How to Replace a Shower Door Hinge

By the IDEAL install crew · Frameless glass showers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire since 2014 · Updated 10-20-2026

To replace a shower door hinge, buy one that fits the cut-out already in your glass, your glass thickness and the way your door hangs. Any hinge with the same cut-out drops into the same glass. Then support the door, have a second person hold it, and swap the hinge.

What do I need to match on a replacement hinge?

• The cut-out in the glass. This matters most. Tempered glass can't be re-cut, so the new hinge has to fit the notch or holes that are already there.
• Glass thickness. Each hinge fits a range, for example 5/16" to 1/2" for Geneva and 3/8" to 1/2" for Vienna. Measure your glass.
• How the door hangs. Wall mount, glass to glass (180°, 135° or 90°) or pivot. See shower door hinge types.
• Back plate and edge style. Match the plate on the wall and the square or beveled look of your other hardware.
• Finish. Pick the finish that matches your handle and clamps.

How do I measure a shower door hinge?

If the hinge is still on the door, measure the part that clamps onto the glass: its height top to bottom, and its width. A Geneva hinge measures 3-1/2" x 2-3/16" on the glass; a Vienna measures 3-15/16" x 2-1/4".

If the hinge is off, measure the cut-out instead: the length of the notch along the glass edge (including the round "mouse-ear" holes), how deep it goes into the glass, and the distance between the hole centers.

Which hinges fit the same cut-out?

Hinges that share a cut-out are drop-in replacements for each other. These are the common groups, from CRL's glass fabrication templates:

The 135° Geneva and Pinnacle hinges and a few others use their own cut-outs; every product page lists its cut-out and the hinges that share it. CRL notes its cut-outs may not match other brands' hinges, so measure before you order if your hinge isn't a CRL.

Is it safe to replace a shower door hinge yourself?

It can be, with care. A frameless door is heavy tempered glass, and the hinges are all that hold it up.

• Never work alone. One person holds the door while the other works the screws.
• Support the door from below with wood blocks or shims before you loosen anything.
• Protect the glass edges and corners. Tempered glass is strong on its face, but a knock on an edge or corner against tile or a tool can shatter the whole door.
• Don't reuse damaged glass. If the glass is chipped or cracked near the hinge, stop: the door needs new glass, not just a new hinge.

Step by step

1. Identify the hinge. Note how the door hangs (wall mount, glass to glass or pivot), the back plate style, and whether the edges are square or beveled.
2. Measure the glass and the hinge. Measure the glass thickness. Then measure the height and width of the hinge plate on the glass, or, with the hinge off, the length, depth and hole spacing of the cut-out.
3. Pick a hinge with the same cut-out. Use the Hinge Finder or the cut-out table in this guide. Hinges that share a cut-out are drop-in replacements for each other.
4. Support the door. Set wood blocks or shims under the door so it rests at its closed height, and have a second person hold it steady.
5. Remove the old hinge. Take off the cover plate over the wall screws and remove them, then remove the screws that clamp the hinge onto the glass. Keep the door supported the whole time.
6. Fit the new hinge. Set the hinge on the glass with the gasket pads that come with it, line it up in the cut-out and tighten the clamping screws snug and even. Do not over-tighten: CRL lists a maximum clamping screw torque for each hinge.
7. Fasten it to the wall or panel. Screw the back plate to the wall (or clamp it to the panel), then put the cover plate on. CRL calls for medium-strength threadlocker on the cover plate screws.
8. Check the door. Take the blocks out and swing the door. It should close square to the opening and come back to center on its own.

Can I switch to a different hinge style?

Yes, as long as the new hinge uses the same cut-out and fits your glass. For example, Geneva and Pinnacle share a cut-out, so you can change a square Geneva to a beveled Pinnacle. Vienna and Cologne are the same pair in the larger size. Changing the back plate style can leave old screw holes in the wall, so check that the new plate covers them. See square vs. beveled hinges.

Want to see every option? Browse all shower door hinges, or use the Hinge Finder to see only the ones that fit your glass.