What is a right hand door and a left hand door?

A right hand door and a left hand door refer to the side on which the door hinges are located. Doors can swing either to the right or to the left when opening. The terms right hand and left hand indicate which direction the door swings when facing the door from the outside.

Right hand doors have hinges on the right side when facing the door from the outside. When opened, the door swings to the right. Left hand doors have hinges on the left side and swing to the left when opened.

Knowing whether a door is right handed or left handed is important for several reasons:

• It affects how the door can be opened and closed.
• It impacts accessibility and traffic flow.
• It determines placement of locks, handles, and other hardware.
• It’s necessary for proper installation and hanging.

The hand of a door is an important architectural specification that influences the user experience. This article will provide a detailed overview of right and left hand doors, explaining terminology, installation, uses, and advantages.

Terminology

Several terms are used related to door hand and swing:

• Swing: The direction in which a door opens, either to the right or left when facing it from the outside.
• Hinge Side: The side on which the hinges are located, either on the right or left.
• Latch Side: The side opposite the hinges, where handles and locks are typically installed.
• Pull Side: The side towards which the door swings open, which you pull the door from when opening.
• Push Side: The side you push the door from to open it, opposite the pull side.

So a right hand door has hinges on the right, latches on the left, and swings open to the right. The right side is the pull side and left is the push side.

A left hand door is simply the opposite – hinges are on the left, it swings open to the left, and handles/locks are on the right side.

Installation

Installing doors as right handed or left handed depends on which way they need to swing. Here are some guidelines on installation:

• In most residential settings, exterior doors are right handed to make it easy for right-handed people when entering.
• Interior doors can be right or left handed depending on layout and function.
• Doors should open towards the side where there is the most clear wall space.
• Traffic flow should be considered so doors don’t obstruct hallways or accessible routes when opened.
• For safety, doors that lead to a stairwell open inwards so the door doesn’t swing over steps.
• In commercial settings, doors will be right or left handed based on purpose, traffic patterns, and accessibility standards.

During installation, doors need to be properly oriented in their frame according to hand and swing:

• Hinges must be on the proper side, either right or left of the frame.
• Additional hardware fits on the latch side, opposite the hinges.
• Doors may need to be beveled so they don’t scrape the floor when opened in their swing direction.
• Proper clearance must be left between the door and frame for smooth operation.

Getting the door hand and swing correct ensures proper installation and operation.

Uses and Advantages

Choosing right or left hand doors provides advantages in different situations:

Right Hand Doors

• Preferred for main entry doors since most people are right handed.
• Allow clear access to handles and locks from the outside using the right hand.
• Open towards any adjacent wall space and don’t obstruct traffic flow.
• Are considered standard in many regions, so readily available.

Left Hand Doors

• Help control traffic flow and access in commercial settings.
• Allow doors to open away from main corridors.
• Provide access that favors left-handed people.
• Can provide privacy when located adjacent to other rooms.

Double doors often have one right handed door and one left handed door to allow for versatile access. Revolving doors have no specific hand. The advantages of each door hand depend on the specific building and room requirements.

Door Hand in Building Codes

Building codes and accessibility standards provide specifications for door hand in certain locations:

• Entry doors to handicap-accessible restrooms must open outward and away from the toilet for clearance.
• Accessible hotel rooms have requirements on door hand location relative to the bed and bathroom.
• Egress doors in public buildings usually open with the direction of emergency exit travel.
• Stairwell fire doors open inwards so they don’t potentially swing out over steps.

Codes also specify maximum effort required to open doors so they are accessible to disabled people. Door hand factors into this based on placement of closures and clearance.

How to Determine Door Hand

If the hand of an existing door is unknown, it can easily be determined:

1. Face the door from the outside/exterior side.
2. Note which side the hinges are on.
3. If the hinges are on the right, it is a right hand door.
4. If the hinges are on the left, it is a left hand door.

The side with the handles and knobs is the opposite hand since those go on the latch side instead of hinge side.

You can also look at which direction the door actually swings when opened from the exterior side. If it opens to the right, it’s right handed and vice versa.

Changing the Hand of a Door

In some cases, it may be necessary to change the handing of a door if the swing direction needs to be reversed:

1. Remove hardware, seals, and stops from the existing door.
2. Remove hinge pins then flip the door in the frame so it swings the opposite direction.
3. Reinstall hardware, sealing, and stops on the opposite side.
4. Test operation and make sure switches for locks, handles, and closures work properly.
5. Make adjustments so the door fits snugly but opens freely without scraping.

The door may need to be beveled on the opposite side if it is scraping due to the change in swing. Take care to ensure secure reinstallation of all hardware.

Changing the hand of a door is a relatively simple process in most cases. It may be necessary to drill new holes for latch hardware if existing ones don’t line up once reversed.

Door Handing Symbols

Architectural drawings use standard symbols to indicate door swing and hand:

Symbol	Meaning
Single swing door with arc right	Right hand door swinging inward
Single swing door with arc left	Left hand door swinging inward
Double swing doors with outward arcs	Double doors, both swinging outward
Double doors with one arc right, one arc left	Double doors with opposing swing
Door symbols shown in elevation view	Indicate actual swing direction

These symbols allow architects, designers, and contractors to clearly specify door hand and swing for accurate installation.

Door Handing in Floor Plans

In addition to door symbols, floor plan drawings will indicate door handing details:

• A note is included on plans such as “Door handing shown from exterior side.”
• Arrows show direction of swing on both interior and exterior sides.
• A letter indicates hand: R for right hand, L for left hand.
• Room names or numbers clarify which side is interior vs. exterior.

This provides unambiguous specifications so installers know whether each door gets right hand or left hand hardware.

Choosing Door Hand for Interior Doors

For interior doors, hand and swing direction should be carefully considered:

• Doors should open towards walls or space, not into rooms.
• Avoid having doors hit other doors or restrict traffic when opened.
• Bathrooms and closets should open out, away from fixtures.
• Make doors accessible for wheelchair users and open easily with minimal force.
• Double doors can have identical or opposite handing for versatility.

Plan the operation of each door in relation to room contents, hallways, and other doors. This optimizes usability and traffic flow when doors are installed correctly.

How to Order Pre-hung Doors

When purchasing pre-hung door units, always specify:

• Left hand or right hand door.
• Side that is exterior vs. interior face.
• Handing directions as viewed from the exterior side.
• Door size, type of material, and details like glass cutouts or finishes.
• Hardware required – hinges, handles, locks, etc.

Providing complete details ensures you receive the properly handed door and hardware for smooth, accurate installation.

Considerations for Fire Doors

Fire doors have special requirements depending on placement:

• Stairwell fire doors must open into the stairwell in the direction of egress.
• Corridor fire doors may open either direction depending on traffic.
• Doors must latch securely to contain fire but be easy to open from inside.
• Self-closing devices are required.
• Clearance under the bottom prevents smoke passing.

The hand and swing direction of fire doors has a major impact on life safety in an emergency. Always consult applicable codes when installing.

Troubleshooting Door Hand Issues

Some common door handing problems and solutions:

Issue	Solution
Door scrapes on floor or frame	Bevel edges in direction of swing
Opens the wrong way	Confirm handing and rehang door
Hard to latch and seal	Adjust alignment and clearances
Hitting adjacent door or wall	Modify swing direction
Loose or damaged hardware	Secure or replace hardware

Careful troubleshooting and adjustments can resolve most door hand problems. Seek professional help for complex issues.

Conclusion

Understanding right hand vs. left hand doors is important for architects, building owners, contractors, and end users. Door hand impacts function, safety, access, and user experience. Carefully considering the advantages of each door’s swing direction leads to optimal placement. With good communication of hand specifications and proper professional installation, doors will function as intended to meet accessibility standards and building codes. Considering door hand details in planning improves usability and circulation throughout a building.