Best Continuous & Piano Hinges AI pick

Chosen by an AI model from its trained knowledge, with its reasoning.

AI pick (line): Pemko Geared Continuous Hinge

Aluminum geared continuous hinges spread door weight along the full height and hold up on high-abuse commercial doors far better than butts.

Not for: Box lids, cabinets and light panels, where a simple piano hinge is cheaper and easier.

Select Hinges SL11 Geared Continuous Hinge (line)

A widely specified full-surface and concealed-leaf geared continuous hinge line for commercial doors.

Not for: Residential cabinetry or light lids.

Geared vs piano: Geared aluminum continuous hinges for doors; pin-and-barrel piano hinges for lids, panels and light doors Piano hinges wear at the pin under door loads and traffic; geared hinges spread load across many gear segments.
Length: Door hinges are typically ordered roughly an inch shorter than the door height; piano hinges are cut to the lid length Too long a hinge binds at the head or floor; too short loses the point of continuous support.
Leaf thickness and pin diameter: Heavier leaves and larger pins for heavier lids and doors Thin leaves on long piano hinges flex and let lids rack.
Material: 304 stainless outdoors, 316 near salt water; steel or brass only indoors Corrosion at the long pin seizes the whole hinge.
Mounting configuration: Match full mortise, full surface, half surface or concealed leaf to the door and frame Geared hinges come in specific configurations that cannot be adapted after purchase.

A piano hinge is one kind of continuous hinge; for doors, 'continuous hinge' usually means a heavier geared aluminum hinge.