What Are Concealed Door Hinges?
Concealed door hinges are installed within the thickness of the door and frame, so they’re completely hidden when the door is closed. Unlike surface-mounted hinges, they offer a clean visual with no exposed hardware, commonly used in upscale interiors, offices, and minimalist design spaces.
In Which Case Is a Concealed Door Hinge Needed?
Concealed hinges remain the top choice for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Especially, these hinges are ideal when:
- You want no visible hardware for aesthetic reasons
- You're using flush or frameless doors
- You need high-performance self-closing without disrupting door design
- You're working with high-end residential or commercial interiors
- You’re trying to avoid tampering or unauthorized hinge access from outside
Why Self Closing Concealed Door Hinges Better Perform Across All Projects
Waterson’s concealed models are full mortise self closing concealed door hinges, meaning they sit flush in both the door and the frame while providing built-in mechanical closing. There’s no need for additional closers or external devices.
The hybrid design also offers soft-close adjustment and speed control, making them ideal for offices, lobbies, and private spaces where appearance and performance both matter.
Watch this self closing concealed door hinges video
How to Fit Concealed Door Hinges
Installing concealed hinges requires precise routing to match the hinge body depth and location:
- Mark and rout the mortise in both door and frame according to hinge dimensions
- Drill pilot holes for screws
- Install the hinge flush with both surfaces
- Test alignment and adjust as needed before hanging the door
For Waterson hinges, we offer installation templates to ensure a clean and accurate fit.
How Many Hinges Does a Door Need?
- Doors up to 60" tall; ≤150 lbs → 2 hinges
- Doors 60" to 90"; ≤260 lbs → 3 hinges
- Doors over 90"; ≤330-440 lbs → 4 hinges
- Doors reach out these dimensions: Contact Us here.
Waterson heavy duty hidden hinges are tested to support up to 440 lbs when using four hinges, making them suitable for solid wood and fire-rated doors.
Best Concealed Ball Bearing Hinges Solution
What makes Waterson’s full mortise ball bearing hinges stand out is their balanced combination of strength, smooth operation, and long-term durability—packaged in a clean, flush-mounted profile. These heavy-duty adjustable hinges are built to perform in commercial, residential, and fire-rated settings.
- Self-Closing: Features built-in spring tension for automatic, consistent door closure.
- Ball Bearing Mechanism: Promotes quiet, friction-reduced movement while minimizing wear, perfect for high-use areas.
- Heavy Load Support: Three hinges can handle up to 260 lbs, while a four-hinge setup supports up to 330 lbs.
- Fire Rating: UL-listed for up to 3 hours, meeting strict commercial fire safety regulations.
- Optional hold-open mechanism activates at 85°–90°, keeping doors firmly open without additional hardware.
- ADA Friendly: Designed for low opening force and gentle, controlled closing to support ADA accessibility compliance.
- Streamlined Appearance: Full mortise installation delivers a flush, minimalist finish—ideal for design-conscious projects.
- Spring Tension Control: Integrated numerical adjuster enables easy, tool-accessible tension fine-tuning.
Waterson Heavy Duty Self Closing Concealed Door Hinges
- Commercial entry doors
- Fire-rated doors
- High-traffic corridor doors
- Hotel room doors
- Office interior doors
- Meeting room doors
- Apartment unit doors
- Hospital and clinic doors
- Industrial facility access doors
- Sound-insulated doors
- Conference room doors