How to Install Door Hinge Shims

Hinge shims are thin metal plates installed between the hinge leaf and the door or frame mounting plate to fine-tune door alignment. This guide shows exactly where to place shims for four common alignment problems: gap too big, gap too small, toe-out, and toe-in.

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Door Hinge Shims & Shim Plates

The shims shown in this guide are ½" wide and available in two thicknesses. For hollow metal frames with large openings around the mounting plates, use full-width shim plates instead.

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Shim Locations

Figure 1 — Understanding shim positions A, B, C, and D

Hinge shim position diagram showing locations A B C D

Shim (A)

Moves both the door and centerline of hinge barrel in the −X direction (toward hinge side).

Shim (B)

Moves the door only in the −X direction (toward hinge side).

Shim (C)

Moves both the door and centerline of hinge barrel in the +X direction (toward lock side).

Shim (D)

Moves the door only in the +X direction (toward lock side).

Shims (C) + (D) together

Moves the door in the +X direction by a greater amount than using either shim individually.

Problem 1

Gap too large at the lock edge

Door gap too big at lock edge — hinge shim fix

When your door has too large a gap at the lock edge, install shims as follows (refer to Figure 1 above for shim locations):

Place equal thickness shims at location (C) — between each jamb mounting plate and hinge leaf.

For additional adjustment, place equal thickness shims at location (D) — between each door mounting plate and hinge leaf.

Problem 2

Gap too small at the lock edge

Door gap too small at lock edge — hinge shim fix

When your door has too small a gap at the lock edge, install shims as follows (refer to Figure 1 above for shim locations):

Place equal thickness shims at location (A) — between each jamb mounting plate and hinge leaf.

For additional adjustment, place equal thickness shims at location (B) — between each door mounting plate and hinge leaf.

Warning: Shim (A), when too thick, can cause hinge bind when the door is closed — especially if weatherstrip is used on the hinge rabbet.

Problem 3

Toe-out — gap larger at bottom than top

Door toe-out alignment problem — hinge shim fix

Toe-out means the gap is larger at the bottom of the door than at the top. Install shims as follows (refer to Figure 1 above):

Place shims at location (C) and/or (D) — between the jamb and/or door mounting plate and the bottom door hinge leaf.

For additional fine adjustment, place a shim at location (A) behind the top door hinge — this helps rotate the door around the middle hinge.

Warning: Shim (A), when too thick, can cause hinge bind when the door is closed — especially if weatherstrip is used on the hinge rabbet.

Problem 4

Toe-in — gap larger at top than bottom

Door toe-in alignment problem — hinge shim fix

Toe-in means the gap is larger at the top of the door than at the bottom. Install shims as follows (refer to Figure 1 above):

Place shims at location (A) — between the jamb door mounting plate and the bottom door hinge leaf, and possibly the middle door hinge as well.

For additional fine adjustment, place thin shims at location (C) and/or (D) behind the top door hinge.

Warning: Shim (A), when too thick, can cause hinge bind when the door is closed — especially if weatherstrip is used on the hinge rabbet.

Hollow Metal Frames

½" wide shims cannot be used on some hollow metal frames and/or hollow metal doors without also using a full-width shim plate. If there is a large opening around your hinge mounting plates that would allow a ½" shim to fall in, use .060 Thick Hinge Shim Plates or .090 Thick Hinge Shim Plates instead.

Need help?

Not sure which shim thickness you need? Contact us and we'll help. Browse our full hinge shim collection or return to the Help Center.