When I first started hanging doors on my own, every mortise looked like a beaver chewed it out. Twenty years later I’ve learned that the tool matters almost as much as the technique. A clean hinge pocket or lockset mortise makes the difference between a door that swings true and one that binds, sags, or rattles in the jamb.
Below are the five door mortise tools I keep within arm’s reach. I use them on prehung replacements, slab installs, and the occasional antique restoration where nothing is square. Each pick earned its spot through real shop hours, not spec-sheet skimming.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Milescraft Hinge Mate 300 Door Hinge Template | Hinge router jig | 4.7/5 |
| Porter-Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit | Pro hinge install | 4.6/5 |
| Templaco BT-29 Lock Mortise Template | Lockset mortise | 4.5/5 |
| Narex 8116 Mortise Chisel Set | Hand mortising | 4.6/5 |
| Bosch Colt PR20EVS Palm Router | Pairing with templates | 4.7/5 |
1. Milescraft Hinge Mate 300 - Best Hinge Jig
This is the jig I hand to apprentices on day one. The Milescraft Hinge Mate 300 clamps to either the door edge or the jamb, indexes three hinges at once, and accepts any 1/2-inch pattern bit with a top bearing. I’ve cut more than 400 hinges with mine and the polymer body still locks square. Setup takes under two minutes and the included corner chisel cleans up the radius if you prefer crisp 90-degree pockets.
2. Porter-Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit - Best for Pros
When I’m on a commercial site hanging twenty doors before lunch, the Porter-Cable 59381 earns its higher price. It’s machined aluminum, takes a beating, and the templates index off a single rail so the spacing between hinges is dead-on every time. The kit ships with templates for 3.5, 4, and 4.5-inch hinges plus the matching template guide bushing. Build quality is a different league from the plastic jigs.
3. Templaco BT-29 Lock Mortise Template - Best for Locksets
Mortise locks are where amateurs panic and pros earn their pay. The Templaco BT-29 turns a thirty-minute hand job into a five-minute router pass. It clamps over the door edge, registers off the lock centerline, and guides a long 1/2-inch bit through the full depth of a standard mortise lock body. I use mine for Baldwin and Schlage L-series installs and the pocket comes out within a few thousandths of spec.
4. Narex 8116 Mortise Chisels - Best for Hand Work
Some doors are too old, too warped, or too narrow to clamp a jig onto. That’s when I reach for my Narex 8116 set. The chrome-manganese steel holds an edge through hardwood jambs, the hornbeam handles take a beating from a 16-ounce mallet, and the bevels are ground for clean wall registration. I keep a 1/4 and 3/8 inch in my belt at all times.
5. Bosch Colt PR20EVS Palm Router - Best Pairing Router
A template is only as good as the router driving it. The Bosch Colt PR20EVS gives me 1 horsepower of soft-start torque in a one-hand grip, variable speed for hardwoods, and a precise depth knob measured in thousandths. The clear sub-base lets me see exactly where the bit sits relative to the template edge. After five years mine still runs like new.
What Matters Most
The non-negotiable spec for any mortising tool is repeatability. If you can’t hit the same depth and offset on hinge two as on hinge one, the door will hang crooked. Look for jigs with positive stops, metal alignment pins, and clear depth scales. Plastic jigs work fine for occasional use, but aluminum templates pay for themselves after about fifty doors.
Bit quality is the other half of the equation. A dull or cheap straight bit will burn the edges of the mortise and leave fuzzy walls that fight the hinge leaf. I replace my 1/2-inch pattern bit every twelve months even if it still looks sharp.
My Setup
In my truck I carry the Milescraft jig for residential work, the Templaco template for mortise locks, and the Bosch Colt as my dedicated mortising router. I never swap that router’s depth setting mid-job. A small chisel roll with the Narex chisels rides in the same bag for cleanup and for jambs that don’t accept a jig. That kit handles probably ninety percent of the doors I touch.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake I see is routing too deep. A hinge mortise should bottom out so the leaf sits flush with the door edge, not below it. A pocket that’s even a sixteenth too deep will cause the door to spring back when closed. The second mistake is forgetting to clamp the jig firmly to the jamb after the door pass. Hinges that don’t align between door and jamb cause binding hinges and stripped screws within a year.
Final Recommendation
For most readers hanging their own doors at home, the Milescraft Hinge Mate 300 paired with the Bosch Colt router is the sweet spot. It’s affordable, fast to learn, and the results rival any pro shop. If you’re cutting locksets too, add the Templaco BT-29 and you’re set for almost any job a residential carpenter will face.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a router for door mortising or can I use chisels?+
A sharp chisel and mallet work fine for one-off hinges, but if you hang more than a few doors a year a router with a hinge jig saves hours and gives a perfectly square pocket.
What bit size should I use for standard interior hinges?+
A 1/2-inch straight or spiral up-cut bit covers most 3.5 and 4-inch residential hinges. Pair it with a top-bearing pattern bit when using a template jig.