Choosing Outdoor Gate Hinges

360 Yardware strives to offer a full selection of heavy duty wood gate hinges and strap hinges for gates. We carry garden gate hinges that work for smaller gates, ball bearing gate hinges for medium sized gates, and for heavy driveway gates we have stout heavy duty driveway gate hinges in dark bronze that can support 250 pounds per pair. Those customers searching for pool gate hardware can use our spring loaded hinges for gates, also known as self-closing hinges.

Gate hinges, even heavy duty gate hinges, can architecturally complement your gate. Strap hinges and our “H” hinges are visible when the gate is closed, so the hinge adds to the look. Butt hinges, on the other hand, are not visible on the face of the gate.

Outdoor gate hinges come in different materials so you’re sure to find what you need: iron gate hinges, bronze hinges, and stainless steel hinges for coastal locations. A wide variety of finishes are available, including black gate hinges, oil-rubbed bronze, brushed stainless steel, and satin nickel.

Determining which gate hinges you need for your new gate can be complicated. You’ll need to contemplate the weight and dimensions of your gate, your geographic location, and a few other special considerations. Not only do you need a hinge that will work with the size of your gate, you’ll need to figure out what type of role you want the hinge to play in your gate’s appearance.

Architectural Element or No? The first factor to mull in choosing a gate hinge is whether or not you’d like the hinge to play a role in the appearance of the gate. Our hinges fall into two broad categories: butt hinges and strap hinges.

Butt hinges are the type of hinge you see on your front door. They do the job and keep to themselves–the only visible part of the hinge is the cylindrical barrel. See our selection of butt hinges.

Strap hinges make an impression in a way that butt hinges do not. Strap hinges are comprised of a strap and pintle–usually the pintle is attached to the gate post and the strap is attached to the gate. The strap slips over the pintle pin and you’ve got an installation! Strap hinges are visible when the gate is closed, so they add to the appearance of the gate. See our selection of strap hinges.

We have one new type of heavy duty gate hinge, which is a hybrid of a butt hinge and strap hinge. It’s called the H hinge and it’s able to hold a lot of weight. It’s visible when the gate is closed, but in a more modest way than a traditional long strap hinge. Along the same vein, we have sets of stainless steel lag pintles and center hinges, which are visible when the gate is closed, but are also modest in size.

Weight and Dimensions: A small to mid-sized gate, under 42″ wide and ~1-1/2″ thick, will need a basic heavy duty butt hinge. Our 92024 is a great choice. They’re available in a number of finishes, including bronze and black. We also have the 94024 , a ball-bearing hinge, which offers a little easier swing over time. Mid-size gates, ~42″ wide (or a little more) and ~2-1/4″ thick, should always use a heavy duty ball-bearing hinge. We offer a 4″ and 4.5″ size, both available in steel or brass with multiple finishes.

Large garden gates and small driveway gates, depending on their construction (are they fully paneled or are there spaced pickets that lighten the gate?), sometimes can use a 4.5″ ball-bearing hinge. Oftentimes, though, people prefer to use a strap hinge and pintle set for the added stoutness of the hardware. We offer several options for strap hinges (stainless steel or bronze), as well as a dark bronze “H” hinge, which is installed to the surface of the gate and post in the same way a strap hinge is. The “H” hinge is a really nice alternative for folks with arch-top gates who can’t use a traditional long strap to hang their gate. At only 5″ wide, the “H” hinge is suited for that!

Location, Location, Location: Choosing hardware should be done with your geography in mind. Coastal locations and other areas affected by industrial air quality should choose either bronze or stainless steel. All other locations can use any material.

Special Considerations:

• Double Gates: When choosing hinges for double gates, think of them as two single gates. Consider their weight, dimensions, and location and choose accordingly. Just order double the quantity!
• Driveway Gate Hinges: Driveway gate hinges have always been difficult to find, especially if it’s a driveway gate with a steel frame integrated into the construction. We’re thrilled to be offering a new Heavy Duty Dark Bronze Driveway Gate Strap Hinge. One pair supports 250 lbs. and three hinges support 350 lbs. Not only can you support your beautiful driveway gate, but you can complement it with architectural hardware.

 

 

We’ve compiled the chart below as a quick guide to the hinges we offer. We hope it helps you decide what’ll work best for you!

 

To see all 360 Yardware’s collection of hinges (strap hinges, butt hinges, and heavy duty hinges)…click here.