Hinges - Butt

Butt hinges are a basic type of hinge used to attach and swing doors, gates, lids and panels. They are made of two flat rectangular plates joined by a pin or rod (the knuckle) which allows a swinging motion. The plates are flush with the surfaces being joined, so they are named 'butt' hinges after the meeting of two flat surfaces.

These types of hinges are not designed to support a lot of weight on their own, so doors and lids often use multiple hinges. They allow doors or panels to swing open the full 180 degrees to lay flat against the adjoining surface. Key advantages are that they are low cost, have a simple installation process and they are widely available in many sizes and materials. The disadvantages are that they have a lack of security compared to some other hinge types and provide limited support for heavy objects.

They are the most common type of hinge used for cabinet doors, boxes, chest lids and light-duty applications. When constructing cabinet doors, they allow the doors to open wide and lie flat against the cabinet sides when fully opened. They are also used for attaching tabletops to aprons/legs or other types of furniture frames, and they securely join the top and bottom sections while still allowing the item to be disassembled for moving or storage. Long hinges can connect multiple wood pieces and still allow for some flexibility and movement. The full mortice style of a butt hinge provides stability and strength for these types of connections. Larger heavy-duty hinges are used for exterior doors, fences, garage doors, truck doors, etc.

At FA Parkes, we stock hinges made from steel, brass, polycarbonate, stainless steel and galvanised steel. We also provide a range of finishes such as grey, natural, transparent and zinc plated manufactured by leading brands such as Gold & Wassall and Pinet.