Carlisle Brass and Atlantic UK Hardware. Pick the hinge finish to match the lever or knob rather than the door, because the two pieces of ironmongery are seen together every time the door is used. If the room already has satin chrome door handles, a satin chrome hinge disappears into the reveal; a polished hinge next to a satin lever always looks like an afterthought.

Fitting notes that save a callback

Mark the hinge positions before you cut anything: roughly 150 mm down from the top of the leaf, 225 mm up from the bottom, and the third hinge just below the top one on a heavy door rather than in the middle. Cut the recess to the exact plate thickness so the leaf sits flush, because a recess even half a millimetre too deep pulls the door towards the frame and makes the latch bind. Drive a screw through every hole, at the correct gauge, in the matching finish.

Common problems and what they mean

A door that drops at the latch edge is almost always under-hinged or has a stripped top hinge, not a warped leaf. Squeaking after a few months usually means the washer has run dry rather than failed, and a drop of oil at the knuckle fixes it, as our guide on stopping doors squeaking explains. If the door binds only in damp weather the problem is moisture in the leaf, covered in doors swelling and sticking. For a full comparison of every pattern, start with how to choose door hinges and browse door hinges.