A right handed inswing door is a type of door that opens inward into a room or building and swings from the right side when viewing the door from the outside. Inswing doors are the most common type of interior door, while outswing doors are more often used for exterior entrances. The hand of the door, whether left or right, refers to the side from which the door swings when opening. Understanding the components and terminology of inswing doors is helpful for selecting, installing, and maintaining interior doors properly.
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Definition of a Right Handed Inswing Door
A right handed door means that the door opens or swings towards the right from the perspective of someone standing outside the door looking at it. The hinges of a right handed door are on the right side of the door frame when looking at it from the exterior. These doors are considered right handed because when grasping the doorknob with your right hand and opening the door, it will swing towards the right.
Inswing simply means that the door opens inward into a space rather than outwards. So a right handed inswing door opens inwards towards the right. This is opposed to a right handed outswing door that would open outwards towards the right. Inswing doors are most commonly used for interior doors within a building, while outswing doors are more often exterior doors.
Interior vs. Exterior Doors
Inswing and outswing doors each have advantages depending on their intended use:
- Inswing doors:
- Take up less exterior space when open
- Provide more interior space which is useful in tight spaces
- More secure as the hinges are protected inside
- Outswing doors:
- Allow for easier egress in high traffic areas
- Easier access in tight exterior spaces
- Hinges are more exposed to elements
This makes inswing doors better suited for most interior door applications, while outswing doors are preferential for exterior use. Exceptions would be exterior doors in tight spaces where an inswing door is needed, or interior doors for high traffic areas where an outswing door provides better flow.
Components of an Inswing Door
A standard inswing door is made up of two main components, the door panel itself and the door frame it fits into:
- Door Panel: This is the actual door that swings open and closed. Key parts include:
- Door style – flush, paneled, louvered, etc.
- Size – width and height
- Thickness – most interior doors are 1 3/8″ or 1 3/4″ thick
- Material – hollow core, solid core, fiberglass, etc.
- Hardware – hinges, door knobs, locks, etc.
- Door Frame: The fixed frame that houses the door panel. Key parts include:
- Jambs – the vertical pieces that create the doorway
- Header – the horizontal top piece
- Threshold – the bottom piece (if not a carpeted floor)
- Casing – the trim around the frame opening
- Stop – the wood that stops the door panel within the frame
These two main components come together to create the full door assembly. Having an understanding of the parts of each piece allows for proper door selection, sizing, installation, and repairs.
Different Types of Inswing Doors
While a basic inswing door may be a simple slab flush door, many other interior door types utilize the right or left handed inswing functionality. Some examples include:
- Paneled doors – Consist of solid wood perimeter frames with central wood panels. Common styles are 2, 4, and 6 panel doors.
- Louvred doors – Contain fixed or movable wooden slats or louvers that allow for air flow and privacy.
- Bifold doors – Hinged panels that fold up accordion style. Commonly used for closets.
- Bypass doors – Panels that slide open from both sides and bypass each other when open.
- Pocket doors – Panels that slide open into cavities within walls rather than swinging open.
The hand and swing direction help define the operation and placement of the door while the style contributes to the overall aesthetic within a space.
Door Handing Specifications
When replacing a door or ordering a new pre-hung interior door unit, proper measurements need to be taken and details like door handing need to be specified. Some key measurements include:
- Door width – the actual width of the door panel itself
- Door height – the height excluding the frame
- Rough opening width – the total width of the door frame opening
- Rough opening height – the total height including the header
- Thickness – thickness of the door panel
- Door handing – right or left handed
- Swing direction – inswing or outswing
Having these specifications ensures the correct door is ordered and fits properly within the existing door frame. For pre-hung units, the frame size must match the existing rough opening size as well.
Door Handing Diagram
Here is a diagram showing the difference between a right and left handed inswing door from the exterior viewpoint:
| Right Handed | Left Handed |
|
|
| Hinges on right side of door frame. | Hinges on left side of door frame. |
| Opens inwards to the right. | Opens inwards to the left. |
The diagrams illustrate how the hinge side and swing direction differ between right and left handed inswing doors. This is important when selecting a replacement door to match the existing handing in a home.
How to Tell if a Door is Left or Right Handed
If you need to determine the handing of an existing door, there are a couple simple ways to check:
- Look at the door from the exterior side with the hinges visible. If the hinges are on the right, it is a right handed door. If they are on the left, it is left handed.
- Stand on the outside and open the door with your right hand using the doorknob. Note the direction the door swings. If it opens inward to the right, it is a right handed door. If it swings inward to the left, it is left handed.
Sometimes the door handing is also indicated on the information sticker that most pre-hung doors have attached. If you can still see this sticker, it may identify if it is a right or left handed door.
Door Handing for Double Doors
Double doors add some complexity when it comes to door handing. There are a few possible configurations:
- Double doors with two active doors – Each door can be specified separately as right or left handed. It is common to make them the same hand, but not required.
- Double with active and inactive door – The inactive door has no hardware and is secured in place as the adjoining active door operates. The inactive door handing does not matter in this case.
- Double with astragal – An overlapping molding allows one door to close against the other. This door would be specified as the hand that overlaps the secondary door.
When ordering double pre-hung door units, be sure to specify the handing requirements for each door panel and if an astragal will be used.
Installation Tips for Inswing Doors
Installing an inswing door properly is important for smooth operation and proper security. Here are some key tips:
- Use shims during installation to ensure the door frame is plumb and level
- Align hinge locations accurately between the frame and door panel
- Allow proper clearance under the door for openings, thresholds, and flooring
- Make sure door does not drag on the floor when opening
- Verify consistent reveal around the door perimeter after installing
- Test operation and make any adjustments to hinges before finalizing install
Taking care with the prep work, measurements, and alignments will result in an inswing door that operates correctly for years to come.
Conclusion
Knowing whether an interior door is right or left handed is important when installing new doors or replacing existing ones. A right handed door features hinges on the right side of the frame, opening inward to the right. This is opposed to a left handed door that swings inward to the left. Other factors like door style, measurements, and rough opening details should also be considered when selecting an inswing door. With the proper specifications and good installation technique, an inswing door will provide functionality and aesthetics for any interior space.