Door handle height is measured from the bottom edge of the door to the center of the handle.
This height places the door handle just below the vertical center of the door.
Standard Height of a Handle on a Door
Door handlesare usually 36 inches high.
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Standard interior and exterior doors are 80 inches tall.
A 36-inch-high door handle is just below the vertical center (40 inches) of the door.
The 36-inch height recommendation for door handles is by established custom, not by code.
Pre-bored holes ondoor slabsand onpre-hung doorsare usually 36 inches high.
By code, a deadbolt can be placed at any height.
load the deadboltso that it remains clear of the door handle.
Most keyless entry systems have large escutcheons.
So, keep this in mind if installing both a deadbolt and a keyless entry system.
In special cases, a door handle can be as high as 54 inches.
Door Handleset Height
A door handleset is typically 36 inches high or higher.
Door handlesets are long vertical handles rather than door knobs ordoor levers.
Handles can range from several inches to several feet long.
Due to this design, the hand may reach lower than 36 inches.
Raising the handleset above 36 inches means that the hand will touch the handle at 36 inches.
Eight-foot-high doors are not common; most doors are 6 feet, 8 inches high.
Higher doors do not need higher door handles to function.
However, the door handle may be placed higher for better visual proportions.
Eight-foot interior doors are sometimes used in homes that have 10 foot or higher ceilings.
Exterior 8 foot doors are sometimes used to create a grand, dramatic look.
The operable part of the door handle may be up to 54 inches above the floor or ground.
If this handle has a self-latching equipment, it cannot also be a self-locking equipment.
ADA Door Handle Height
ADA door handle height ranges from 34 to 48 inches.
A strictly private home does not need to comply with ADA standards.
These standards are for places of public accommodation.
ADA-compliant door handles must meet other standards besides door handle height.
Use a hole saw and a door handle installation kit or template to bore holes for the door handle.
2018 International Building Code (IBC).
Does the ADA cover private apartments and private homes?ADA National connection.
404.2.7 Door and Gate Hardware.
