How to cut hinge recesses in an interior door: step-by-step guide

An interior door that sticks, hangs badly or needs new hinges only hangs well when the hinges are neatly recessed into the wood. With patience and the right tools, you can do that as a DIYer too. This blog takes you step by step through cutting hinge recesses in an interior door: from choosing and marking out to chiselling with a hammer or using a router, fitting the hinges and adjusting the door.

What do you need to cut hinge recesses?

Which materials do you need?

• Hinges that suit your door: choose the right size, thickness, weight rating and finish (colour and material). Not sure which hinges fit? Ask us via the contact form. Measure the old hinges and take one along as an example.
• Suitable screws, which usually come with the hinges. If they are too short or too thin, choose wood screws such as hardened screws for wood and chipboard.
• A few pieces of wood or cardboard as supports to bring the door to the right height while you adjust it.

Which tools do you need?

• A tape measure and a square to measure the positions and mark them at right angles, with a carpenter’s pencil or a snap-off knife to mark the outlines sharply.
• Chisels: a set such as the wood chisel set 6–25 mm or the wood chisels 6–25 mm, or a single 25 mm chisel for a wide hinge. Keep your chisels sharp.
• A claw hammer to drive the chisel (a wooden or plastic mallet is kinder to the handle).
• Want to work faster and more accurately? Use a cordless plunge router, preferably with a hinge template or your own jig.
• A cordless drill driver or a screwdriver set to fix the hinges, and a level to check the result.
• A cordless vacuum cleaner or construction vacuum cleaner for wood chips and dust.
• Protective equipment: work gloves, safety glasses, an FFP2 dust mask and knee pads. Choose your own size.

How do you choose the hinges and their position?

Most interior doors hang on two or three hinges. With a heavy or tall door, a third hinge in the middle is wise. As a guide, the top and bottom hinges sit roughly a quarter to a fifth of the door height from the top and bottom, but always look at the existing positions in the frame: if you are replacing hinges, choose the same size and the same positions.

Also pay attention to the swing direction. If you stand on the side the door opens towards you and the hinges are on the left, it is a left-hand door. The hinge pin should always point upwards (see also our blog on which hardware an interior door needs).

Is it a fire-rated door or a door with a thick, heavy core? Then requirements often apply to the hinges and you may not simply modify the door. In that case, ask a professional.

How do you cut hinge recesses in an interior door, step by step?

1. Secure the door. Lay the door on its edge on two trestles, or clamp it upright in a workbench or with clamps. A door that moves gives a poor result and is dangerous when chiselling.
2. Measure the positions. Measure from the top of the door with the tape measure and mark the position of the top and bottom hinge with a pencil. Transfer the measurements to the frame so that door and frame line up when you hang the door.
3. Mark out the hinge. Lay the hinge on the edge of the door and draw around it with a sharp pencil, or score it with a snap-off knife for a crisp line. Use the square to draw lines at right angles to the edge.
4. Decide the depth. After cutting, the hinge leaf should sit exactly in the wood, flush with the edge of the door. Also mark the depth on the side of the door so you can see how deep to go. It is better to keep the recess a little too shallow than too deep.

How do you cut and fit the hinges?

5. Cut with chisel and hammer. Place the chisel with the bevel facing inwards on the marked line and tap it gently into the wood. Make small cuts along the line and then remove the wood in thin layers, always working from the line inwards and with the grain. Level the bottom.
6. Or cut with a router. Set the depth of the router, make a test cut in a piece of scrap wood first and then rout the recess using a template or a sturdy guided jig. Square off the rounded corners with a chisel. Only do this if you are experienced with the machine.
7. Check the recess. Lay the hinge in the recess. It should fit snugly and sit flush with the edge of the door. If it sits too deep, put a piece of cardboard under the hinge; if it sits too high, chisel out a little more.
8. Cut the frame side. Repeat this in the frame, using the marked heights from the door. Use the same depth here and finish the corners neatly.

9. Screw the hinges on. Pre-drill for the screws with a thin drill bit and drive them in with a cordless drill driver or screwdriver. Don’t overtighten the screws, so the wood doesn’t split.
10. Hang the door. Lift the door (preferably with two people) into the frame and slide the hinge pins into place or join the hinges together. If needed, set the door on wooden wedges at the right height.
11. Adjust the door. Use the level to check that the door hangs straight and closes evenly. If the gap is uneven, put a strip of cardboard behind the hinge or tighten the hinge screws slightly. Check that the door stays in any position and doesn’t swing open or shut by itself.

What mistakes do DIYers often make?

• A recess that is too deep. The hinge then sits deeper than the edge and the door closes badly. Keep the recess a little shallow and deepen it step by step.
• Blunt chisels. Blunt tools tear the wood and slip. Sharpen your chisels before you start.
• Not marked at right angles. A crooked hinge makes the door bind. Use a square and check the measurement twice.
• Hinges not in line. Measure positions in frame and door accurately; a single hinge that is off makes the door hang crooked.
• Screws that are too long or too thick. They can split the wood or distort the hinge.

💡 Tip: practise first on a piece of scrap wood of the same thickness. That way you see how deep to go and how the chisel behaves before you start on your door.

How do you stay safe when cutting hinge recesses?

Always chisel away from yourself and keep your other hand behind the chisel, never in front of it. Wear work gloves against splinters, safety glasses against flying wood and, when routing, an FFP2 dust mask and hearing protection. Secure the door well and remove the plug or the battery from the router before you change the bit.

Spending a while on your knees at the bottom of the door? Knee pads will spare your knees. You can find all personal protective equipment in our workwear and safety category. Read more tips in our guide safe working on the construction site. Vacuum up afterwards with a vacuum cleaner. Want to give the door a new colour as well? Read how to paint a door.

What do DIYers often ask about cutting hinge recesses?

Do I have to take the door out of the frame to cut recesses?

Yes, that is the safest and gives the best result. Secure the door firmly, flat or upright. Only for small repairs can you leave the door hanging.

How many hinges does an interior door need?

Usually two or three. With a heavy, tall or wide door, a third hinge in the middle is wise. Look at the weight of the door and at what the hinge manufacturer recommends.

Can I do it without a router?

Certainly. A sharp chisel and a hammer work fine; it just takes a little more time. A router is handy if you are doing several doors, but it takes experience and a good jig.

How deep should the recess be?

As deep as the thickness of the hinge, so the leaf sits flush with the edge of the door. Better to start a little shallow and refine than to cut too deep.

My door sticks after hanging. What now?

First check that the hinges are not too deep or too shallow and that the screws are tight. If necessary, put a piece of cardboard behind the hinge. If the door still touches the frame, look at where it rubs before you plane anything off.

When is it better to call in a professional?

With a fire-rated, heavy or expensive door, with damaged frame timber, if you have no experience with chiselling or routing, or if you simply don’t have the time or the inclination.

More DIY tips for your interior door

Working on more than one part of your door? Then also read: How to paint a door, Which hardware does my interior door need?, Which tools do you need to hang a door?, How to measure an interior door: overlay or flush.

Where can you find everything for cutting hinge recesses in your interior door?

At Saniso, the online DIY and building store, you’ll find tools and personal protective equipment for your job. Questions about door hardware or hinges? Feel free to ask us.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit in Zwaag, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure what suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach, or is the door special (for example fire-rated, very heavy or glazed)? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.

Read also: Which hardware does my interior door need? Handle, lock and hinges

Read also: How to fix a sticking door

Read also: Working safely with chisels: what to watch for