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How to Determine Door Swing Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Stand on the outside of the door while it’s closed. 2 Look at the direction the door opens. 3 Find the location of the door hinges. 4 Notice whether the hinges are on the left or right. 5 Do a door handedness test. 6 Combine swing and handedness terminology. 7 Use door levers that match your door's handedness. + Show 4 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and Dan Hickey
Last Updated: November 9, 2024 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Josh Goldenberg is a Residential Remodeling Expert and the Co-Founder of 5blox, based in the Greater Los Angeles area. With more than seven years of experience, Josh and his team specialize in luxurious and sustainable home renovations. 5blox is fully licensed and bonded. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 94,782 times.
Ordering a new door seems simple until someone asks you about the swing—how do you keep all of that inswing-or-outswing, right hand-or-left hand terminology straight? Thankfully, there are quick and easy checks you can do to determine your door’s swing and handedness so you can talk to any door retailer or installer like a pro. If you’re ready to learn which way your door swings with confidence, read on!
Things You Should Know
A door is inswing if you’re facing it from outside and have to push it away from you to open it. It’s outswing if you have to pull it towards you.
A door is left-handed if you’re facing it from outside and the hinges are on the left side. It’s right-handed if the hinges are on the right side.
Install left-handed door levers on left-handed doors, and right-handed levers on right-handed doors.
Steps
1
Stand on the outside of the door while it’s closed.
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A door's outside is the side that faces you when you enter through it. For exterior doors, the outside is the side that faces the street. For interior doors, think about which room you would say you’re entering. For example, you’d enter your bedroom from the hallway, so the hallway side of the door is the outside.[1]XResearch source
For another example, pretend you’re walking into an attached bathroom from a bedroom. The side of the door facing you in the bedroom is the outside.
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Look at the direction the door opens.
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Open the door from outside and notice whether it swings in or out. If you had to push the door away from you to enter, it’s an inswing door (it swings inward). If you had to pull the door toward you to enter, it’s an outswing door (it swings outward).
Exterior doors on homes are almost always inswing doors.
3
Find the location of the door hinges.
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Hinges on the inside of the door indicate an inswing door. If you’re standing on the outside of the door and can’t see the hinges, that means they’re inside (they’d be visible if you were looking at the inside of the door). If the hinges are on the outside of the door, then it’s an outswing door.
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Notice whether the hinges are on the left or right.
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Hinges on the left of the door indicate a left-handed door. If they’re on the right, then the door is right-handed. Make sure you’re on the outside of the door before checking for handedness, otherwise you’ll have it backwards.[2]XResearch source
The handedness (also called handing) of a door is not related to your own left or right hands or which side of the door the knob is located.
5
Do a door handedness test.
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Check handedness by opening the door with one hand from outside. First, stand outside the closed door with your back turned toward the hinge side of the door frame.[3]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview Grab the door handle with one hand without reaching across your body. Turn to face the door while still holding the knob and open the door:[4]XResearch source
If you used your left hand and didn’t have to move to open the door, you have a left-handed inswing door.[5]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
If you used your left hand and you had to step out of the way to open the door you have a left-handed outswing door.[6]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
If you used your right hand and didn’t have to move to open the door, you have a right-handed inswing door.[7]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
If you used your right hand and you had to step out of the way to open the door, you have a right-handed outswing door.[8]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
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Combine swing and handedness terminology.
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Describe a door by stating the handedness followed by the swing. For example, if a door is left-handed and opens inwards, call it a left-handed inswing door. If it’s right-handed and opens inward, call it a right-handed inswing door.[9]XResearch source
If the door is left-handed and opens outward, call it a left-handed outswing door or a left-handed reverse door.[10]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
If the door is right-handed and opens outward, call it a right-handed outswing door or a right-handed reverse door.[11]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
7
Use door levers that match your door's handedness.
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Asymmetric door levers or handles come left- or right-handed. If the door is left-handed (the hinges are on the left from the outside), then buy a lever that’s left-handed. If the door is right-handed (the hinges are on the right from the outside), use a right-handed lever.[12]XResearch source
The handedness of a lever is the direction that the end of the lever points (almost always toward the hinges).
Installing a lever that’s wrong-handed means you might have to pull the lever up to open the door, or the lever may stick out the wrong way over the door frame.
Circular door knobs are reversible and you can turn most of them either way to open a door.
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If you’re installing a new door into a blank frame, where you install the hinges will determine the swing and handedness of the door. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Terminology for door handedness (also called handing) may vary based on manufacturer or region. Always double check before making a purchase! Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about home improvements, check out our in-depth interview with Ryaan Tuttle.
Co-authored by: Josh Goldenberg Residential Remodeling Expert This article was co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Josh Goldenberg is a Residential Remodeling Expert and the Co-Founder of 5blox, based in the Greater Los Angeles area. With more than seven years of experience, Josh and his team specialize in luxurious and sustainable home renovations. 5blox is fully licensed and bonded. This article has been viewed 94,782 times. 27 votes - 64% Co-authors: 9Updated: November 9, 2024 Views: 94,782 Categories: DIY In other languagesJapanese
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Josh Goldenberg Residential Remodeling Expert 27 votes - 64% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 9Updated: November 9, 2024 Views: 94,782
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Stand on the outside of the door while it’s closed. 2 Look at the direction the door opens. 3 Find the location of the door hinges. 4 Notice whether the hinges are on the left or right. 5 Do a door handedness test. 6 Combine swing and handedness terminology. 7 Use door levers that match your door's handedness. + Show 4 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and Dan Hickey 
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Co-authored by: Josh Goldenberg Residential Remodeling Expert This article was co-authored by Josh Goldenberg and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Josh Goldenberg is a Residential Remodeling Expert and the Co-Founder of 5blox, based in the Greater Los Angeles area. With more than seven years of experience, Josh and his team specialize in luxurious and sustainable home renovations. 5blox is fully licensed and bonded. This article has been viewed 94,782 times. 27 votes - 64% Co-authors: 9 Updated: November 9, 2024 Views: 94,782 Categories: DIY In other languagesJapanese 
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A door's outside is the side that faces you when you enter through it. For exterior doors, the outside is the side that faces the street. For interior doors, think about which room you would say you’re entering. For example, you’d enter your bedroom from the hallway, so the hallway side of the door is the outside.[1] 
Open the door from outside and notice whether it swings in or out. If you had to push the door away from you to enter, it’s an inswing door (it swings inward). If you had to pull the door toward you to enter, it’s an outswing door (it swings outward). 
Hinges on the inside of the door indicate an inswing door. If you’re standing on the outside of the door and can’t see the hinges, that means they’re inside (they’d be visible if you were looking at the inside of the door). If the hinges are on the outside of the door, then it’s an outswing door. Advertisement 
Hinges on the left of the door indicate a left-handed door. If they’re on the right, then the door is right-handed. Make sure you’re on the outside of the door before checking for handedness, otherwise you’ll have it backwards.[2] 
Check handedness by opening the door with one hand from outside. First, stand outside the closed door with your back turned toward the hinge side of the door frame.[3] Grab the door handle with one hand without reaching across your body. Turn to face the door while still holding the knob and open the door:[4] 
Describe a door by stating the handedness followed by the swing. For example, if a door is left-handed and opens inwards, call it a left-handed inswing door. If it’s right-handed and opens inward, call it a right-handed inswing door.[9] 
Asymmetric door levers or handles come left- or right-handed. If the door is left-handed (the hinges are on the left from the outside), then buy a lever that’s left-handed. If the door is right-handed (the hinges are on the right from the outside), use a right-handed lever.[12] 
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