It doesn’t matter how sturdy your gate is if you’ve got the wrong hinges – or don’t install them correctly. Installing your gate hinges properly can mean the difference between a flawless gate that will last for decades and one that begins to sag and fail in short order.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right gate hinges. Do you need two or three hinges? What type of hinge do you want – strap hinges, pivot hinges, tee hinges, or maybe something else?
Consider the weight and width of your gate when selecting hinges. The wider and heavier the gate is, the more stress it will place on the hinges. This means you’ll want to increase the size of the hinges as well as the length of the attachment bolts/screws.
Let’s take a look at how to install gate hinges step-by-step, so you’ll be able to hang a gate in no time.
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Tools & Materials:
- Drill/Driver
- Driver and drill bits
- Marker or grease pencil
- Gate hinges with mounting hardware
- Level
How to Install Gate Hinges – Guide
Step 1: Position the Gate inside Opening
The first thing you’ll want to do is position your gate inside the opening. Use a few pieces of scrap wood, bricks, or cinderblocks to lift up the gate to the mounting height you desire.
You’ll also want to make sure there’s enough space on the opposite fence post for installing the gate latch. ½ an inch to an inch should be sufficient for most latches.
Step 2: Gate Hinge Placement
The next step to a successful gate hinge installation is positioning and marking your hinge mounting location. Hinges can be mounted either on the interior or the exterior of the gate – which will determine whether it will swing inwards or outwards.
Position the latches between the gate and hinge post and use a grease pencil or marker to mark the locations of the screws.
Where to place hinges on a gate?
Most hinges come in pairs of two – so you’ll want to mount one near the top and the other near the bottom of the gate. Heavier gates may require a third hinge mounted in the middle to provide additional support.
If your gate is wooden, you’ll want to mount your hinges where they can grip onto as much wood as possible. This may dictate that you’ll need to mount them in a specific spot on the gate.
Step 3: Drill Pilot Holes
Next, you’ll want to drill pilot holes in the locations you marked in the previous step. Before you start drilling use a level to make sure the gate sits flush with the ground.
Use a drill bit that’s slightly smaller than the size of the mounting screws or bolts and drill pilot holes everywhere you marked in the first step.
Step 4: Screw Hinges in Place
When you’re finished drilling pilot holes, the next step is to screw the hinges in place using the screws provided with purchase.
In some cases, you may need to detach the two parts of the hinge by removing the hinge pin and screw the two halves separately. Then you can put them back together as you mount the gate in place.
This step is easier if you have the gate supported from below. Leave the scrap wood, bricks, or other shim material in place as you screw it the mounting hardware. Then replace your drill’s bit with a screwdriver bit, and drive the screws in until they’re completely tight.
Step 5: Test the Gate’s Function
At this point, your gate is mounted and screwed in place, so you can remove whatever material you used earlier to prop it into position. This can be a little tricky if you’re dealing with a heavier gate, so go slow and try not to damage the bottom of the gate.
Now, test out the operation of your new gate. Open and close it a few times to see how it moves. Swing it all the way open and let it come to a complete stop. If it stays put, then it’s level and you’re good to go!
Wrap Up
As you can see, installing gate hinges correctly is not all that difficult of a job.
While it might seem a little intimidating to the inexperienced, once you do it once, you’ll be able to repeat the process anytime a new gate needs hanging or an old one needs repair!
If you want to enhance your gate’s functionality, check out my post on how to install a gate latch cable.
And iff your gate also needs a fresh coat of paint, check out my post on how to paint a wooden gate.
I am trying to sort out a problem with my neighbour’s gate. The right hand side wall of my house, which is detached, is the boundary between the properties. The old gate used to be hinged to a post on my wall and would close on the neighbour’s side (against an extended wall, so not a wall connected to any living rooms). That gate was damaged in a storm and the new gate put in has now been hinged on the neighbour’s side and closes on a very thin post now on my wall. The gate has no bolts at top and bottom, just a lock in the middle. I am getting noise when the gate closes and also when it is shut because it rattles in light wind. I have asked for it to be re-hinged back the way it was – I have volunteered to pay for this too but offer not accepted. I have looked at a lot of gates in my area and where the gate touches a neighbour’s house wall I see they are almost always hinged on the neighbour’s side and close on the owner’s side. Can you tell me if this is standard practice – is this the convention that installers are meant to follow. It would make sense as it minimises noise problems for the neighbour