hingeside

Hingeside is a term used in door hardware and architectural drafting to denote the edge of a door that contains the hinges. It is the side of the door frame and leaf where the hinges are mounted, as opposed to the latch side, which holds the lock and strike plate. The term is descriptive rather than a formal standard, and it may appear as hingeside, hinge side, or hinge-line in different texts.

In practical use, identifying the hinge side helps with planning hinge placement, clearances, and weatherstripping. The hinge side is typically aligned with the door jamb’s hinge mortises, and it influences the reinforcements required in the frame and door edge. For standard residential doors, two or three hinges are installed along the hinge line; for heavy or high-traffic doors, reinforced or ball-bearing hinges may be used on the hinge side.

Etymology and usage: the term is formed from the English words hinge and side and is primarily found in construction documents and carpentry discussions. It is more common in architectural drawings and manuals than in consumer product labeling, where components are often described by swing direction and face components rather than as hinge side.

See also: latch side, door edge, jamb, hinge mortise, strike plate.