How to Determine Door Swing Direction

How to Determine Door Swing Direction or Handing

We’ve included graphics along with descriptions for knowing how to determine the door swing in the two most common instances.

• Replacing an Existing Door

To determine the door swing while replacing an existing door, step into the doorway with your back to the hinges, standing sideways in the opening, facing the jamb where the door latches. If the open doorknob is on your right side, it’s a right-hand door. If it’s on your left side, the door is left handed.

Another way to determine the door handing is simply to stand inside the room of the door and close the door. Face the door. If the handle is on your right side, it’s a right-handed door. If the handle or door knob is on your left, it’s a left handed door.

• Installing a New Door in a Rough Opening

To determine door swing direction during the rough-in phase requires some foresight into the operation of the home or building. Generally, interior doors will swing into the room, opening towards the nearest perpendicular wall in the room. You’ll want the door to allow the most open space in the room when the door is open.

After you determine door swing direction, you can use the above method to determine the hand of the door.