How To Frame A Door - DIY - PJ Fitzpatrick

Home » How To Frame For A Door » How To Frame A Door - DIY - PJ Fitzpatrick

Maybe your like

Call For Free Estimate 1-877-246-4354 P.J. Fitzpatrick
  • Home Repairs
    • Storm Damage Repair
    • Real Estate Repair
    • Residential Repair Contractor
    • Affordable Home Repair
    • Exterior Home Renovation
  • Roofing
    • Roof Repairs
      • Emergency Roof Repair
    • Roof Replacement
    • Types of Roofing
      • Architectural Shingles
      • Cedar Shingles
      • CertainTeed Shingles
      • Cool Roof Technology
      • Copper Roofing
      • Flat Roofing
      • Luxury Shingles
      • Metal Roofing
      • Slate Roofing
      • Tile Roofing Shingles
    • Specialty Roofing
      • Historic Roof Repair
      • Historic Roof Replacement
      • Cedar Shingles
      • Copper Roofing
      • Slate Roofing
      • Tile Roofing
    • Recommended Roofers
    • Additional Services
      • Attic Insulation with New Roof
      • Chimney Caps & Pipe Collars
      • Copper Chimney Flashing
      • HOA Roofing
      • Roof Flashing
      • Roof Leaks
      • Roof Ventilation
      • Skylights
    • Resources
      • How to Inspect Your Roof
      • Is it Time to Replace Your Roof
      • What You Need to Know
      • Installation Process
      • Photo Gallery
  • Windows
    • Window Replacement
    • Window Installation
    • Window Repair
    • Vinyl Window Installation
    • Types of Windows
      • Awning Windows
      • Bay Windows
      • Black Vinyl Windows
      • Bow Windows
      • Casement Windows
      • Custom Shaped Windows
      • Double-Hung Windows
      • Garden Windows
      • Glider Windows
      • Picture Window
      • Round-Top Windows
    • Resources
      • Installation Process
      • Photo Gallery
  • Siding
    • Siding Repairs
    • Siding Installation
    • Siding Replacement
    • Local Siding Company
    • Siding Types
      • Vinyl Shake and Shingle Siding
      • Vinyl Horizontal Siding
      • Vertical Vinyl Siding
      • Vinyl Siding Colors
    • Resources
      • Installation Process
      • Photo Gallery
  • Gutters
    • Gutter Repairs
    • Gutter Installation
    • Rain Gutter Repair
    • Gutter Cleaning
    • Gutter Guards
    • Yankee Gutter Repair
    • Ice Dam Removal
    • Photo Gallery
  • Doors
    • Door Repairs
    • Door Installation
      • Front Door Replacement
    • New Front Door
    • Door Types
      • Exterior French Doors
      • Fiberglass Front Doors
      • Sliding Glass Doors
      • Wood Front Doors
    • Garage Doors
      • Garage Door Installation
      • Garage Door Repair
      • Amarr Garage Door Products
    • Resources
      • Door Samples & Materials
      • Photo Gallery
  • Baths
    • One Day Bath Replacement
    • Bathtub Replacement
    • Shower Replacement
      • Walk-In Showers
    • Shower Remodel
    • Bathroom Remodel
    • Bathrooms for Seniors
    • Tub to Shower Conversion
      • Replacing Bath With A Shower
    • Shower To Tub Conversions
    • Walk-In Bath
    • Resources
      • Questions & Answers
      • Bath & Shower Maintenance
      • Bath Comparisons
      • Photo Gallery
  • Financing
  • Specials
  • Careers - We're Hiring!
  • Recent Projects
  • Do It Yourself
  • Pay Bill
  • Customer Service
  • Live Chat
  • Refer A Friend
  • Online Estimate
Call For Free Estimate 1-877-246-4354 Get Online Estimate Default header image DIY Logo The do it yourself resource for homeowners from home improvement professionals.

Before your new door installation, you’ll need to know how to frame a door to make sure your new door will fit properly and to make the installation easier. Framing a door is an easy DIY job, and our door experts will help you learn how:

To create the right door frame, you’ll need to know the measurements of the door you’re going to install.

  1. With a measuring tape, measure the width and the height of your new door.
  2. Then, add two inches to the width and 1 ½ inches to the height. These will be the measurements you use to create your door frame.

Creating the Door Frame

  1. Start by using a saw or circular saw to cut a top plate as wide as the rough door opening.
  2. Nail it into the ceiling joists.
  3. Then, cut a sole plate that’s also as big as the rough door opening.
  4. Nail it into the floor joists, however, don’t nail it down between the width of the door because you’re going to remove part of it later.
  5. Cut four pieces of wood the entire height between the top plate and the sole plate. These will be your king studs.
  6. Nail two king studs against the sides of the rough opening and between the plates.
  7. Install two more at a width that’s the new door’s width plus five inches.
  8. Next, cut two pieces of wood for your jack studs. Make sure these are the height of the new door plus 1 ½ inches.
  9. Nail the jack studs to the two inner king studs.
  10. After that, create a header by cutting two pieces of wood to the same width as the jack studs and nailing them together. Then, nail the header to the jack studs.
  11. Next, you’ll need to cut one or two cripple studs that are the width between the header and the top plate.
  12. Nail your cripple studs in place.
  13. Use a saw to cut out the sole plate in between the jack studs. Now, you can install your new door.
How to Frame a Door

Tools & Materials

  • Measuring Tape
  • Level
  • Lumber (2x4’s)
  • Nails
  • Hammer/Nail Gun
  • Saw/Circular Saw

Need help with this project?

We have trained professionals that can help. Contact us today. 1-877-246-4354

Get Free Estimate

Home Improvement

  • How To Mount A TV On Vinyl Siding
  • How To Remove A Stripped Screw
  • How To Repair Damaged Drywall
  • How To Prevent Moisture Intrusion Around Windows and Doors
  • How To Prepare Your Home Exterior For Extreme Temperature Swings

Siding Installation

  • How to Choose the Right Siding Color for Your Home
  • How to Make Siding Look Like Wood
  • How To Replace Home Siding
  • How to Install the Top Piece of Vinyl Siding
  • How to Install Vinyl Siding Mounting Block

Gutter Repair

  • How to Seal Gutter Joints
  • How to Install a Gutter Liner System
  • How to Clear Clogged Gutters
  • How to Repair Leaking Gutters
  • How to Remove a Downspout

Roof Repair

  • How to Prevent Roof Damage This Winter
  • How to Clean a Roof
  • How to Find a Leak in My Roof
  • How to Fix Wind Damaged Shingles
  • How to Put Shingles on a Roof

Installing Insulation

  • How to Insulate a Roof Without an Attic
  • How to Blow In Insulation
  • How to Insulate a Crawl Space
  • How to Insulate a House
  • How to Insulate a Garage

Window Replacement

  • How to Replace Exterior Window Trim and Seal Against Water Damage
  • How To Prepare An Older Home For Window Replacement Without Interior Damage
  • How to Replace Vinyl Windows
  • How to Remove a Window
  • How to Remove Home Windows

Door Installation

  • How to Measure a Storm Door
  • How to Replace a Patio Door
  • How to Replace a Sliding Glass Door
  • How to Install a Prehung Exterior Door
  • How to Build an Insulated Exterior Door

Shower Installation

  • How to Install a Hand Shower with Slide Bar
  • How To Install a Shower Pan
  • How to Replace a Shower Drain
  • How to Install a Shower Door
  • How to Install a Walk In Shower

Bathtub Installation

  • How to Replace a Shower Pan
  • How To Remove A Cracked Shower Pan
  • How to Install a Fiberglass Tub and Shower Surround
  • How to Remove a Cast Iron Tub
  • How to Fit a Bath

Gutter Installation

  • How to Install Gutter Flashing
  • How to Install Gutters on a Metal Roof
  • How To Inspect Fascia and Roof Edges Before Installing New Gutters
  • How to Choose the Right Gutter Size
  • How to Install Vinyl Gutters

Siding Repair

  • How to Remove and Replace Rotting Fascia Boards
  • How To Paint Aluminum Siding
  • How To Repair Cracks In Stucco Siding
  • How to Remove Vinyl Siding Without Damaging it
  • How to Replace a Piece of Siding

Shower Repair

  • How to Replace a Shower Head
  • How To Regrout A Tile Shower
  • How to Replace Shower Caulk
  • How to Replace a Shower Handle
  • How to Remove Shower Wall Surround

Roofing Installation

  • How to Vent A Water Heater Through Your Roof
  • How to Install a Shingle Roof
  • How to Build a Roof Over My Existing Deck
  • How To Remove Asphalt Shingles
  • How to Hang Shingles

Bathtub Maintenance

  • How to Install a Grab Bar in a Shower
  • How to Install a Shower Bench
  • How to Replace Grout In a Shower
  • How to Move a Bathtub Drain
  • How to Fix a Leaky Bathtub Faucet

Window Repair

  • How to Remove Home Windows
  • How To Replace A Rotten Window Sill Without Removing The Window
  • How to Replace Exterior Window Trim and Seal Against Water Damage
  • How to Clean Vinyl Window Frames
  • How to Build Window Inserts

Window Installation

  • How to Install a New Window
  • How to Measure Window Screens
  • How to Build Your Own Storm Windows
  • How to Build Plexiglass Storm Windows
  • How to Install Window Flashing Tape

Door Repair

  • How to Repair a Door Frame
  • How to Replace a Door Knob
  • How To Fix A Door That Rubs At The Top
  • How to Repair a Drafty Front Door
  • How to Paint a Front Door

Garage Door Repair

  • How To Replace A Garage Door Spring

PJ Fitzpatrick, LLC

21 Industrial Blvd. New Castle, DE 19720

6380 Flank Dr. #600 Harrisburg, PA 17112

141 Delta Dr. Suite D Pittsburgh, PA 15238

1000 Prime Place. Hauppauge, NY 11788

2 Cranberry Rd. #A5 Parsippany, NJ 07054

5061 Howerton Way. Suite L Bowie, MD 20715

10189 Maple Leaf Ct. Ashland, VA 23005

2551 Eltham Ave. Suite L Norfolk, VA 23513

8407 Firebird Dr. Ste 200, Fairfield, OH 45011

Connect With Us

Check out our social pages or our reviews page and let us know how we’re doing!

FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedin read our reviews

Our Services

Our Latest Blog Post

Recent Posts

  • How Improper Roof Ventilation Can Shorten The Lifespan Of Your Shingles

View All

© 2026 PJ Fitzpatrick, LLCNJ Lic. #13VH10727200 | DE Lic. #2009603070 | PA Lic. #PA011323 | MD Lic. #130457WDC Lic. #420223000113 | VA Lic. #2705189958 | Suffolk NY Lic. #HI-61468 | Nassau NY Lic. #151702 | NYC Lic. #2128461-DCWPNJ Plumbing Lic. David Geiger # 36BI01232300 | MD Plumbing Lic. #98756 | OH Plumbing Lic. #48314 | IN Plumbing Lic. #CO52600002 Website by the Prager Microsystems, Inc. Digital Marketing Agency

Tag » How To Frame For A Door