Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing one, choosing the right combination of right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) doors is an important decision that impacts aesthetics, functionality and budget. This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about door handedness so you can make the best choice for your project. We’ll cover what door handedness means, when you need a RH or LH door, how to tell the difference, factors that impact the decision like door swing, hardware, floor plan and more. You’ll also find answers to common questions and helpful tips from design experts. Let’s dive in!
Page Contents
- 1 What is Door Handedness?
- 2 When Do You Need a Right or Left-Hand Door?
- 3 How to Tell if a Door is Left or Right-Hand
- 4 Door Hand Impacts on Hardware
- 5 Is it Easy to Change Door Handing?
- 6 Tips for Choosing Right vs Left Hand Doors
- 7 Standard Door Sizes
- 8 Standard Door Jamb Sizes
- 9 Door Handing Styles
- 10 How Much Does Door Handedness Matter?
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions
- 12 Conclusion
What is Door Handedness?
Door handedness refers to the side on which the door is hinged and the direction in which it opens. There are two options:
Right-Hand (RH) Doors
Right-hand doors are hinged on the right side when viewing the door from the outside. When opened, the door swings to the right. The knob and handle are also on the right. RH doors are the most common in the United States.
Left-Hand (LH) Doors
Left-hand doors are the opposite – hinged on the left side and opening to the left. The knob and handle are on the left. LH doors are less common than RH but are needed in certain floor plan configurations.
So in summary, the handedness has to do with which side the hinges are on and the swing direction. This impacts the placement of hardware like knobs as well as how the door functions within a space.
When Do You Need a Right or Left-Hand Door?
There are several considerations that determine whether you need a right or left-handed door:
Door Swing and Clearance
One of the most important factors is the direction in which the door needs to open and close based on clearance. The door swing should not be impeded by walls, furniture or other obstacles. So the handedness should be selected accordingly.
For example, a door between a bedroom and hallway will usually swing into the bedroom for privacy. But in a tight floor plan, it may need to be LH to swing outward into the hall.
Traffic Flow
The door swing should support proper traffic flow. It’s best for the door to open into the space being entered and out of the space being exited. This is why most front doors are RH – swinging inward for entry.
Adjacent Doors
If a room has multiple doors in close proximity, some may need to be LH so the doors don’t interfere with each other by swinging into one another.
Room/Floor Plan Layout
The shape and configuration of the space will impact door swing too. An L-shaped room may require a LH door at the intersection. A rectangular room with doors on adjacent walls may need opposing handedness.
Consistency & Symmetry
Most designers recommend using the same door hand for consistency throughout a home, usually RH in the US. But exceptions are made when needed for the above factors. Consistent handedness contributes to a harmonious aesthetic.
How to Tell if a Door is Left or Right-Hand
Figuring out if an existing door is left or right-handed is easy. Stand on the outside of the door and note these three things:
1. Hinge side – Is it on the left or right?
2. Swing direction – Which way does it open?
3. Hardware side – Is the knob/handle on the left or right?
If the hinges, swing, and hardware are all on the right, it’s a right-hand door. If they are all on the left, it’s a left-hand door.
Sometimes the swing direction may be non-standard or reversed, so using the hinge side as the primary indicator is best.
Door Hand Impacts on Hardware
The door’s handedness also determines the placement of hardware like knobs, handles, and locksets. Hardware is made in left and right configurations to properly fit the door.
If you are replacing hardware, you need to select the appropriate hand that matches the existing door. Reversing hardware orientation requires relocating holes and modifications.
Some types of hinges and pivots are reversible and can work on both RH and LH doors. Other hardware like panic exit devices are usually surface mounted and suitable for either hand.
Is it Easy to Change Door Handing?
In some cases, it may be necessary to change the hand of an existing door by flipping it around. This requires switches the hinge and hardware sides, and reversing the swing.
It’s not an easy DIY project and usually requires:
– New door hinges
– Filling old hinge mortises
– Chiseling new mortises
– Possible door trimming
– Filling old hardware holes
– New holes for knobs/locks
– Possible modifications for strikes, latches, etc.
Given the work involved, it’s best to get the door hand correct from the start rather than attempting to convert later.
Tips for Choosing Right vs Left Hand Doors
When determining door handedness for a project, keep these tips in mind:
– Default to standard right-hand doors throughout for consistency, altering only where necessary.
– Use matching hands on pairs of doors that are directly across from each other.
– Consider the furniture layout and allow adequate clearance for opening/closing.
– In high traffic areas, choose the hand that supports flow in/out of the space.
– Avoid hands that obstruct other doors from fully opening.
– Double check measurements so handedness works with the actual floor plan.
– If uncertain, default to right-hand until proven otherwise.
Standard Door Sizes
In addition to selecting the proper hand for doorways, choosing the right door size is important for both functionality and appearance. Here are some of the standard interior door sizes:
| Door Size | Width x Height (Inches) |
|---|---|
| 24 | 24 x 80 |
| 28 | 28 x 80 |
| 30 | 30 x 80 |
| 32 | 32 x 80 |
| 36 | 36 x 80 |
Some specialty sizes like 34, 60 and 84 inch heights are also available. Measure carefully to get the ideal door size that fits properly within the framing and supports your aesthetic goals.
Standard Door Jamb Sizes
In conjunction with door sizes, the jamb dimensions must be selected properly for an ideal fit:
| Door Size | Rough Opening Width |
|---|---|
| 24 | 24 1/2 inches |
| 28 | 28 1/2 inches |
| 30 | 30 1/2 inches |
| 32 | 32 1/2 inches |
| 36 | 36 1/2 inches |
Jambs typically come in 4 9/16 or 6 9/16 inch widths. Measure existing framing to determine what you need.
Door Handing Styles
In addition to the basic right and left options, some other types of handing include:
Full Open
Full open doors have trim on both sides and can open a full 180 degrees to lay flat against the adjacent wall. No specific hand is required.
Bifold
Bifold doors are hinged to fold into narrow spaces and can be right or left-handed. State the hand you need.
Bypass
Bypass doors have multiple door sections that slide behind each other without swinging. Typically no specific hand is needed.
Pocket doors slide into a pocket in the wall and are also non-handed.
How Much Does Door Handedness Matter?
Getting the door hand wrong can lead to some frustration, wasted time and money down the road. But in some cases, it may not be critical. Here are a few factors to consider:
– On secondary closets or utility spaces, hand may not be crucial.
– It’s more important on main entryways, primary baths and bedrooms to avoid problems.
– If door swing direction can work either way, hand is less critical.
– Hardware modifications on simple knob sets may be fairly easy.
– But hand is very important if using complex leversets, exits devices, custom hardware etc.
In general, properly specifying door hand in the beginning will prevent the biggest headaches later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about choosing right vs left hand doors:
Which hand should an entrance door be?
Exterior entry doors are usually right-handed in the US. This supports swinging inward for ingress. Out-swing doors can be used as well.
What hand should closets be?
Closets often open into the room they are accessed from. But left or right can work depending on clearances. Matching the room door hand is common.
Should double doors have the same handing?
Yes, double doors like French doors should have the same hand to prevent issues and have a cohesive aesthetic.
How do I tell if a door slab is RH or LH?
Lay it on sawhorses with the exterior side facing up. Hinges on the right mean its right-handed and vice versa.
Can I make a door open the other way?
It is possible to reverse swing by re-hanging the door. But it involves filling, re-cutting and moving hardware so it’s labor intensive.
Conclusion
Door handedness is an important consideration when designing, building and renovating. Take the time to evaluate swing direction, clearances, floor plan, traffic flow and hardware to select the optimal combination of right and left-hand doors. Following the recommendations in this guide will help ensure your doors function beautifully and hassle-free within the space. Your architect or builder can help finalize handedness details as well. With the proper door hands in place, you can then focus on choosing beautiful styles to tie your whole interior design together.