A lift-off hinge is a two-part hinge: one half is fixed to the frame and the other to the door leaf, and the door is then dropped onto the pin. Because the two halves are not permanently joined, you can lift the door out of the frame without undoing a single screw. The Dutch and French name *paumelle* derives from *paume*, the palm of the hand.
Make-up
- The frame half carries the upright pin.
- The door half has a socket that drops over that pin.
- A ball or nylon washer between the two carries the weight and keeps the action smooth.
- Some versions have a decorative cap or are height-adjustable.
Because the pin points upward, the door can only be lifted off if the frame half is at the bottom. That also means a lift-off hinge is handed: you have to know the door’s hand before ordering.
Applications
Lift-off hinges are used on:
- Internal doors in housing and commercial buildings, where being able to take a door off quickly for moving or decorating is useful
- External and garden doors, in stainless or galvanised versions
- Doors that are removed often, such as stores and plant rooms
- Heavy doors, with a third hinge at around a third of the height
Practical guidance
- Number — two hinges are enough for a light internal door; use three for doors over roughly 30 kilograms, tall doors and doors with glass.
- Position — set the top and bottom hinges about 150 to 200 mm from the top and bottom of the leaf; the third goes above the middle, not exactly between them, because the top of the door carries the most.
- Preventing lift-off — a door on lift-off hinges can be lifted from outside. Outward-opening external doors need hinge bolts or an anti-lift device.
- Load capacity — check the manufacturer’s rating per hinge and allow for door width: the wider the leaf, the greater the leverage on the top hinge.
- Recessed or surface-fixed — a recessed hinge gives a tight margin; a surface-fixed version is easier to fit but determines the clear opening.
- Fire and security doors — these require certified ironmongery tested with the door set. Do not swap freely between manufacturers here.
Related terms
- Hinge
- Ironmongery
- Door hand
- Door frame
- Hinge bolt
- Door leaf
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