Ball bearing hinges have two ball bearings in the knuckles of the hinges.
The standard plain bearing hinges have no ball bearings.
Spring hinges, also known as self-closing hinges and adjustable hinges, are now required in many states to install on the door leading into your garage. The adjustable tension spring in the hinge automatically closes the door helping to minimize any harmful gas fumes from getting into your home.
In general, the ball bearing hinges are higher quality and prevent squeaking of the hinges better than the plain bearing hinges. Hinge Outlet carries both, but we recommend the ball bearing hinges for most residential applications. For more in depth information on the types of hinges, please visit our Hinge Resource Library.