What is a left hand door vs right hand door?

Doors are such a common part of our everyday lives that most people don’t give them much thought. However, not all doors are the same. One of the main differences is between left hand and right hand doors. This refers to which side the hinges are on and which way the door swings when opened. Understanding the difference between left and right hand doors is important for both practical and safety reasons.

What is a Left Hand Door?

A left hand door is one where the hinges are on the left side when facing the door from the outside. When opened, a left hand door swings to the left. The knob and latch are also on the left side of the door.

Left hand doors are the most common type found in many homes and buildings. When facing the door from the outside, the hinges are on the left and the door opens inward to the left.

Some key characteristics of left hand doors:

Hinges are on the left side of the door frame
Door knob and latch are on the left side

When opened, the door swings to the left
Most common type of door in many homes and buildings

Knowing how to identify a left hand door is useful when installing or replacing doors to ensure proper swing direction and operation.

What is a Right Hand Door?

A right hand door is simply the opposite of a left hand door. With right hand doors, the hinges are on the right side when facing the door from the outside. The door knob and latch are also on the right side. When opened, a right hand door swings to the right inward into the room or space.

Some key characteristics of right hand doors:

Hinges are on the right side of the door frame

Door knob and latch are on the right side
When opened, the door swings to the right
Less common than left hand doors in many homes

Right hand doors are not as widely used as left hand doors, but are still found in many homes, especially in side entrances, garages, and basements. Identifying a right hand vs left hand door is important for proper installation and operation.

Differences Between Left Hand and Right Hand Doors

While left hand and right hand doors may appear identical at first glance, there are some key differences:

Hinge Side

The main difference is which side the hinges are located. For left hand doors, the hinges are on the left. For right hand doors, the hinges are on the right.

Swing Direction

Due to the hinge placement, left hand doors swing to the left when opened, while right hand doors swing to the right.

Location of Knob & Latch

On a left hand door, the knob and latch are on the left side. On a right hand door, they are on the right side.

Frequency of Use

Left hand doors are far more common, especially for front entrances and primary passage doors. Right hand doors are more likely to be found in side entrances or secondary rooms.

Door Type	Hinge Side	Swing Direction	Knob & Latch Side
Left Hand	Left	Left	Left
Right Hand	Right	Right	Right

Typical Use Cases

Here are some typical use cases where left hand and right hand doors are most commonly installed:

Left Hand Doors

Front entrances to homes and buildings
Primary passage doors inside homes and buildings

Apartment unit entry doors
Office and conference room doors
Classroom and auditorium doors in schools

Left hand doors allow doors to swing away from the main passage area and are convenient for primary entryways.

Right Hand Doors

Side and back entrances to homes
Doorways to closets and pantries

Entry doors to garage, basement, or utility spaces
Bathroom doors
Auxiliary doors in commercial buildings

Right hand doors are well suited to secondary entrances or rooms with limited space. The swing direction keeps the door out of the way.

Door Handing Standards

In the door industry, standards exist for handing to ensure consistency and proper installation. The side of the door considered the “exterior” determines left hand vs. right hand. Some key standards:

Left hand doors are standardized for front entrances.

Back doors are typically right handed.
In commercial buildings, the exit door hand is determined by which direction the door must swing to facilitate egress.
Standardized handing helps ensure doors swing properly without hitting walls or rails.

Adhering to these standards provides consistency and optimizes door swing direction for space requirements.

Considerations for Choosing Door Handing

Some factors to consider when choosing left hand versus right hand doors include:

Existing layout of the room or floor plan

Building codes for egress and door swing direction
Interior and exterior space limitations
Traffic patterns and flow

Handing of adjacent doors
Handedness of the knob and lockset

Analyzing these considerations will determine the ideal door hand configuration whether left or right.

Safety and Accessibility

Beyond just convenience, door handing also plays an important role in safety and accessibility:

Emergency Egress

Building codes regulate door swing direction in hallways, auditoriums, and other high occupancy spaces to allow quick evacuation in emergencies. Outward swinging doors speed exiting.

Wheelchair Access

Doors that swing open into rooms or corridors make access easier for people in wheelchairs. The open door does not obstruct passage through the doorway.

Child Safety

For spaces like nurseries and playrooms, door handing should be configured so the door swings away from areas children could be playing to prevent injury.

Choosing the proper door hand for the space and user is important for safe accessibility.

How to Change the Hand of a Door

In some cases, it may be necessary to change the handing from left to right or vice versa. Here is an overview of how to reverse door handing:

Remove the door from its hinges and set aside.
Remove hinge hardware from jamb and door.
Plug old screw holes and drill new holes on opposite side.

Install hinges on new side.
Reverse doorknob to opposite side.
Test swing direction and make any adjustments.

Re-hang door and check new operation.

Changing door hand requires filling old screw holes, precise new drilling, and re-installation of hardware. Hire a professional for best results.

Choosing a Replacement Door

When replacing an old door, be sure to note the existing hand and order the same for proper installation:

Check your current door – is it left hand or right hand?
Measure width, height, and thickness.
Select a replacement door with matching hand and dimensions.

Or, consider changing hand if desired for swing direction.
Consult with supplier if unsure of proper replacement.

Taking careful measurements and noting the hand will ensure proper door selection and avoid any issues installing the replacement. Consider any changes to swing direction at this time.

Interior vs Exterior Door Handing

Door handing terminology differs slightly between interior and exterior doors:

Interior Doors

Facing the door from the room side, hinges on left = left hand
Hinges on right = right hand

Hand determined from inside room perspective

Exterior Doors

Facing the door from the exterior, hinges on left = left hand
Hinges on right = right hand

Hand determined from exterior perspective

Be mindful of this terminology difference when communicating handing, especially for combination interior/exterior doors.

How Door Hardware Affects Handing

Some types of door hardware are designed for specific handing and can dictate left hand or right hand installation:

Knob and lever handlesets are often handed and must match door hand.
Deadbolts frequently have angled face plates to throw the bolt away from the door swing.
Hinges must be on the proper side to allow door to swing away from frame.

Closers and overhead stops require correct mounting to control swing.

Consulting hardware specifications will ensure proper operation and function for the door hand configuration.

Bi-fold and Pocket Doors

Since they slide rather than swing, interior bi-fold and pocket doors do not have a distinct hand like hinged doors:

Bi-Fold Doors

Panels collapse accordion-style without swinging in or out.
Can be installed on either wall of opening.
Hardware is centered without side orientation.

Pocket Doors

Door slides sideways into cavity in wall.
No door handing needed – pocket location dictates slide direction.
Hardware centered on door.

Because they do not hinge, handing does not dictate bi-fold or pocket door location. Opening size and desired slide direction determine placement.

Double Doors

Determining handing for double doors requires identifying the active and inactive leafs:

The main active door that opens first is the hand you specify.

The second inactive door that follows is the opposite hand.
So a right hand double has a right active door and a left inactive door.

Typical Active/Inactive Configurations:

First Active Door	Second Inactive Door
Left Hand	Right Hand
Right Hand	Left Hand

Specifying door handing for doubles depends on which one you want to be the primary active leaf.

How to Hand a Double Door

Follow these steps to properly hand an interior or exterior double door:

Determine which door should open first and be the active leaf.
Hand this door based on its location in the opening (left or right).

Hand the second door in the opposite direction as the inactive leaf.
Active door hardware goes on the push side; inactive on the pull side.
Make sure hardware latches/locks so inactive door is secured when closed.

Install any coordinating flush bolts or astragals on the inactive door.

Proper handing and hardware promotes the correct sequence of operation for double doors.

Conclusion

Understanding door handing conventions is important for safety, accessibility, proper operation, and accurate specification and replacement. While left hand doors are most common, right hand doors also have specialized uses. Identifying door hand visually and getting the terminology correct makes a difference during planning, installation, and use. With the proper set-up and swing direction, a door can serve its essential function smoothly for many years.