What Are Registers?
Registers are slatted vents that can help regulate the flow of both warm and cold air into your living space. Registers differ from grilles in that they have an adjustable louvered damper that can aim the air flow in a certain direction or shut it off completely. These registers are commonly placed in floors and in room ceilings so that the air flow will be distributed evenly around the space. It is important to not block floor registers with furniture so that they can properly do their job. Unnecessary vents and registers, such as those that may be in a closet or unused room, can be closed and covered with a floor vent cover.
What Size Floor Register Do I Need?
When replacing an existing floor register, be sure to choose a new one that will fit your duct opening. Remove the old floorboard vent register and measure the height and width of the duct opening (not the old register itself) to determine the correct register size. Measure and record the height first. Manufacturers typically indicate the height of a register followed by its width. If the opening is larger than a normal register size, make sure that the register has wider edges to accommodate for the necessary extra coverage.
If your duct measurements don’t match a register size exactly, you can often round the duct measurements to the nearest half inch. We’ve got some common duct and register sizes below, but they’re general measurements. Always check your duct size against the specifications for the register you’re considering.
- Duct Opening Height: 2.75 in to 3.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 9.75 in to 10.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 7.75 in to 8.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 9.75 in to 10.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 11.75 in to 12.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 13.75 in to 14.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 9.75 in to 10.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 11.75 in to 12.25 in
- Duct Opening Height: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
- Duct Opening Width: 13.75 in to 14.25 in
What Size Sidewall or Ceiling Register Do I Need?
Similar to floor registers, sidewall registers and ceiling registers should match the duct size, but if your ducts don’t match the exact register measurements, you can typically round fractions to the nearest half inch. Check the register specifications, but here are some common register sizes and general size ranges for compatible ducts.
4-in x 10-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
- Duct Width: 9.75 in to 10.25 in
8-in x 4-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 7.75 in to 8.25 in
- Duct Width: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
10-in x 6-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 9.75 in to 10.25 in
- Duct Width: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
12-in x 4-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 11.75 in to 12.25 in
- Duct Width: 3.75 in to 4.25 in
12-in x 6-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 11.75 in to 12.25 in
- Duct Width: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
14-in x 8-in Sidewall or Ceiling Register
- Duct Height: 13.75 in to 14.25 in
- Duct Width: 7.75 in to 8.25 in
What Are Grilles?
Grilles cover the return air ducts in a climate system. They do not have adjustable air flow or shut-off like a register does because the flow of air is necessary to the system operation. You may find them in walls or ceilings so as to be unobstructed in drawing air out of the room.
What Size Return Grille Do I Need?
The correct size for a return grille will depend on the size of the rough opening for the return duct. If your rough opening sizes don’t match available grille sizes, again, you can often round to the nearest half inch, but check the grille documentation for specifics. Common grille and rough opening sizes include:
- Rough Opening Width: 11.75 in to 12.25
- Rough Opening Height or Length: 5.75 in to 6.25 in
- Rough Opening Width: 13.75 in to 14.25 in
- Rough Opening Height or Length: 13.75 in to 14.25 in
- Rough Opening Width: 15.75 in to 16.25 in
- Rough Opening Height or Length: 19.75 in to 20.25 in
- Rough Opening Width: 19.75 in to 20.25 in
- Rough Opening Height or Length: 19.75 in to 20.25 in
- Rough Opening Width: 19.75 in to 20.25 in
- Rough Opening Height or Length: 24.75 in to 25.25 in
What Finish Should I Choose?
When choosing a finish for your register, think about what finish would look best in your home. Floor register finishes can easily complement your current décor items, such as door hardware, cabinet hardware, ceiling fans or light fixtures.
Decorative floor registers are available in a variety of metal, plastics, woods and finishes:
- Dark oil-rubbed bronze or black finishes do well in updated contemporary rooms and designs.
- Antique brass, polished brass and satin nickel do well with dark wood flooring and can accent the room’s door hardware and window curtain rods.
- Oak and other wood tone registers can work in a variety of situation thanks to their neutral colors. They can complement wood flooring or rooms with wood paneling, along with adding a warm touch to white and beige areas.
- Brown and white registers do well for a basic utility look.
- Plastic registers do well in bathrooms, laundry rooms and other wet areas due to the ability to easily wash them off with a rag and cleaner.
- Wood louvered floor register
- Antique brass steel marquis floor register
- Oil-rubbed bronze steel wicker floor register
- Antique brass Victorian floor register
- Matte steel Charleston floor register
- White steel baseboard floor register
When replacing a floor register in a high-humidity area, such as a bathroom, consider using a decorative, high-impact plastic register. These are available with high-quality finishes, and they're completely rust-proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on floor registers and grilles.
How Do I Choose a Floor Register?
There are several factors that go into choosing a floor register. First off is making sure you get the correct size register for the existing vent opening. Simply remove the old register and measure the length of the opening by the width. This is the approximate size register you should purchase. Next, you can choose from something like you had previously or go with a new style, material or color to accent the features of the room into which it is going. Once you have decided on a new register, simply place it into the vent opening and you are done.
How Do I Choose the Color of My Floor Registers?
When considering a color or finish, think about what tones and furnishings you currently have in your home. Do you have dark floors or lighter colored shades? What is the room this will be in, a living room, kitchen or bath? All of these can influence the color and finish of your floor register.
Do All Floor Registers Need to Match?
For consistency and a uniform look, your floor registers can match one another. If you have wood floors, it might be difficult to exactly match the wood tone of your flooring with a wood register. In this case metal registers may be a better choice for matching.
What Material Is Best for Floor Registers?
Floor registers come in several different materials to accommodate a variety of flooring and decorative room styles. Metal registers in matte black, satin nickel or polished brass with a distinctive pattern can add a stylish touch to both wood and carpeted floors. Wooden vents can be a match for your hardwood floors. And plastic vents can be useful in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms thanks to their easy cleaning ability.
What Is the Difference Between a Floor Register and a Vent?
A floor register has a damper, or a lever with adjustable fins, which can direct the flow of air or close it off completely. A vent is a cover for an air duct that does not have adjustable fins and is there to diffuse both the outflow and intake of air for cooling and heating.