Door Hardware 101: Types, Functions and Finishes

When shopping for door hardware, consider this basic information:

• Make sure the hardware will work with your door thickness. A thickness of 1-3/8 inches is standard for interior doors, while 1-3/4 inches is standard for exterior doors.
• Note the hardware's required bore hole size: the diameter of the hole in the door. Replacement hardware needs to fit your door, and hardware for a new door requires a hole saw in the correct size. Typically, deadbolts need a bore hole 1-1/2 or 2-1/8 inches in diameter. Levers and handlesets usually need a hole 2-1/8 inches in diameter.
• If you're shopping for replacement hardware, check the required backset. This is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the bore hole. The most common are 2-3/8 inches and 2-3/4 inches, but some hardware can fit multiple backsets. Make sure the hardware you select fits your door. For more help, see our guide to determining your door backset.
• Notice the latch or bolt configuration. Round-corner and square-corner configurations have a plate surrounding the latch or bolt on the edge of the door. Hardware with a drive-in configuration has no plate. Purchasing a replacement lockset that matches the current configuration simplifies installation. You can also find hardware that works with multiple configurations.
• Make sure the hardware is right for the application. Entry hardware provides security for exterior doors. Privacy hardware has basic locks and is used on doors for bathrooms and bedrooms. Passage hardware works for interior doors that don't require locks — closet or family room doors, for example. Dummy hardware can serve a decorative purpose — matching operational hardware on double doors — or can serve as knob or lever pulls on interior doors that don't require functional hardware.
• When looking at an entry door lock or lockset, check the security grade. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) designates three levels. Grade 1 is the highest. Grade 2 offers mid-level security, while Grade 3 provides basic security.
• You can typically get multiple entry door locks set (keyed) to work with the same key. However, you may not be able to do this with locks of different brands. Locks with do-it-yourself rekeying let you configure the lock without removing the hardware from the door. This feature can be helpful if you've lost a key and want to assure it can't be used to gain entry to your home.
• Look for designs that resist attempts to defeat an entry lock, such as picking, bumping, prying and drilling.
• When shopping for storm door handles and screen door handles, check to see if they require specific mounting hole locations, thicknesses or door swing. Some storm door handlesets work for new door installation only, while others are designed to replace existing hardware.

Door knobs are a common version of keyed entry hardware, offering traditional design and operation. They feature a latch that disengages when you turn the knob. Locking the knob prevents the latch from being disengaged from the outside without a key. The inside portion of the knob has a thumb turn to lock and unlock the door. Some models feature easy-to-use push-button locking on the inside and locks that disengage when you turn the inside knob.

Door handles or levers are designed for easy operation; they don't require the grasping and twisting motion of knobs. Pushing the handle down disengages the latch. As with knobs, locking the handle prevents the latch from being disengaged from the outside without a key. The inside portion of the handle has a thumb turn or push button that allows you to engage the lock. Some models disengage the lock when you operate the inside handle, offering a simpler means of exit. Door handles that are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant allow operation with one hand and with less grasping and less wrist twisting than standard models.

Door handles are left-handed, right-handed, reversible or universal. To determine what you need, look at the door from outside the house or room. If the hinges are on the left, look for a left-handed, reversible or universal handle. If the hinges are on the right, you need a right-handed, reversible or universal model.

Deadbolt locks create a second locking point for your door when paired with a locking knob or lever, giving you an additional measure of security. Some knob and lever sets include deadbolts. There are two types of deadbolts:

• Single-cylinder deadbolts require a key to unlock from the outside but unlock with a small knob or thumb-turn on the inside. They're good for doors that don't have glass an intruder can break to allow access to the knob. The design adds convenience and allows you to unlock a door more quickly in the event of an emergency, since you don't have to locate a key.
• Double-cylinder deadbolts require a key to unlock from the outside and the inside. They improve security if the door has glass near the lock, but they can take longer to unlock and are prohibited in some areas for some types of buildings. If you use a double-cylinder deadbolt, keep a key in a designated location for easy access in an emergency.

Handlesets add a bold, decorative touch to an entry door. They include an exterior handle, a thumb latch and a matching deadbolt. A knob or lever operates the latch from the inside. You can find handlesets with right-handed, left-handed, reversible and universal levers. The deadbolt may be single- or double-cylinder, depending on the model. As with door handles, you can find ADA-compliant handlesets. Manufacturers may offer matching, nonfunctional dummy handlesets to complement the functional hardware on a double door. If you're replacing a handleset, look for adjustable models that make it possible to use the existing installation holes in the door.

Storm door handlesets for new installations work with new storm doors that don’t include the hardware. Replacement storm door handlesets give you an easy way to update the look of a storm door. With both types, you can find lockable, lever-style designs with similar designs and finish options. They typically work on either side of the door. Handlesets might only be compatible with specific door models, so make sure the hardware you choose works with your door.

Some replacement storm and screen door hardware combine an exterior lever with an interior knob, while other handles operate with a push-button. You can also find basic screen door pull-handles with no latch.

There are other types of entry door hardware available to complete your door installation or upgrade.

Some hardware improves security:

• Door reinforcers and door jamb security hardware strengthen vulnerable areas of a door and door frame, making it more difficult for an intruder to force entry.
• Door viewers, sometimes called peepholes, are sets of lenses that install in an exterior door to give you a wide-angle view of the outside.
• Night latches are designed to be operated from the inside only.

Additional screen door and storm door hardware helps improve functionality:

• Pneumatic closers control how quickly and forcefully a door closes.
• Chain stops control how widely a door opens.
• Metal grilles protect door glass and screens from damage.
• Installation kits include hardware such as pull-handles, hinges and hook-and-eye closures.
• Replacement parts help you maintain your door.

Door hardware is available in finishes to match or help define your home décor. Polished brass finishes work with many home styles, and you can find antique finishes designed to provide a vintage appearance. Look for brushed metals for a contemporary look and matte hardware for modern appeal. Some finishes are designed to change their appearance with wear.