Right Hand vs. Left Hand Door: Determining Your Door Swing

When you need to enter or leave your home, the last thing on your mind is what direction your door swings. But when it's time to order a new one, whether it’s a right-hand vs.a left-hand door is suddenly all you can think about. Read on to see what kind of door you have, why it matters, and the factors that play into door handing.  

What is a Right Hand and a Left Hand Door?

When the place you’re ordering your door from asks if you want a right- or left-hand door, they mean the door's handing. Handing is the direction in which your door swings when opened. So, a right-hand door would swing to the right when opened, and a left-hand door would swing to the left when opened.  

Right Hand vs. Left Hand Door: Why Does it Matter?

The last thing you want is to send your custom door with the frosted glass and gold accents back because it’s not the right one. This is why it’s important to know if you have an inswing or outswing door and its handing. It determines where your hardware, such as hinges, doorknob, and lock plate goes. By having this information available, it makes it easier to purchase a new door correctly—the first time.  

How to Tell if it’s a Left-Hand or Right-Hand Door

Determining if you have a left-hand or right-hand door can be tricky at first. The hand you use to open your door isn’t always that type of door, as you might assume. In other words, just because you open your door with your right hand doesn't mean it's a right-handed door.  

A more accurate method is to place your back against the hinge jamb, which is the part of your door frame where your hinges are located, on your existing door. Then, take note of what hand is closest to the doorknob. If your left hand is closest, it’s a left-handed door. If your right hand is closest to the doorknob, it's a right-handed door. When you stand outside the room you're trying to enter, and if the door swings away from you when you open it, it's an inswing door. If your door swings towards you, it’s an outswing door.   

Another way some homeowners identify whether a door is left-handed or right-handed is by the side the hinges are on. If the hinges are on the right side of the door, then it's a right-hand swing door, and vice versa. 

Factors That Influence Your Door Handing

Contrary to how it seems, whether your door swings left or right isn’t random. If you have a rough opening, or plan to change the direction of your door’s handing, some factors help determine how it swings. We’ll look at a few of them below. 

Available Space

The amount of space you have going into and out of a room will play a role in whether you get a right-hand or left-hand swing door. Some homes were designed for a specific door type and can disrupt traffic flow if a different door is used. For example, replacing a left-handed door with an inward swing with a right-handed door might cause the door to open into the bedroom’s available space instead of against a wall.  

Preference

If spacing isn’t an issue, deciding between a right hand vs. left hand door depends on your preference. Do you feel more comfortable opening a door with a handle on your left side? Or does a right handed door feel more natural to you?  

Safety

Another key factor in door handing is the impact it has on your safety. Some doors, like exit doors, are meant to make leaving a home, due to an emergency, quick. If a door opens into the path of exit, instead of away from it, it can impact you making a swift, safe exit. 

Is a Right-Hand or Left-Hand Door Better? 

Whether you opt for a right-hand or left-hand door depends on what type of door you need, its swing, and how you want your door to fit into your home’s flow. It’s also worth noting that if your door swings inward or outward it should also be factored into your decision. If you’re not sure if a right hand or left hand door is better for you, contact your local door installation pro for help. Typically, door installation costs $1,120.