Standard Interior Door Sizes Explained

As with many things, there is rarely one solution that fits all situations. The same is true for doors inside the house. Most doors fit into more common sizes, but not always. Knowing which one is right and how to go about picking or ordering the right door can be tricky. There is nothing worse than ordering and waiting for a door to arrive, only to find there is no way it will fit. To help alleviate this stress, our goal is to present the standard interior door sizes explained simply and clearly.

Measuring for an Interior Door

Here at Nick’s Building Supply, we wholeheartedly agree that browsing through interior door options is a whole lot of fun. With so many gorgeous solid wood interior doors for sale, it’s hard to stop daydreaming and start planning. However, before you fall in love with a door, make sure it will fit where you want it to. To do this, the current door and entryway must be carefully measured.

Measure everything and carefully note it down. You will want to include the door width at the top, middle, and bottom inside the frame as well. Also, you will need the height, and it is recommended to take multiple measurements as well just to ensure everything is straight, the same as with the width. Crooked doorways will likely require a little extra work ahead of time to make fitting the new door go as smoothly as possible.

Obtain measurements of the jam width, as well as the width of the previous door, and the size of the frame. If you are planning on any major renovations that will allow for differentiates, be sure to measure out the planned difference. Consulting closely with a builder is also highly advised to ensure any construction goes without a hitch.

Standard Interior Door Height

For the most part, door heights do not get too eccentric and generally, all interior doors tend towards one size. However, depending on the age or style of a home, there may be some significant differences. As always, measure with great care.

Most homes have 80” doorways which come to about six and a half feet. This is of course more than enough headroom for almost any guest. This height gives just enough impression of a room while still leaving space above between the door and the average ceiling.

For older homes or ones with unique styles of construction, other options may be available. Houses with high or vaulted ceilings likely have a few rooms with more dramatic passageways. Other taller door sizes include more commonly 82” which comes to 6.8 feet and 84” which comes to a noticeably larger seven feet doorway. Lastly, there is 96” which comes to a stunning statement doorway of eight feet in height.

Standard Interior Door Width

As with standard exterior door sizes, interior door sizes are more about practicality than they are about aesthetics. Door width is all about accessibility, though unusual sizes can impart a certain impact. Wider than usual doorways can confer a sense of extra space and openness. They also afford easier passage when hosting guests or for large families that frequently bottleneck at doorways.

For most people and homes, the average width of 30” suffices just fine. That comes to two and a half feet which is plenty of shoulder and elbow room for even the burliest of guests. The next width size is 32” which will impart just a slight difference, visually. It’s enough to notice but mostly will be felt when guests pass through any doorways with that extra bit of wiggle room.

The last option is 34” which comes to just shy of three feet wide. The purpose of this larger entryway is to allow for an easier pass for people with disabilities. Wheelchairs and walkers may be difficult to navigate around a 30” passageway as they are much wider than the user’s shoulders or hips. The extra four inches ensures most doorways will not be an issue of frustration down the line for any disabled guests or family members.

Standard Door Thickness

Another detail that can throw off a project is thickness. We just assume all doors are the same thickness and always have been. Before doors were mass produced in inferior materials, wood doors were custom made for every situation.

Pantry doors are often light and thin. Bedroom doors are heavier and provide more privacy. Most doors in the house will have a medium thickness that is not too heavy to shift or too delicate. Even thicker doors are sometimes available for an extra impressive weight and sound resistance which hearken back to the luxurious dens and halls of old.

The majority fall into a measurement of 1 3/8”, with more unique options such as 1 ½”, 1 5/8”, and 1 ¾”. For the most part, doors commonly found on the market do not exceed far over one-inch thickness. The thicker a door is, the heavier it will be to swing open and shut, thus generally inconvenient for day-to-day usage. While throwing open massive double oak doors is quite dramatic, most people do not find it very practical. The very slight difference in standard sizes can be tricky, so the jam and previous door should be very carefully measured and checked.

Common Specialty Door Sizes

Finally—all standard interior door sizes explained clearly and straightforwardly. At Nick’s Building Supply, you will not have to fret over details. With just the basic measurements, you can be sure any of our doors fit. We offer pre-hung options and almost all are already geared towards popular sizes such as 80” tall and 30” wide.

For the more dramatic rooms or the creative home decorator, they are also double-wide options. Double doors are a seldom appreciated choice for homes despite their grandeur and beauty. What is more, sizing for them is as simple as sizing for a standard door. Simply double the width measurement. Most double doors clock in regularly at 60” wide and 80” tall, making them easy to plan for.

Standard Interior Door Sizes Explained