Avoid Slamming Gates and Ensure a Safe and Secure Property

Hinges are everywhere, and anywhere there is an entrance or exit, whether indoors or outdoors. 

Like every hinge, they connect a gate or door to the rest of the fence or door frame. However, self-closing gate hinges are made differently to make life—especially entering and exiting—just a little easier. 

What Are Self-Closing Hinges?

Owing to the name, you can guess correctly that self-closing hinges are gate hinges that close automatically once the gate is released. 

A better question might be, "What makes a self-closing hinge better than a traditional hinge?" And are they worth it?  

After all, as with any added feature, a self-closing gate hinge will also have some added cost. 

While it’s true that non-self-closing hinges may close by themselves on uneven terrain or in a strong wind or can just be manually shut, self-closing hinges offer the following benefits:

• They Help Keep Kids and Pets Safe. 1 KidSafe’s Safety Guidelines recommend self-latching, self-closing hinges to help protect 2young children particularly from getting their fingers jammed in gates. A self-closing gate also helps ensure the entryway is barricaded after use, so your kids can't follow behind you while you are focussed on other things.

• Soft Closing. Self-closing gate hinges are designed to close safely and slowly for a quieter close but, most importantly, to protect fingers and others who may be around. This is particularly important when it comes to households that have children or businesses that welcome a lot of families. (Please note not every self-closing gate is soft-closing. However, adjustable hinges are able to produce a similar effect.)

• They're More Convenient. While it may not seem like it now, they help take away a bit of added stress both for you and others when entering and leaving. Which makes the overall experience of your modern aluminium fence not just look but feel luxurious. 

• More Durable. The soft close and less wear and tear on the hinges also make this a hinge design that is even more designed to last. 

• Less Loud. You can finally worry less about shocking the neighbours in the morning. Release the gate and listen to the soft lack of slam.
  

How Do Self-closing Hinges Work?

Most self-closing gate hinges operate through a spring within the knuckle of the hinge. When the gate is opened, the spring gets stretched, which creates immediate tension. The tension then pulls the gate back once it's released, and this closes the gate.

Self-closing vs Soft-closing Hinges

Self-closing hinges are different from soft-closing hinges, as the latter have also been designed to stop moving during the midpoint of closing before softly and gently latching. 

This difference is also what helps protect fingers and other swinging gate injuries and makes for a much softer, minimised sound. 

The Best Self-Closing Hinges 

Best overall for gates (anchor point)

Safetech Adjustable Self-Closing Hinges 

(With & Without Legs)

Great for pools, schools, daycare and the front gate 

Safetech’s adjusting self-closing hinges are innovatively designed to be easy to install, adjust, and maintain.

These hinges can be easily adjusted with an Allen key, provided with every pack. To do so, pick off the rubber/plastic caps covering the Allen hole on top, stick the key in, and turn it clockwise until you hear a click. Every turn and change of interval is marked by a clicking sound to make it easier to keep track of your movements. To loosen the tension, use the other side of the allen key and push it in until the tension dissipates. If you’re not sure, please check the instruction manual for more information.

Adjusting your hinges helps moderate the tension for a more controlled and child-safe soft close.

• Easily adjust the tension to your needs

• Rust-free design

• Anti-fade design

• Cover caps (flat rubber cap on top, child-proof cap on bottom hinge)

• Ideal with aluminium, steel, timber or pool gates

• Designed to hold up to 70 kg of weight
  
  

Best for Security and High Traffic Use

Safetech Adjustable Heavy Duty Self Closing Gate Hinges

(With & Without Legs)

Made by the same manufacturer as the last. These are Safetech's heavy-duty version of the same innovative self-closing hinges—built to withstand high traffic activity, hot sun, and easily resist the power kids might put into trying to push or swing this gate.

While other hinges might give in, this heavy-duty self-closing design will close at the same speed as the spring tension it has been set to. As a design that’s hard to tamper with, they make a great addition to single-gate colorbond &  security fences.

• Easy to install and adjust

• Rust-free & anti-fade design

• Have the assurance of a steady close even against power and pressure

• Stronger, harder to tamper with hinges

• Continues to meet Australian and international child safety standards

• Designed to hold up to 480 kg of weight

Best Self-Closing Pool Gate Hinges

D&D MagnaLatch Pool 3 Series with Self Closing Hinges

Australian safety standards require a fence that separates the pool from the house for most properties.