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Every commercial hardware order requires a finish code, and there are two systems in use: the older US numbering (US3, US26D, US10B) and the BHMA/ANSI A156.18 codes that replaced them (605, 626, 613). They describe the same finishes; the BHMA code is the current standard and the US code is the legacy shorthand most of the trade still speaks. The two finishes you will order most are 626 (satin chrome, formerly US26D) for interior commercial hardware and 630 (satin stainless steel, formerly US32D) for exit devices, hinges, and exterior/coastal hardware. This guide gives the full translation table, explains base-material codes, and shows how to keep a finish consistent across closers, locks, hinges, and exit devices that come from different manufacturers.

Why there are two code systems

The US numbering system dates to early 20th-century hardware catalogs. ANSI/BHMA A156.18 modernized it into a three-digit code that also encodes the base metal. The industry now specifies BHMA codes officially, but locksmiths, distributors, and many price books still cross-reference the US equivalent. A correct spec uses the BHMA code and may note the US code in parentheses: 626 (US26D).

The finish translation table

626 and 630 cover the majority of commercial orders. 626 (satin chrome) is the default interior finish for locksets and trim. 630 (satin stainless) is the default for exit devices, continuous hinges, and anything exterior or coastal because stainless resists corrosion better than plated chrome — for example a BEST 45H Grade 1 office mortise lock in 630 satin stainless carries the finish in the base metal rather than a plating.

How the base-material digit works in BHMA codes

A156.18 codes encode the base metal in the way the finish is applied. Two finishes can look identical but wear differently because one is plated brass and the other is solid stainless. The practical rule:

• 626 is satin chrome plated over brass or bronze. Good interior durability, lower corrosion resistance outdoors.
• 630 is satin stainless steel (the finish is the base metal). Best corrosion resistance; the right call for exterior, pool, coastal, and food-service environments.
• 628 is clear-anodized aluminum, standard on aluminum storefront hardware and many door closers.
• 689 / 690 / 695 are painted/powder-coated finishes used mostly on door closers, where a sprayed finish over the cast body is normal and cost-effective.

For coastal and high-corrosion environments, default to 630 stainless.

Matching finishes across mixed-brand openings

A single opening often carries a lock from one manufacturer, a closer from another, hinges from a third, and an exit device from a fourth. Each names its finish the same way (BHMA/US), so the codes match across brands, but two cautions apply:

1. Closers use painted codes (689/690/695), not 626/630. A 626 lock paired with a 689 aluminum-painted closer will not match in tone. To match a satin-chrome opening, order the closer in a sprayed finish that approximates 626, or accept the closer as a deliberately neutral element.
2. Living finishes (613 oil-rubbed bronze, 612 bronze) change over time. They are not stable; they patina with handling. Specify 643e or a coated equivalent if a stable dark look is required.

When the design spec overrides the default

Architectural specs sometimes call decorative finishes (613 oil-rubbed bronze, 605 bright brass, 622 flat black) for visible public-facing hardware while keeping 626 or 630 on back-of-house doors. The rule: match the visible finish to the design intent, and use the durable default (626 interior, 630 exterior) everywhere the public does not see. Flat black (622) is increasingly specified in modern design but is a painted finish that shows wear at high-touch points faster than 630.

Common finish-spec mistakes

1. Specifying 626 on exterior or coastal doors. Plated chrome corrodes outdoors; use 630 stainless.
2. Expecting a closer to match a lock exactly. Closers use painted codes; plan the tone deliberately.
3. Mixing US and BHMA codes without translation. "US26D" and "626" are the same; "626" and "630" are not. Confirm before ordering a full opening.
4. Choosing a living finish where a stable look is required. Oil-rubbed bronze patinas; specify a coated equivalent for consistency.
5. Forgetting finish on accessory hardware. Strike plates, flush bolts, coordinators, and thresholds all carry finish codes and should match the opening.

FAQ

What is the most common commercial door hardware finish? 626 (satin chrome, US26D) for interior locksets and trim, and 630 (satin stainless steel, US32D) for exit devices, hinges, and exterior hardware. Together they cover most commercial orders.

What is the difference between 626 and 630? 626 is satin chrome plated over brass/bronze, best for interior use. 630 is satin stainless steel, with far better corrosion resistance for exterior, coastal, and food-service environments.

Why do door closers have different finish codes? Closer bodies are cast and sprayed, so they use painted codes (689 aluminum, 690/695 dark bronze) rather than the plated 626/630 used on locks. Plan the tone match deliberately.

Is US32D the same as 630? Yes. US32D is the legacy code and 630 is the current BHMA/ANSI A156.18 code for satin stainless steel. Specs may write 630 (US32D).

Next step

Pick the finish at the same time as the function: 626 for interior locksets, 630 for exit devices, hinges, and anything exterior or coastal, and a matching sprayed code for closers. Confirm finish availability per product on the door closers, door hinges, panic exit devices, and cylindrical lever locks category pages. Our commercial desk confirms finish codes across every brand on an opening so the lock, closer, hinge, and exit device ship in matching tones.