A hinge mortise is the shallow cut made in the edge of a door and the door jamb that mirrors the size and thickness of the door hinge. The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly.

Do door hinges have to be mortise?

Doors must be mortised to make hinges fit properly. It allows the hinge to fit flat and flush with the edge of the door inside a shallow cut. Production door shops use routers and jigs to cut mortises, but you can do single doors by hand with a hammer and chisel.

What does full mortise door hinge mean?

A full mortise hinge is a plate hinge designed to have one or both leaves mortised into the door and the cabinet face or door jamb. The hinge sits flush with the surface of the door and frame when installed, leaving a smooth finished appearance.