The Best Door Hinge Jigs

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Door Hinge Jigs and hope the blog can help you.

Avoid costly mistakes when fitting hinges to doors or cabinets with one of these quick and easy-to-use jigs.

Even skilled carpenters usually turn to a door hinge jig to ensure the fast, accurate positioning of door hardware. This tool helps obtain the precise measurements required for the task of installing doors. Most are simple enough to be used by even relatively inexperienced DIYers, and most are very affordable—especially when compared to the cost of ruining a door.

This guide takes a close look at both types of door hinge jigs: those for full-size doors and those for cabinet doors. The two are actually quite different, so we’ll explain their technical aspects before offering suggestions for what we believe are the best door hinge jigs currently available.

1. BEST OVERALL FOR DOORS: Porter-Cable Door Hinge Template
2. BEST OVERALL FOR CABINETS: Kreg Tool Company Concealed Hinge Jig
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Everbilt Align Right Cabinet Hinge Jig Template
4. BEST VALUE FOR DOORS: Ryobi Door Hinge Template
5. BEST FOR PROFESSIONALS: Trend H/JIG/C Hinge Jig Skeleton
6. MOST COMPREHENSIVE: Milescraft 1213 HingeMate300 Template System
7. ALSO CONSIDER: BI-DTool 35mm Hinge Jig

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Door Hinge Jig

Hinges for full-size exterior and interior doors come in a range of sizes, and the doors themselves can be different thicknesses. A good hinge jig needs to cope with these variations. Cabinet door hinges tend to be more uniform (see our article on the best soft close cabinet hinges), but precision when positioning is equally important. The following are the key aspects that impact choice, whichever type is required.

Material and Build Quality

Most door hinge jigs are made from either injection-molded plastic or glass-reinforced plastic—also known as glass-reinforced nylon or fiberglass. The first is cheaper to produce, while the latter is tougher.

Both materials would easily be damaged by either a router cutter (used with full-size door jigs) or a Forstner bit (used with cabinet jigs). However, the cutting edges of these tools should never come into direct contact with the jig, so damage should never be a problem. Router cutters have a bearing guide that follows the jig contour, so the blades only cut the wood. A Forstner bit (required to drill a flat-bottomed hole) is held within a guide block, so once again only the cabinet is drilled.

A few door hinge jigs are made of aluminum or steel, which have the durability to withstand years of jobsite use.

Attaching Mechanism

Cabinet door hinge jigs are simply held to the inside of the door using any convenient woodworking clamps. Ratcheting types are convenient because they are easy to use one-handed. Two clamps should be employed, one either side of the cutter guide, to ensure that the jig can’t twist.

Full-size door hinge jigs attach in two different ways. Some have a single clamp built in, which makes for fast work, though it’s important to make sure the jig is absolutely level. Others use locating pins that are positioned to match the door thickness, and are then screwed or pinned in place. These are a bit more time-consuming, but arguably more secure.

Adjustability

The amount of adjustability provided by door hinge jigs depends very much on the type. Very basic cabinet hinge jigs are simply used to mark hole positions, and any adjustment is manual. More advanced models have rotating cams that give different spacings from the edge of the door. These jigs are usually one size to suit the hinge being used—either 35 millimeters (mm) or 26mm—though some can accommodate both.

Most full-size door hinge jigs can accommodate different-size hinges, though it’s important to check the range available. They have either a sliding mechanism or different-size templates that drop in.

As mentioned above, they also have clamps or spacing pins to cope with different door thicknesses. With so many different doors available, it is essential to check this measurement as well. Door height is unimportant as jigs can be positioned wherever required.

Additional Features and Accessories 

A router bit is required with full-size door hinge jigs, and one is often included. Shank size will be either ¼ inch or ½ inch. Neither is better than the other, but the size will determine the kind of router used. Some ½-inch routers include a ¼-inch collet as an option, whereas ¼-inch routers cannot use ½-inch bits.

This type of door hinge jig creates a round-cornered cutaway in the door edge, and suitable round-cornered hinges are widely available. However, door hinges were traditionally square, and when refitting a door to an existing frame, it will often be necessary to cut away the rounded area. This can be done with an ordinary woodworking chisel, but corner chisels specifically for the purpose are available.

Cabinet hinge jigs almost always include the Forstner bit required to drill the flat-bottomed hole for the main body of the hinge. They may also include a smaller drill for the retaining screws.

When hanging doors, be sure to prevent the handle from damaging the wall. Our article on choosing the best door stop may prove useful.

Our Top Picks

Now that the technical aspects of these invaluable devices have been covered, it’s now time to check out some worthy products. Each of the best door hinge jigs were assigned a category to make it easier to find the one you need.

Best Overall for Doors

Porter-Cable Door Hinge Template

The Porter-Cable door hinge jig is primarily aimed at DIY users but will also be useful for pros who only hang doors occasionally. It strikes a good compromise between durability and cost. It can be used with doors from 1⅜ to 2½ inches thick, and with hinge sizes from 2½ to 6 inches, in ½-inch increments.

The Porter-Cable door hinge jig is made of fiberglass, which is reasonably durable, though it can crack under heavy impact. The sliding mechanism for selecting hinge size is quick and easy to use. Pins are positioned for door width, then small reusable nails hold the jig in place.

The jig can flex if too much pressure is applied when routing, so care is needed. Unfortunately, the included router bit is not very good and soon loses sharpness. Those with numerous doors to hang may wish to invest in a better cutter.

Product Specs

• Door type: Full-size internal and external
• Hinge sizes: 2½ to 6 inches
• Material: Fiberglass

Pros

• Straightforward setup
• Suits a wide range of door thicknesses
• Very affordable

Cons

• Router bit is poor
• Jig can flex

Get the Porter-Cable door hinge jig at Amazon, Acme Tools, or Toolbarn.com.

Best Overall for Cabinets

Kreg Tool Company Concealed Hinge Jig

Kreg, one of the world’s leading jig makers, does not disappoint with this high-quality precision cabinet door hinge jig. It is made from tough glass-filled nylon and designed to cut holes for standard 35mm cabinet hinges (often called Euro hinges).

Two cams adjusted by a screwdriver allow the jig to be offset 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm from the edge. This suits different hinge lengths and both framed or frameless doors. A scale along the longest edge of the jig allows for quick alignment, and the jig is then clamped in place. The tungsten-carbide cutter fits any power drill and has a built-in depth stop to prevent drilling through the cabinet door. Guide holes are also provided for the hinge retaining screws, though the required 1/16-inch drill bit is not included.

The Kreg cabinet door hinge jig costs a little more than some competitors but is quick and easy to use, well-made, and produces consistently accurate results.

Product Specs

• Door type: Cabinet
• Hinge sizes: 35mm
• Material: Glass-filled nylon

Pros

• Built-in scale for fast positioning
• 4 offset positions
• High-quality cutter

Cons

• 35mm hinges only
• No drill bit for hinge retaining screws

Get the Kreg Tool Company door hinge jig on Amazonor at The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

Everbilt Align Right Cabinet Hinge Jig Template

Calling the Everbilt template a cabinet hinge jig is a bit of a stretch, but as a low-cost way to mark out cabinet hinge positions, it works fine. It also includes the necessary Forstner drill bit, though not the 1/16-inch bit for hinge retaining screws.

The Everbilt jig is basically an L-shaped piece of transparent plastic that is held against the door edge. Holes allow pencil marks to be made for the hinge and retaining screws. The jig is then put aside and the relevant holes drilled. Any adjustment for offset will need to be done manually, which could lead to errors creeping in.

It is easy to be critical, but for a one-off job, or for someone who has a pillar drill to set depth, the Everbilt does the job at a fraction of the price of most competitors.

Product Specs

• Door type: Cabinet
• Hinge sizes: 35mm
• Material: Injection-molded plastic

Pros

• Allows rapid marking out
• Forstner bit included
• Very low cost

Cons

• Very basic
• Modest durability

Get the Everbilt door hinge jig at The Home Depot.

Best Value for Doors

Ryobi Door Hinge Template

The Ryobi door hinge jig is a well-designed device that is feature rich as well as quick and easy to set up. Thanks to its unique clamp, it can be used on doors of any thickness and hinges from 3 to 5 inches in length, in ½-inch increments. There is also a useful guide on the tool for setting router depth.

There are removable corner inserts, so the Ryobi jig can be used for round- or square-cornered hinges (though the latter will still need finishing manually with a chisel). A high-quality router bit is included, as is a self-centering drill bit for making the actual hinge holes. Both bits are conveniently stored onboard the jig body.

Our main concern with the Ryobi door hinge jig is that it is plastic throughout, and much of it is quite thin. Having a plastic screw thread on the clamp is also a potential weak point. While breakages do not seem to be a regular problem, we wouldn’t recommend it for jobsite use.

Product Specs

• Door type: Full-size internal and external
• Hinge sizes: 3 to 5 inches
• Material: Injection-molded plastic

Pros

• Rapid nail-free clamping
• High-quality router bit included
• Drill bit for hinge holes included

Cons

• Plastic clamp screw
• Slightly limited hinge sizes

Get the Ryobi door hinge jig on Amazon or at The Home Depot.

Best for Professionals

Trend H/JIG/C Hinge Jig Skeleton

The Trend door hinge jig is a remarkable piece of engineering. Most door hinge jigs need to be reset for each hinge, but the Trend can be set to cut two or three hinges at the same time. This makes it suitable for fire doors (legally required to have three hinges) and heavy exterior doors. It can also be used with hinges of different widths and thicknesses.

Actual hinge position is controlled by sliding blocks. Each is independent, so any hinge size can be accommodated. Once set, the jig is held in place by four bradawls that are included. The Trend door hinge jig can also be used to cut hinge positions into most door jambs.

Durability is assured by the cast-aluminum construction. For transportation, the jig is dismantled into two pieces, and it comes with a carrying case. A guide bush for the router cutter is included, though the cutter itself is not—rather disappointing given the Trend door hinge jig’s high price.

Product Specs

• Door type: Full-size internal, external, and fire doors
• Hinge sizes: Unlimited
• Material: Cast and machined aluminum

Pros

• High-quality aluminum construction
• Outstanding versatility
• Quick and easy to use

Cons

• Very expensive
• Long reach cutter not included

Get the Trend door hinge jig on Amazon or at Acme Tools.

Most Comprehensive

Milescraft 1213 HingeMate300 Template System

The Milescraft door hinge jig is a template system that provides guides not just for door hinges but for the door jamb, strike plate, and latch plate. The only thing missing is a jig for the door handle and lock, though these are widely available.

The Milescraft jig will fit 1⅜- and 1¾-inch doors as well as hinges from 2½ to 4½ inches, in ½-inch increments. With the main frame and templates, there are nine pieces in the kit. While this can seem confusing at first, each template is marked with the appropriate size or function.

The main frame is hard-wearing steel. Templates are ABS plastic, which is also quite tough. Setting up the jig isn’t as quick and easy as some, but high accuracy is achievable. Once in place, the relevant template is held with the pins supplied. A tungsten carbide router bit is included, though it has a ½-inch shank. As a result, the Milescraft door hinge jig can’t be used with ¼-inch routers unless a different cutter is purchased.

Product Specs

• Door type: Full-size internal and external
• Hinge sizes: 2½ to 4½ inches
• Material: Steel and ABS plastic

Pros

• Wide-ranging door-hanging set
• Main frame is durable steel
• Tungsten carbide router bit included

Cons

• Requires ½-inch router
• Not for large hinges

Get the Milescraft door hinge jig on Amazon or at The Home Depot.

Also Consider

BI-DTool 35mm Hinge Jig

There are a number of cabinet hinge jigs available that mimic the high-quality Kreg model described above. The BI-DTool has a few features that set it apart from many low-cost rivals. It is made from engineered plastic—a synthetic resin noted for increased durability. Cams provide the usual offsets at 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm, and there’s a depth stop so the jig can be used for framed and frameless doors.

In addition to the 35mm offset cams, a pair of 26mm cams is also provided. These allow the BI-DTool jig to be used for smaller hinges, though the required cutter is not included. Unlike the Kreg, there is no scale on the edge to help with alignment. Additional clamps are required to hold the jig in position, but that’s typical of this kind of jig. A 1/16-inch drill is provided for retaining screw holes, though care is needed as this can easily cut into the plastic guides on the jig, thus reducing their accuracy.

Product Specs

• Door type: Cabinet
• Hinge sizes: 35mm and 26mm (see description)
• Material: Engineered plastic

Pros

• Guides for both common cabinet hinge sizes
• 4-position adjustable offset
• Good value

Cons

• Screw guide holes can wear quickly
• Additional clamps required

Get the BI-DTool door hinge jig on Amazon.

How to DIY Your Own Door Hinge Jig

Buying a door jig is the easy option, but with care, it is possible to make your own. In fact, for cabinet doors, a jig isn’t strictly necessary. If you can measure and mark accurately, hold the drill vertically, and judge the depth of a hole, then a Forstner bit of the appropriate diameter to match the hinge is all that is required. Owners of pillar drills will find the task easier, but a portable drill and a steady hand can get the job done.

Making a jig for full-size doors should be well within the skill set of competent DIYers. An L-shaped frame with the appropriate cutout for hinge position is all that’s really needed. We recommend using plywood or hardwood because composite board can be fragile. The DIY jig only has two parts that could either be joined by creating a slot in one with a router and attaching the other to it or by simply screwing the two together. Several easy-to-follow plans are available online.

Our Verdict

The Porter-Cable door hinge jig takes top spot for doors because of its versatility and affordability, though care is needed to ensure accuracy. The Ryobi door hinge jig is also good, but the main clamp bolt is a concern. For cabinets, the Kreg Tool Company door hinge jig is pretty much flawless, though you do pay a few bucks more for it. The Everbilt door hi