Whether renovating your home or building a new one, doors are crucial to your home’s curb appeal. They offer much more than a passage to enter and exit your home or room. The perfect entry door may help improve your home’s curb appeal, aesthetics, and appearance.
But before you consider look and style, it’s important to consider door sizes. Your doors’ dimensions may not be at the forefront of your thoughts until you have to replace one or stoop down to get through.
Therefore, it’s important to understand different standard door sizes and what door sizes your home needs. This will help you get the right doors for all entries and exits throughout your home.
Only a few people know that the International Residential Code (IRC) is the building code that regulates door sizes, and IRC consists of a set of rules homeowners should follow when having their homes designed and built.
At a state level, each State typically enforces the IRC code and puts in place rules that ensure commercial and residential buildings comply with safety and health recommendations. Door sizes in the US are fairly standard because they at least meet the minimum dimensions of the specified area code.
Standard sizes for exterior and interior doors vary by the type of door you want to install. For instance, exterior doors include entry, patio, and garage doors. Interior doors have pocket doors, bathroom doors, closet doors, and barn doors.
All door styles come with their own bunch of standard measurements and variations.
Exterior doors are usually 80 inches high, but widths vary according to the door type.
Generally, the standard back or front door is 36 inches wide, 80 inches tall, and 1.75 inches thick. The width and thickness of the doors tend to vary by door style.
These doors might work as courtyard, back, or patio doors. French doors are divided into two halves that swing open. Again, the standard height of French doors is 80 inches, while the width may vary between 60 and 72 inches.
Glass sliding patio doors are usually 80 inches tall, but the width may vary between 60 and 90 inches. On the other hand, bifold patio doors can measure 120 inches in height and 660 inches in width on average. Glass panels that fold like a concertina make up the width, depending on the entire width of the patio.
Garage doors measure tend to be 84 inches high and 108 inches wide, and new homes tend to have bigger garage doors that are 120 inches wide. A double garage door tends to be 84 inches high and 192 inches wide. Your car’s size should help you choose the right size for your needs.
In general, interior doors tend to be 80 inches high, but the width might vary based on the type of the door and where it’s placed.
The phrase “interior doors” typically refers to doors that lead you to a room from the hallway or from room to room. In modern homes, interior doors are usually 32 inches wide, 80 inches high, and 1 ⅜ inches thick.
But the standard dimensions may vary, of course. So, always start by taking the measurements to fit an over-the-door storage unit or replace a door. Interior doors can have widths ranging from 28 to 36 inches.
Remember, the larger the interior door, the thicker it’ll be.
Hold your horses if you’d like to install a lovely child-sized door in your child’s playroom entrance! You must ensure it doesn’t violate your area’s building code. Building codes typically vary by State, and you’re only allowed to go bigger than what the code specifies, not smaller.
If you want to fit in a pocket door, take measurements twice. Like interior doors, pocket doors are typically 32-36 inches wide. But remember that double the space is required for the pocket into which the door slides.
Want to go big and install something special? If so, go ahead and install barn doors. They’re typically tailor-made, with the hardware staying outside of the wall. To open the door, just ensure you have enough strength and clearance.
Closet sizes vary widely, depending on the design of a house. And so, too, do doors. The standard length of a two-panel bifold closet door is 80 inches high and 24-36 inches wide. Some closets have a pair of bifold doors that work in unison.
If you want to replace small-sized doors in your old home, think outside the box. While your home may not have to comply with the latest door size requirements and building codes, finding shorter doors might prove difficult.
As such, you could contract a local top carpenter to craft something special. You can also check out vintage options at antique or resale shops.
And if you want to fit in taller doors, you can hire a local contractor to redesign the opening so it fits a standard-size door.
Regarding standard door sizes, it’s important not to let the dimensions confuse you. The secret to finding your perfect door is to get something that suits your budget and needs. In all likelihood, your existing doors already conform to standard sizes, making replacing them easy.
But if your doors aren’t standard-sized, don’t fret! Most suppliers and stores are happy to help you choose the best doors for your home’s design.
Ready to install brand-new doors on your property? Contact a qualified, experienced, and reputable doors and windows contractor in your area to set up an initial consultation and receive an estimate.
