Determining the swing, or handing, of an exterior door is crucial for ordering and installation. It specifies the direction the door opens and whether it swings inward or outward.
Door handing describes which side the hinges are on and which direction the door swings. There are four standard types for single doors:
- Left Hand (LH): Hinges on the left, swings inward (when viewed from the outside).
- Right Hand (RH): Hinges on the right, swings inward (when viewed from the outside).
- Left Hand Reverse (LHR): Hinges on the left, swings outward (when viewed from the outside).
- Right Hand Reverse (RHR): Hinges on the right, swings outward (when viewed from the outside).
Choosing the correct handing is important for optimizing space, ensuring proper weather sealing, and meeting local building codes.
Step-by-Step Method to Determine Door Swing
The most common way to determine exterior door handing is by standing outside the building, facing the door.
- Stand Outside: Position yourself directly in front of the door on the exterior side.
- Locate the Hinges: Identify which side the hinges are located on.
- If the hinges are on your left, the door is Left Hand (LH) or Left Hand Reverse (LHR).
- If the hinges are on your right, the door is Right Hand (RH) or Right Hand Reverse (RHR).
- Determine the Swing Direction: Observe whether the door opens into the building (inswing) or out of the building (outswing).
- If the door opens inward, it's a standard Left Hand (LH) or Right Hand (RH) swing.
- If the door opens outward, it's a Reverse Left Hand Reverse (LHR) or Right Hand Reverse (RHR) swing.
- Combine Hinge Side and Swing: Combine the information from steps 2 and 3 to determine the specific handing (LH, RH, LHR, RHR).
Using the Inside Perspective (Based on Reference)
Another way to determine the left/right handing component is from the inside of the building, relative to the hinges. According to one method:
- Stand with your back to the hinges of the door.
- Determine which side the doorknob is closest to your hands.
- The one with the doorknob closest to your left hand is left-handed.
- If the doorknob is closest to your right hand, then it's right-handed.
This method helps determine if it's a Left Hand or Right Hand door from the interior perspective. You would still need to determine if it's an inswing or outswing door to get the complete handing (LH, RH, LHR, RHR).
Visual Guide to Door Handing
| View From | Hinges on | Swings | Handing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside | Left | Inward | Left Hand (LH) |
| Outside | Right | Inward | Right Hand (RH) |
| Outside | Left | Outward | Left Hand Reverse (LHR) |
| Outside | Right | Outward | Right Hand Reverse (RHR) |
| Inside | Left | Outward | Left Hand Reverse (LHR) |
| Inside | Right | Outward | Right Hand Reverse (RHR) |
| Inside | Left | Inward | Left Hand (LH) |
| Inside | Right | Inward | Right Hand (RH) |
Note: When using the reference's method (back to hinges, inside), knob on left hand means Left Hand (or RHR if outswing), and knob on right hand means Right Hand (or LHR if outswing).
Determining Swing for Exterior Double Doors
For entrances with double doors, the swing is typically determined for each individual door panel (or "leaf") as if it were a single door.
Stand with your back to the hinges of each door panel. The one with the doorknob closest to your left hand is left-handed. Apply the same logic for the other panel to determine if it's right-handed. You also need to note if each leaf swings inward or outward. Common configurations include:
- Both leaves are active and swing independently (e.g., LH + RH Inswing).
- One leaf is active, the other is fixed until needed (e.g., Active RH + Fixed LH Inswing).
Accurately determining the swing is a critical first step when replacing or ordering a new exterior door.
