How to Stop Glass Doors from Slamming: Adjustable Fast Fix

Glass doors are everywhere in modern design, and it’s easy to see why. They look clean, bring in more natural light, and help the space feel more open.

But in real-world use, slamming is one of the most common issues we see with glass door applications, especially when the door is heavier and the closing action isn’t controlled.

“I have a heavy interior door with a glass panel that keeps slamming, and I’m worried it’s going to crack or damage the glass over time. The door is about 90″ H × 46″ W, close to 3″ thick, and roughly 80–100 lbs.

I’m looking for hinges that can control the closing so the door doesn’t slam, but still closes reliably. ORB or black finish preferred. The project is in Paul Smiths, NY.”

So, how to prevent glass doors from slamming?

What is the Cause of Glass Door Slamming?

To know how to stop doors from slamming, we must first know the reason for it. The core reason is too much closing force and not enough control. Some common causes of glass doors slamming:

• Wind and gusts when hitting the glass door can accelerate it quickly.
• Bad alignment or binding hardware: if hinges are misaligned, the door may “stick” then release suddenly, creating a slam.
• User behavior: people let the door go instead of guiding it shut
• Poorly designed or unsuitable glass door hardware

Could the Hinges be Causing the Slamming on a Glass Door?

Standard hinges are not integrated with features that provide speed control, damping, or holding force. Non-functional hinges cannot regulate door movement or deliver the consistent, controlled closing needed to prevent slamming.

Preventing slamming requires hinges or hardware that control closing speed and absorb momentum.

What Kind of Glass Door Do You Have: With Frame or Frameless?

Before knowing how to prevent glass doors from slamming, we first must know the type of glass door.

• Framed glass door: Glass is set inside a frame (mostly aluminum/steel/wood frame), and the hinges mount to the door and frame like a typical door. Common applications are in storefront doors, arched entrance doors, meeting rooms, patio doors, sauna doors, and wine cabinets.
• Frameless glass door: The glass panel is the door; hardware is usually clamped/patch-fitted to the glass (not screwed into a frame). Common applications are in the shower room doors, office rooms/pods, and all-glass entrance doors. 2 types:
  • Wall to glass: hinge mounts from glass to a wall/jamb.
  • Glass to glass: hinge connects a glass door to a fixed glass panel.
• Door with glass panels (not all-glass): A solid or framed door that has glass inserts/sections. Common applications are in storm doors, screen doors, entry doors with decorative glass, and garage doors with glass sections or aluminum-framed.

Glass Shower Door Slamming: How to Make it Close with Control?

There are some methods on how to stop glass shower door from slamming, like attaching soft rubber along the frame. But it may not be effective.

What actually helps is a hinge that controls the closing motion. A soft close shower door hinge has a built-in hydraulic damper that slows it down during the final part of the swing, creating a smooth, gradual close. This reduces impact on the glass and helps protect the door, frame, and hardware from repeated shock.

What are the Best Glass Door Soft Close Mechanisms Available?

There are several types of hardware with soft closing mechanisms, but to find the best, here is a comparison of the four popular types.

If it’s a Storm Door Slamming: What’s Different and How Do You Fix It?

When a storm or screen door slams, the problem is usually mechanical rather than structural. Because these doors are constantly exposed to wind and temperature changes, they rely on precise hardware adjustments to function.

So, to fix the slamming problem, adjust the storm door closer to a slower closing speed. That said, it is why adjustable hardware is very important.

Is There a Way to Keep Glass Doors from Slamming Without Making It Hard to Open?

Stopping glass doors from slamming shouldn’t come at the cost of accessibility. Yet many common closers, like the Rack and Pinion Door Closers, can make the door feel heavy.

One way to ensure that glass doors remain easy to operate is by choosing ADA compliant anti slam hardware. This is effective because ADA standards require that the opening force for a door must not exceed 5 pounds, specifically to prevent the door from feeling heavy or resistant. This way, every individual, including people with disabilities, can pass through the glass door easily.

Soft Closing Door Hinges: How to Prevent Glass Door from Slamming and ADA Compliant

Waterson anti slam glass door hinges are designed to stop glass doors slamming. With a built-in hydraulic hybrid mechanism and being ADA-compliant, these hinges ensure a soft closing door operation.

• Anti slam feature: soft closing mechanism, protects glass doors from sudden closing and slamming, eliminates disruptive actions and noises.
• Self Closing: With a built-in spring mechanism, no bulky door closer is needed.
• Adjustability: Designed with a numerical panel that allows users to adjust to the desired closing force and ensures an effective closing, helping to resolve misalignment.
• 304 and 316 Stainless Steel: Durable and low maintenance
• ADA Compliance: Maintains required vertical clearance, limits opening force to ≤ 5 lbs, and provides controlled closing speed of ≥ 5 seconds for accessible pedestrian gates.
• Heavy Weight Capability: Three hinges support up to 260 lbs; four hinges up to 330 lbs. Tested to 1,000,000 cycles to BHMA A156.17 Grade 1 performance.
• 5-Year Warranty: Backed by reliable coverage and service support.
• Wide Application: Performs reliably in commercial places, soft close shower doors, offices, screen doors, wine cabinets, sauna glass doors, and many more.

Application of Anti Slam Door Hinges: Interior Door with Glass Panel

For the case above, the door is heavy, roughly 80–100 lbs. And it is also big, measuring 90″ H × 46″ W × 3″ thick.

Waterson anti slam door hinges are built to support heavy weights while ensuring a controlled closing. Three of our hinges can support up to 260 lbs. With a built-in hydraulic function, this door will slow down when it enters the angle of the damper. No more slamming, protecting the glass panel, while providing the black color finish as requested.

Waterson Soft Closing Glass Door Hinges

Waterson soft close glass hinges combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.

In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers flexible customization services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.

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Please note that Waterson closer hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.

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