Ever caught yourself measuring a doorway, wondering if that stylish door you spotted online will actually fit your frame? You’re certainly not alone. Knowing the standard dimensions for bedroom doors isn’t just a matter of practicality—it’s about seamlessly enhancing the look and functionality of your space.
Typically, bedroom doors maintain a steady height of 80 inches, but the widths can vary quite a bit—from 24 to 36 inches. This range allows for a perfect fit whether your room is compact or more expansive, helping you tailor both the aesthetics and efficiency of your living areas.
So, if you’re embarking on a home renovation or simply updating your bedroom with a new door, understanding these key measurements can prevent any potential mishaps. Plus, it’s all about ensuring your new door isn’t just the right size but also complements the beauty of your home. Stay tuned as we dive into how to choose the right door size and share some handy tips to enhance your next home improvement project.
The Standard Bedroom Door Height and Width
Builders often consult local building codes when planning and installing doors to adhere to standard requirements. The typical door size mandated by many codes is 32 inches wide and 80 inches high.
However, the importance of bedroom door size might not catch your attention until you’re trying to maneuver a bulky piece of furniture through a too-narrow opening. Therefore, before finalizing the space for a door, make sure it’s wide enough to facilitate easy movement of items in and out. Always remember to check your local building code.
Bedroom doors fall under the category of interior doors and can vary in width from 24 to 36 inches depending on your specific needs. In the U.S., many builders follow the International Residential Code (IRC), which recommends a minimum width of 32 inches for interior doors to ensure unobstructed exit in emergencies and hassle-free furniture movement.
When measuring a door, it’s also crucial to consider the door’s thickness—typically 1¾ inches for most residential doors. This measurement is important when installing doorknobs and hinges, as hardware is often designed with door thickness in mind.
If you plan to reuse existing doorknobs and hinges, compare the measurements with those of the new door to ensure compatibility. Moving into an older home might reveal narrower doors, possibly requiring some demolition to fit a larger door. Remember that closet doors and utility room doors are generally smaller.
How to Measure the Bedroom Doors Size
Accuracy in measurements is key to ensuring a perfect fit when it comes to replacing or installing a bedroom door. Let’s dive into how to measure bedroom doors’ height, width, and thickness, ensuring you get it right the first time without any hiccups!
1. Height Measurement:
2. Width Measurement:
3. Thickness Measurement:
Accurately measuring your bedroom door’s height, width, and thickness is essential for a seamless replacement or installation process. Taking precise measurements ensures a perfect fit, minimizes any need for adjustments, and saves you time and hassle in the long run. So, grab your measuring tape and start transforming your space with a new bedroom door!
Why Use A Wider Door?
Many people prefer to use a wider bedroom door in their houses, especially if they have plenty of space. This is because of the following reasons.
1. Enhances house aesthetics
If you have a huge house, wider doors would fit the house’s overall design. They also make the space look bigger and give your house an appealing outlook. On the other hand, some people just love the look large doors give their homes.
So if you are a fan of wider doors, don’t let anything stop you from getting one for your bedroom. In this case, you can consider installing a sliding barn door or a regular swinging door.
2. Eases movement of furniture
We’ve all experienced the hustle of moving from one house or apartment to another.
The most challenging part is moving furniture in and out. Therefore, wider doors make moving furniture and other huge house items easy.
3. It makes it easy for dwellers to move in and out
Having broader and taller doors is handy when the people living in the house are huge.
It allows people to get in or out at once without moving aside for a person to pass, which is handy in an emergency.
What About a Bedroom with Doors to a Balcony or a Backyard?
Although the standard size of interior doors ranges from 26 -32 inches, it’s common practice that some bedrooms may have doors leading to the balcony or backyard.
These rules do not apply to doors leading to the outside. As such, you can make your entrance as broad as you desire.
What Should be the Size of the Bathroom Door Inside a Bedroom?
The bathroom door is classified under the interior doors, and their size ranges from 24 to 32 inches, depending on your space.
Does a Bedroom Need A Door?
If you are high on privacy, yes, you need a door. But if you don’t mind people taking a peek at your bedroom, then, by all means, stay without. But in real estate terms, a room is a bedroom with a door, window, bathroom, and closet.
However, it’s not a must to have a closet or a bathroom to be considered a bedroom. They are only there to make it more comfortable and livable.
How to Choose the Ideal Bedroom Door
When choosing your bedroom door, you must consider the following factors:
Home
Many factors come into play when choosing a bedroom door, but the type of home is the leading reason. This is because the type of door you use in an apartment differs from the one you’d use in your home.
The type of building also plays a crucial role because a short bedroom door would look weird in a building with a high ceiling. So, look at your home; you can consult an interior designer before chucking cash for your doors.
Budget
Before deciding on a bedroom door, you must look at your finances. This is because doors are of varying sizes, and the material differs. And as such, their prices will also vary.
So, once you’ve got your measurements, research and compare door prices from your local vendors. You can also check online and then settle for the one that fits your needs and budget.
Height of the ceiling
The height of your bedroom door will also be determined by how high your ceiling sits.
If your bedroom has high ceilings, then it would be aesthetically pleasing to have tall doors, as small-sized doors would look out of place. You should note that your bedroom door enhances the dimension of your space.
How tall are the residents
When choosing your bedroom doors, you must consider the height of the dwellers. If you have tall people in your house, say 5’9 ft, you must ensure that your doors are high enough so that they don’t have to bend over.
This is because people will move in and out of the room, and the chances of forgetting to bend over are high, causing them to bump their heads.
No. of people in the house
When designing and choosing doors, many homeowners do not consider the number of people living in the house.
It’s a pretty crucial factor because if several people need to move out of a room simultaneously, the bedroom door should be wide enough to accommodate two people.
This also comes into play in an emergency where people must vacate a room at once. Also, the width comes into play when someone uses a wheelchair in the house. And for this, you must ensure that the door is not less than 36 inches wide.
Available space
The size of your door is also determined by the space available. For instance, if you’ve limited space, you will likely choose a small-sized door. But if you’ve got plenty of space, then your doors can be as large as you want.
However, always ensure that the size of your bedroom door enhances the overall house design.
Operational style
Another factor to consider when choosing a bedroom door is the operational style. You can select the barn door styles, which are slides of tracks or the typical door fitted with hinges. Many people opt for a swinging door because it’s easy to install and offers a wide variety.
A sliding door is an option if you don’t have plenty of space for a swinging door, as they just slide behind the wall and do not cause an obstruction or occupy much space. The downside is that they are quite a feat to install
The material used to make the door
The material used to make the door comes into play. Most bedroom doors are made from wood, boards, or a combination. Some are also made from fiberglass, steel, or metal. So, before spending money on a bedroom door, research and select the material that fits your house.
Yes, wooden doors are affordable, and many homeowners choose, but it’s wise to note that they have a shorter lifespan.
What Can You Use If You Don’t Have A Bedroom Door?
If you don’t have a bedroom door, don’t panic because alternatives guarantee your privacy exists. These include:
Advantages of the Types of Door
Curtain
You can install a string curtain if you don’t have a bedroom door. Ensure that it has prints that enhance your house’s aesthetics. The upside of string curtains is that they are affordable and easy to install.
You can use several types of curtains in place of a bedroom door, including light and airy curtains or heavy-clothed curtains.
Sliding barn door
Sliding barn doors are a plus if you have limited space. They come with everything you need to install. And the upside is you don’t need to hire someone, as you can do it yourself.
Pocket door
These are pretty nice as they fit in with the wall, making them pretty concealable. They are great if you don’t have plenty of space. Pocket doors are eco-friendly, highly durable, scratch and stain-resistant, and easy to clean and maintain.
Room dividers
Room dividers are perfect; you can fold them and store them away when you don’t need them. It is portable, making it ideal for moving around when you need privacy at various parts of your house.
Conclusion
Bedroom doors are part of your house’s interior design and should get as much input as any other part. When outfitting your bedroom doors, consider everyone living in the house and their needs.
Although the standard size of a bedroom door ranges from 24 to 32 inches, a wheelchair person would need a 36-inch-wide door. Also, consider your area of residence and ensure that the type of door you choose is within your budget and can withstand harsh climatic conditions. It should also be easy to install and maintain.