QUICK ANSWER

A self close hinge shuts the door on its own after every opening. A soft close hinge only slows the door down so it won’t slam, and it does not close the door by itself.

  • Need the door to close by itself, without slamming? Choose a Waterson self close hinge set. The Hydraulic Hybrid sets (Set B, or Set D with hold open) combine mechanical self closing with hydraulic soft close, so the door shuts on its own and still closes softly.
  • Only need to slow the door so it won’t slam? Choose the Waterson HA hinge. It slows the swing but does not close the door by itself.

When a buyer asks for a “soft close hinge,” the first question is always: does the door need to close by itself?

Waterson Self-Close vs Soft-Close Door hinges

What Is the Difference Between Self Close and Soft Close Hinges?

Self close and soft close describe two different jobs. Self close is about the door ending up shut. Soft close is about the door never slamming.

Self close hinge: A hinge that closes the door on its own after every opening, with no hand force needed. Self close is required for fire-rated doors, pool and safety gates, and any opening that must not be left open.

Soft close hinge: A hinge that slows the door’s swing so it does not slam. If wind catches the door or a child swings it hard, the hinge absorbs the extra force. A soft close hinge does not close the door on its own. That is why it is also called a slow close hinge.

A hinge can do one job, the other, or both. Here is how the Waterson range covers each need.

Table 1. Self Close and Soft Close Options at a Glance

What the door needs Closes by itself Prevents slamming Waterson product
Self close + soft close Yes Yes, adapts to wind and hard pushes Set B or D (Hydraulic Hybrid)
Self close at a set speed Yes Yes, at the set speed Set A or C (Mechanical)
Soft close only No Yes, adapts to wind and hard pushes HA hinge

Self Close: Waterson Self Close Sets

Unlike a basic spring hinge, every Waterson self close set closes the door on its own and controls its speed, so the door does not slam. The four sets differ in two ways: how the closing speed is controlled, and whether the door can hold open.

Table 2. Waterson Self Close Sets by Function

Speed control No hold open With hold open
Mechanical Set A: Purely Mechanical Set C: Mechanical + Hold Open
Hydraulic Hybrid Set B: Hydraulic Hybrid Set D: Hydraulic Hybrid + Hold Open

Mechanical sets (A and C) close the door at the speed you set. Hydraulic Hybrid sets (B and D) add hydraulic soft close damping on top, so they also adapt to wind and hard pushes. If you want a hinge that is both self close and soft close, Set B or D is the closest match. Set A and B are fire rated.

To compare Mechanical and Hydraulic Hybrid in detail, see Mechanical vs Hydraulic Self Closing Hinges.

All sets come in 3-pack or 4-pack, in 4″ x 4″ (400), 4.5″ x 4.5″ (450), and 5″ x 5″ 0.190″ gauge (500D). See every model in the Waterson self closing hinge catalog.

 

Soft Close Only (Slow Close): The Waterson HA Hinge

If the door does not need to close by itself and you only want to stop slamming, the HA hinge is the right fit. It provides a hydraulic buffer and a mechanical brake that control the closing speed from 90° to 20° of closing. It has no spring, so it does not close the door by itself.

Typical uses:

  • Residential front doors, the most common request: homeowners rarely want the front door to close by itself, but they don’t want it to slam in the wind or when kids swing it hard. Interior doors in homes benefit the same way
  • Doors in breezy areas that should not bang when wind catches them
  • Quiet areas like offices, clinics, and hotel common spaces where a slammed door is a disturbance

The door stays where you leave it. When it does move, whether from a push or a gust, the HA hinge slows it down so it closes softly instead of slamming.

Use at least one HA hinge per door. The right number depends on the door’s size and weight, so send us your door specs and we’ll recommend a suitable configuration. The HA hinge has a recommended maximum opening of 120° and is not fire rated, so it is not suitable for fire doors.

For residential projects, see our guides to soft close front door hinges and soft close interior door hinges.

HA hydraulic hinges

Self Close Set vs Soft Close HA Hinge: Side by Side

Table 3. Feature Comparison: Waterson Self Close Sets vs HA Soft Close Hinge

Feature Self close sets (A, B, C, D) Soft close only (HA)
Closes by itself Yes No
Spring Yes No
Prevents slamming Yes Yes
Speed control Mechanical (A, C), or mechanical + hydraulic (B, D) Hydraulic buffer + mechanical brake, from 90° to 20° of closing
Fire rated Set A and B No
Hold open option Set C and D Not needed: with no spring, the door stays where you leave it
Recommended max opening 180° for mechanical; 120° for hydraulic 120°
Best for Hotels, fire doors, offices, glass doors Residential front and interior doors

How Do I Know Which One I Need?

Ask one question: does the door need to close by itself every time?

  • No, I only want to stop slamming: choose the HA hinge (soft close only).
  • Yes, and it should never slam: choose a Waterson self close set. Set B or D gives you self close plus hydraulic soft close. Not sure between Hydraulic Hybrid and Mechanical? Compare them in Mechanical vs Hydraulic Self Closing Hinges.

The same choice applies to gates and frameless glass doors. Every Waterson hinge shares the same functional structure and only the form differs, so a Waterson gate hinge or glass door hinge works exactly as described here.

Self Close and Soft Close Hinge FAQs

No. A self close hinge shuts the door on its own. A soft close hinge only slows the door so it doesn’t slam. Waterson self close hinges do both: they close the door on their own and control its speed so it doesn’t slam.

No. A soft close hinge controls the door’s speed but has no spring to pull it shut. If the door must close by itself, you need a self close hinge.

This is normal. The HA hinge provides a hydraulic buffer and a mechanical brake but has no spring, so on its own it only slows the door and does not pull it shut. If the door needs to close by itself, use a Waterson self close set instead.

The Hydraulic Hybrid sets: Set B (fire rated) and Set D (hold open). They combine mechanical self closing with hydraulic soft close damping, so the door closes on its own and still closes softly in wind or after a hard push.

No. A spring hinge closes the door with spring force alone and has no speed control. Every Waterson self close set (A, B, C, and D) pairs the spring with a speed control system. Because of that built-in speed control, a Waterson self close hinge costs about ten times as much as a standard spring hinge.

The DS hinge is a heavy-duty spring hinge with a double spring system. With two springs inside, it is about twice as strong as a standard spring hinge, built for high-frequency doors and heavy doors. It has no speed control.

Fire-rated doors must self close and latch. Use Waterson Set A (mechanical) or Set B (Hydraulic Hybrid), both UL 3-hour fire rated and NFPA 80 compliant. A soft close only hinge such as the HA is not suitable for fire doors.

If the door must also close by itself, choose Hydraulic Hybrid (Set B or D). If it doesn’t need to close by itself, choose the HA soft close hinge.

Yes. Waterson gate hinges and frameless glass door hinges use the same self close and soft close functions described in this article. Only the hinge form changes to fit the gate or glass panel.

The smallest Waterson closer hinge is 4″ x 4″. If your door currently has 3.5″ hinges, have a carpenter enlarge the hinge pockets (mortises) on the door and frame to fit a 4″ hinge, and confirm the screw hole pattern matches before installing. Retrofitting a 3.5″ door this way works with no problem. Waterson makes single-acting closer hinges only.

Not Sure Which One You Need?

Tell us what the door needs to do: close by itself, stop slamming, or both. Send the door type, size, and a photo of your current hinge, and we’ll recommend the right set or soft close configuration.

As a direct manufacturer, Waterson can also customize hinge size, finish, and leaf design for door manufacturers.

Request For Quote

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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