Best Hinge Jig for Carpenters in Australia (2026)

Which hinge jig to buy comes down to one question: how many doors are you hanging in a week? Get that answer right and the rest sorts itself out.

By the Fast Hinge team, based on feedback from 13,000+ carpenters across Australia and New Zealand.

If you're hanging 3 or more doors a week, a preset template jig is the one. It removes measuring completely, which is where most of the time and most of the mistakes happen.

The Three Ways Carpenters Cut Hinge Recesses

There are really only three approaches on Australian job sites right now:

1. Freehand: tape measure, pencil, chisel, no jig at all.
2. Universal adjustable jig: a jig with movable stops that you set for each hinge position.
3. Preset template jig: a jig manufactured with hinge positions already set to the Australian standard, so you clamp and route.

Each one trades speed against setup cost. Here's how they actually compare.

Hinge Jig Comparison Table

Factor	Freehand	Universal Adjustable Jig	Preset Template Jig (Fast Hinge)
Setup time per door	10-15 min (measure, mark, check)	5-8 min (adjust stops, re-check)	Under 1 min (clamp and go)
Measuring required	Every hinge, every door	Every new door if hinge spacing changes	None. Positions are pre-set to 225mm top, 175mm bottom
Consistency across doors	Depends on the carpenter, varies	Good if stops aren't bumped	Identical every time
Learning curve	Low, but slow	Moderate	Low
Hinge sizes covered	Any, by hand	Any, with adjustment	85mm and 100mm (Australian standard)
Indicative price	$0 (tools you already own)	$80-$180	$250 (Hinge Template Kit), $480 (Hinge & Latch Combo Kit)

Freehand: Fine for the Odd Door

If you're only hanging a door here and there, freehand is a reasonable choice. No extra spend, no gear to carry.

Pros: No upfront cost. Works on any hinge size or position. No jig to lose or damage on site.

Cons: Slowest option by a wide margin. Every door depends on how careful you are that day. A 1mm depth error on one hinge and the door doesn't close cleanly.

Best for: Solo tradies doing occasional repairs or one-off installs, not full-time door hanging.

Universal Adjustable Jigs: A Middle Ground With a Catch

These jigs use movable stops or rails you set to match your hinge spacing. They're cheaper than a preset kit and more consistent than freehand.

Pros: Lower upfront cost than a preset kit. Flexible if you're working with non-standard hinge positions.

Cons: You still have to set and check the stops on every door, which is where the time saving leaks away. Stops can shift if they're not locked down properly, and a shifted stop means a bad recess you won't notice until the hinge doesn't sit flush.

Best for: Carpenters doing mixed work with irregular hinge sizes who don't want to carry multiple preset templates.

Preset Template Jigs: Built for Volume

A preset template jig, like the Fast Hinge Template Kit, has hinge positions manufactured into the template. Standard Australian residential doors use 225mm from the top, 175mm from the bottom, and a centred third hinge. That's already built in.

Pros: No measuring, no adjusting, no second-guessing. Every door gets the identical recess. Covers both 85mm and 100mm hinges, so you're not carrying different kits for internal and external doors.

Cons: Higher upfront cost than a universal jig. Fixed to standard hinge positions, so it's not the tool for genuinely custom hinge placement.

Best for: Carpenters and crews hanging 3 or more doors a week, where the time saved per door compounds fast. If you're also fitting latches and strike plates on the same job, the Hinge & Latch Combo Kit covers both in one case.

Why the Time Saving Matters More Than the Price Tag

A $250 jig looks expensive next to a $0 tape measure, until you run the numbers. Cutting layout from 15 minutes to under 4 minutes per door saves roughly 11 minutes a door. On a 10-door job, that's close to 2 hours back. At a standard trade rate, that time is worth more than the jig itself, on the first job.

The corner chisel matters here too. A router leaves rounded corners, hinges need square ones. Pair your jig with a corner chisel to finish the recess properly instead of paring corners out by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a preset jig worth it if I only hang a few doors a month?

Probably not. The time saving only compounds if you're doing enough doors for it to add up. Under 2 doors a week, freehand or a basic universal jig covers you fine.

What hinge sizes do I need to check before buying?

Australian residential doors use 85mm or 100mm butt hinges. Internal doors are usually 85mm, external and heavier doors are usually 100mm. Check your existing hinges before buying so your jig covers both.

Can a hinge jig work with any router?

Yes. Any plunge router with a 1/4" collet works with a standard hinge jig. The jig guides the cut, the router does the cutting, so you don't need a specific brand of router to make the switch.

For anyone hanging doors as part of the job, not just the odd repair, a preset template jig beats both freehand and universal adjustable jigs on time and consistency. The Fast Hinge Template Kit covers both Australian standard hinge sizes in one kit, and if you're also handling latches and strike plates, the Hinge & Latch Combo Kit does the whole job. For the full routing walkthrough once you've got your jig, see our step-by-step guide on how to install door hinges with a hinge jig.