Door Hinges

Using a good quality, well manufactured door hinge will provide stability and security to your client’s new or existing doors. 

We have a range of adaptable, secure hinges to fit a variety of external front doors.  ERA stocks a number of different finishes and styles from flag, knuckle and butt hinges that are fully adjustable for timber, PVCu and composite doors. Or more traditional strong, flush and patterned hinges suitable for timber doors. We also have a range of specialist hinges from our Giesse brand suitable for aluminium. And, for additional strength and safety we also have a selection of hinge bolts and additional security devices to support the door hinges. 

All our products are tested against the highest performance criteria.

We offer a 10 year mechanical warranty with our hinges so you can be confident in completing your purchase.

The door hinge is one of the most mechanically demanding components in any entrance door installation.

Like the hinges on a gate that's opened hundreds of times a day, a front door hinge is put through thousands of cycles every year — bearing the full weight of the door each and every time.

Specifying a hinge that isn't up to the task leads to doors that drop, bind or fail to close properly, which reflects poorly on the installer and generates callbacks.

ERA's door hinge range is engineered to eliminate that risk, with products built and tested to perform reliably over the long term across all common door types and applications.

For PVCu doors — the most widely installed door type in the UK residential market — ERA offers both flag hinges and butt hinges.

Flag hinges, such as our Classic, Maxim and Anchorage ranges, are the standard choice for modern PVCu entrance doors, offering straightforward installation and multi-directional adjustment to allow precise alignment on site.

Our high security flag hinge options provide an additional level of forced entry resistance, making them a strong choice for projects where enhanced security performance is specified.

Butt hinges for PVCu doors, including our flush-fit lift-off options, cater for specific door profiles and installation requirements where a flag hinge configuration is not appropriate.

For composite and timber doors, ERA provides a comprehensive range including the Challenger, Harbour/Haven, 2D Adjustable, Premier Face Fix and dedicated Composite Door Hinge ranges.

Composite doors are typically heavier than their PVCu counterparts, so selecting a hinge rated to handle the additional weight is an important part of the specification process.

Our composite door hinges are designed with this in mind, providing the load-bearing capacity and adjustability needed to install and set heavy composite doors accurately and securely.

The Hinge Trim option also allows installers to give composite door hinges a neater, more finished appearance once installation is complete.

For aluminium doors, ERA stocks specialist hinges designed specifically for the unique profile and structural requirements of aluminium door systems.

Aluminium doors are increasingly common across both residential and commercial sectors, and having the right hinge for the application is essential for long-term performance and smooth operation.

For period properties and traditional timber doors, ERA's traditional butt hinge range covers the full spectrum of requirements — from light pattern and flush hinges through to strong butt hinges, rising hinges and Hurlinge options.

These are the hinge types that have been used on timber doors for generations and continue to be specified for renovation and heritage projects where a contemporary hinge style would be inappropriate.

Hinge bolts are an important complementary product that rounds out a complete entrance door security specification.

Fitted to the hinge side of the door — which is often the most overlooked point of attack — hinge bolts lock the door into the frame independently of the main locking system, making it significantly harder to force a door open from the hinge side.

ERA stocks hinge bolts as part of our wider entrance door security range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of door hinges does ERA stock?

ERA stocks a comprehensive range of front door hinges covering all major door types.

For PVCu doors the range includes flag hinges and butt hinges across standard and high security options.

For composite and timber doors ERA offers the Challenger, Harbour/Haven, 2D Adjustable, Premier Face Fix, Composite Door Hinge and Hinge Trim ranges.

For aluminium doors ERA stocks specialist aluminium-compatible hinges. For traditional timber doors, the range includes light pattern, flush, strong, rising and Hurlinge butt hinges.

Hinge bolts are also available for additional security on the hinge side of the door.

What is the difference between a flag hinge and a butt hinge for PVCu doors?

A flag hinge is the most commonly used hinge type for modern PVCu entrance doors.

It is surface-mounted to the outer face of the door frame and door sash, and is typically multi-directionally adjustable to allow precise alignment after fitting.

A butt hinge for PVCu doors sits recessed into the door frame and sash in a more traditional configuration, and is typically used on specific door profiles — such as certain Veka Omnia profiles — where the door system is designed around a butt hinge rather than a flag hinge. ERA stocks both types, including flush-fit lift-off butt hinge options for compatible profiles.

Are ERA's composite door hinges suitable for heavy doors?

Yes. ERA's hinges for composite and timber doors are designed to handle the additional weight that composite doors carry compared to PVCu alternatives.

Composite doors are denser and heavier by nature, and using a hinge not rated for the load can result in the door dropping over time, causing alignment problems and difficulties closing or locking.

ERA's composite door hinge range, including the Challenger and Harbour/Haven options, provides the structural capacity and adjustability needed for accurate, long-lasting installation of composite entrance doors.

What is a 2D adjustable hinge and when should it be specified?

A 2D adjustable hinge allows the door to be adjusted in two planes — typically side-to-side and in-and-out — after installation.

This is particularly useful on composite and timber doors where slight seasonal movement in the frame or sash may require periodic fine-tuning to maintain a perfect close and seal.

Specifying a 2D adjustable hinge from the outset gives installers and end users the ability to make these adjustments easily without needing to remove and refit the hinge.

What is a rising hinge and when is it used?

A rising hinge is a traditional butt hinge type that causes a door to rise slightly as it opens.

This rising action is typically used to clear floor coverings such as thick carpet, allowing the door to open freely without catching.

Rising hinges are most commonly found on timber doors and are a practical specification choice for renovation and replacement projects where the floor covering cannot easily be changed or trimmed.

What are hinge bolts and why are they important?

Hinge bolts are security devices fitted to the hinge side of an entrance door, independently locking the door into the frame on the opposite side to the main lock.

The hinge side of a door is a commonly overlooked point of vulnerability — an intruder who forces or removes the hinges can potentially open the door regardless of the quality of the main lock.

Fitting hinge bolts closes this security gap and significantly increases the overall resistance of the door to forced entry.

ERA stocks hinge bolts as part of a complete entrance door security specification.

Does ERA's door hinge range come with a warranty?

Yes. ERA backs its door hinge range with a 10 year mechanical warranty, reflecting the quality of materials and manufacturing standards applied across the range.

For trade installers, this warranty provides a strong assurance to pass on to clients at the point of installation, and demonstrates confidence in the long-term performance of the products being fitted.

How do I choose the right door hinge for a composite, PVCu or timber door?

The key factors to consider when selecting a door hinge are the door material and profile, the weight of the door, the installation configuration required, and whether any adjustment capability is needed after fitting.

PVCu doors typically require flag or butt hinges matched to the specific door profile being installed. Composite and timber doors require hinges rated for their weight, with adjustable options recommended for ease of on-site setting.

Timber doors in period or heritage properties are best suited to traditional butt hinge styles.

If in doubt, ERA's technical team can advise on the most appropriate hinge specification for any application.