What height to install a door handle or knob

Specific information on door handle height can be found specified by the architect inside the construction drawings in the joinery plan.

In most cases, door handles and knobs should be installed at a height of 34 to 48 inches from the finished floor.

This may vary slightly depending on the size and design of the door, as well as the room or building where the handles will be installed.

Many homeowners and designers also opt to have all the door handle’s inside a room and building to be at the same height as each other.

The only expectation of this is door handles that give access to an area that contains water such as a pool or a waterway that need to be placed high to restrict access from young ones, more on this below.

Choosing the door handle height

Doors are among the most important elements of any door and home decor, alongside light fittings.

For this reason, many homeowners, builders, and interior decorators spend a lot of time and a considerable amount of effort deciding on their door handles that will perfectly complement the home or office’s design.

But some people don’t give as much thought to the handles and knobs they will use, even though they are just as important as any other fixture inside a living or working area.

In particular, careful consideration must be given to where handles and knobs are installed on any doors.

Doorknob height will affect not only the look and feel of interior spaces but also their safety and accessibility.

What is the standard height for door handles?

Installing door handles and knobs at the correct height is important for two reasons. First, they have to be out of reach of young children. Secondly, they have to be convenient to use. 

Apart from these considerations, door handle placement should also conform to international regulations. 

According to the International Building Code 2012, the standard door handle height is at least 34 inches from the floor or 48 inches at most.

Swimming pool door handle height?

The exception to this is when the door is the entrance to a swimming pool, in this case, the height of the door handle should be 48 to 54 inches [1] above the finished floor.

You also need to follow what’s specified by the design specifications of a building, depending also on your local building code.

Ideal wardrobe door handle height

There is usually a lot more leeway with regard to the standard doorknob height for wardrobes and cabinets.

Most builders and interior designers simply place cabinet handles at the same height as doorknobs.

This creates consistency for the elements of the room and makes the design more cohesive.

Most people find that placing the cabinet handles much higher or lower than the room door handles results in a seemingly awkward room design. 

Aligning the cabinet handles with the height of the doorknobs requires careful measurement. The spot where the handles will go should be marked off and measured twice to ensure accuracy.

Taking the extra step of measuring everything again ensures that you only have to drill once and not have to fill in any unsightly holes afterward.

For door handles installed on doors ready hung, setting up a type of laser level like the Dewalt cross line laser will help you keep all your handles at the exact same height inside your room.

Best deadbolt height

There aren’t really any strictly defined rules regarding where deadbolts should be placed.

Of course, deadbolts should be installed where they are easily accessible and where unlocking them won’t pose any difficulties.

Keep in mind that part of the door might have more meat and be a better placement area for your lock.

Apart from these considerations, deadbolts can be installed pretty much anywhere you, please.

Deadbolts can be placed above or below the doorknob or handle, although they are most commonly installed above the handle. This would place them at a height of 48 to 78 inches from the finished floor. 

In some cases, you will have no choice but to place the deadbolt on a specific spot on the door. This is especially the case when a door is positioned too close to a corner or found in an otherwise awkward position. 

Whether or not a door is placed awkwardly, it is almost always a good idea to go for a keyless touchpad door lock like a Schlage keypad lock.

This is a lot more convenient than a keyed lock and will help you avoid fumbling around for keys when you need to open the door. 

Recommended tools to install a door handle

The quickest way to install a door handle is to use a door handle installation kit, otherwise, you can use the right-sized hole saw with your Makita or Dewalt cordless drill.

Every door handle should come with a paper template within the packaging, you simply need to fold it over the door, and mark the holes that need to be drilled out.

Then drill the holes with the right-sized drill bit.

For the latch plate on the edge of the door, first, mark the location from the template and then use a craft knife to cut the surface of the edges.

Use your drill to lightly create the corner edge, then use your best set of wood chisels to finish the checkout by taking off the slice required for the rebate. 

If you haven’t got a good set of wood chisels yet can read our findings right now.

Better commercial door handle heights

There are slightly different considerations when installing door handles or knobs for commercial establishments.

In particular, consideration will have to be given to accessibility for disabled or differently-abled people. These are subject to regulations outlined in the International Building Code.

There may also be regulations governing the height of door handles for commercial establishments in your federal, state, and local codes.

In most jurisdictions, the standard door-knob height for commercial establishments is 34 inches to 48 inches from the floor.

This ensures easy access to people with disabilities and also allows unobstructed access to wheelchairs when the door is open, without the handle getting in the way.

Should doors open outwards towards the exit?

Not all doors necessarily have to open outwards. In most jurisdictions and countries, any building that could have a large number of occupants inside, like commercial buildings, and apartments should have a fire exit plan, that goes alongside the architectural plans and specifications for a new build, or renovation.

This fire exit plan should specify that all doors positioned throughout main areas open outwards in the direction of people exiting a building in the case of an emergency.

All doors that don’t easily open in the direction of an exit would hinder a quick exit in the case of an emergency. 

When should doors open inwards?

An area that is prone to flooding or snow should have a door that can be opened inwards [2] to stop snow or water build-up that would block a door from being opened.

Why doors should open in the direction of an exit?

The importance of outwardly opening doors in crowded areas will never be forgotten after the Iroquois Theatre fire [3] that happened on December 30, 1903.

The theater was thought to be absolutely fireproof but the fire that started on the inside ended as one of the worst single-building fires in our history.

A simple thing such as doors not opening outwardly towards the exit was a contributor to the deaths that happened.

The building was well over occupied to start with, and when the curtains caught on fire, during people’s panic, everyone was getting pushed up against the exit.

Because of the pressure of scared people, no one at the front of the door was able to actually open the exit, on this day 575 lives were lost. 

There were also other problems such as only one exit. This is why fire exit plans these days specify outwardly opening doors in crowded areas.

Therefore, a client or builder should challenge any design with an inwardly opening door towards an exit inside a building that could hold a crowd. 

Conclusion

The optimal placement of doorknobs and handles is essential for convenience and accessibility. They could also help ensure safety when there are children in the home. Moreover, you need to height your door correctly to avoid future problems such as accidents or door catching.

While there is a bit of leeway with regard to the typical door handle height, due consideration must be given to these concerns, as well as conformance with federal, state, and local regulations.

But for a basic DIY job, just match the height of other doors in the house, to keep things looking the same. This is just a guide on how you can prevent future door replacement.