Lock Shop Direct measurement guide
Door Handing Guide: Left or Right Hand?
Use this guide to describe a door accurately before ordering handed locks, keeps, handles, panic hardware, gate locks or door closers.
Important: Handing terminology varies between manufacturers and product types. Record the viewing side, hinge position and swing direction, then check the product-specific diagram.
1. Record the objective facts first
Handing terminology is not completely universal. The safest approach is to record exactly what the door does before applying a left-hand or right-hand label.
1
Choose the viewing side
State where you are standing: outside, secure side, corridor side or the side on which the hinges are visible.
2
Record the hinge side
When facing the door from that stated side, are the hinges on your left or your right?
3
Record the swing
Does the door open towards you or away from you? Also record whether it opens into or out of the room.
4
Record the active leaf
For double doors, identify the leaf used first and whether the other leaf is fixed or secondary.
Use the chart as a starting point, then check the selected manufacturer’s handing diagram.
2. Common door handing convention
Under a commonly used convention, stand on the side where the door opens towards you and the hinges are visible:
- Hinges on the left: commonly described as a left-hand door.
- Hinges on the right: commonly described as a right-hand door.
Some manufacturers define handing from the opposite side or use terms such as left-hand reverse, right-hand reverse, DIN left or DIN right. Always follow the diagram supplied with the specific product.
3. Products for which handing matters
Lock cases and latches
Check latch bevel, deadbolt position and whether the latch can be reversed without dismantling the case.
Electric strikes and keeps
Record door swing, frame rebate, latch approach and fail-safe or fail-secure operation.
Door closers
Record hinge side, pull or push side, door or transom mounting and whether the door is single or double action.
Panic hardware
Confirm the door opens in the escape direction and identify active and passive leaves on double doors.
Handles and outside access
Lever/pad and offset furniture may be handed. Photograph both sides and record the required function.
Gates and specialty hardware
Gate locks, weld-on locks, digital locks and closers may use product-specific left/right conventions.
4. Double doors, rebates and double-action doors
For a pair of doors, record:
- Which leaf is active and opens first.
- Which leaf carries the lock, latch or panic device.
- Whether the meeting stiles are rebated.
- Whether the doors open in the same direction or are double action.
- Whether a closing coordinator or sequence selector is fitted.
For double-action doors, left/right handing may not apply in the same way. Identify the closer, pivot or floor spring model and mounting position instead.
5. How to photograph the door for identification
Take one photograph from each side showing the complete door and frame. Add a close-up of the hinges, lock edge and any existing product label. Tell us which photograph is the outside or approach side and draw an arrow showing the opening direction.
Best wording to send us
“Viewed from outside, the hinges are on the left and the door opens away from me into the building.” This is clearer than sending only “left hand”.
Still not sure which product you need?
Send our team clear photographs and your measurements before ordering. Please include:
- A full photograph of the door from both sides.
- A close-up of the hinges and lock edge.
- Which side is outside or the approach side.
- Whether the door opens towards or away from that side.
- The product being replaced and its manufacturer.
This guide is intended to help identify and measure replacement hardware. Product designs, terminology and handing conventions can vary by manufacturer. Always compare the complete product specification and fitting instructions. Where a door or fitting forms part of a fire escape, fire door, powered system or other safety-critical installation, obtain advice from a competent person before ordering or altering the hardware.