Door Handle Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Size

Choosing a door handle by looks alone is the quickest way to end up with one that does not fit. Whether it is a main door pull handle or a handle for a room door, three measurements decide if it will sit correctly on your door. This guide shows you how to take each one with just a tape measure.

The three measurements that matter

1. Hole spacing (centre to centre). The distance from the centre of one screw hole to the centre of the other. This must match the holes already in your door, or the new holes you plan to drill.
2. Overall handle length. The full length of the bar or plate. It does not change whether the handle fits, but it decides how the handle looks on the door.
3. Door thickness. It decides how long the fixing screws or bolts must be.

Hole spacing is not the same as handle length

A pull handle is always longer than its hole spacing, because the bar extends beyond the two fixing points at each end. Two handles that look the same length can have different hole spacing. If you are replacing an old handle, unscrew it and measure between the centres of the two holes rather than measuring the handle itself.

Handle length and the look of the door

There is no single correct length, but a few simple rules help:

• Large, wide main doors suit longer pull handles. A short handle can look lost on a big door.
• Narrow room doors and cupboard doors look better with shorter handles.
• If you want a bold, modern look on a main entrance, choose a handle that is clearly longer than a standard one, and check that its hole spacing matches your door before you order.

Our range of main door handles lists the exact size details on every product.

Height from the floor

Door handles are usually fitted so that the centre of the handle sits at about 900 to 1050 mm from the floor, which is roughly hip to waist height for most adults. If you are replacing a handle, the easiest approach is to keep the existing height so it lines up with the other doors in the house.

Door thickness and screw length

Measure the thickness of the door edge with a tape or ruler. Interior doors are often around 35 to 45 mm thick, and main doors can be thicker. Thickness matters for two reasons:

• Through-bolt fixing (bolts that go through the whole door) needs bolts long enough to pass through the door and reach the handle on the other side.
• Screws that fix into the door face must be long enough to hold firmly but short enough not to come out of the other side.

Quick reference

Before you order: a two-minute checklist

• Measure hole spacing centre to centre, in millimetres.
• Measure door thickness.
• Note the handle height you want from the floor.
• Compare these with the size details listed on the product page.
• Not sure? Send us a photo of your door and the measurements on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.

Once your handle arrives, our guide on how to install cabinet handles and knobs covers marking, drilling and fitting, and the same steps apply to most door handles.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard height for a door handle?

Most door handles are fitted with the centre of the handle at about 900 to 1050 mm from the floor. If you are replacing a handle, matching the height of your existing handles keeps the doors consistent.

How do I measure hole spacing on a door handle?

Measure from the centre of one screw hole to the centre of the other, in millimetres. Do not measure the overall length of the handle, because the handle extends past the holes.

Can I fit a longer handle on the same holes?

Only if the hole spacing matches. A longer handle can still fit if its hole spacing is the same as your existing holes, but a handle with different spacing needs new holes in the door.

How thick is a normal door?

Interior doors are often around 35 to 45 mm thick, and main doors are often thicker. Always measure your own door before choosing screws or bolts.