Prehung

Prehung is a term most often encountered in construction and carpentry. It describes a door, window, or frame that has been assembled with hinges or other fasteners already attached, so it is ready to be installed with minimal additional work. The common spellings are “prehung” or “pre-hung,” while “prehung” is a less frequent variant.

In the context of doors, a prehung unit typically includes a door slab attached to a hinge-side jamb with hinges already mortised into the door and frame. This arrangement allows installers to place the unit into a rough opening, shim for plumb and level, and secure it with fasteners. After installation, finishing tasks such as trimming, weatherstripping, and attaching door hardware are completed.

Benefits of using prehung units include reduced on-site fabrication, consistent hinge alignment, and faster installation compared with loose doors that require hinge mortising and frame assembly in the field. They are chosen to save time in new construction and renovations where precise alignment is important for proper operation and energy efficiency.

Other, less common uses of the term are metaphorical or context-specific, such as describing objects prepared to be hung in a display or gallery setting, though this usage is not standardized and the construction sense remains dominant.

Etymology: formed from the prefix pre- meaning before, plus hung, the past participle of hang, signifying readiness for hanging rather than the act itself.