If you’re ready to choose a replacement front entry door for your home, you’ll need to start by finding the size of your current installation. Gathering a few basic measurements takes moments to do, and this information will help you settle on an entry door style appropriate for your space.
A Few General Guidelines
Always gather the dimensions of the door from the inside when possible. You’ll want to record accurate measurements without exterior trims, lighting, mailboxes or accessories getting in the way. You can gather the information you need using a standard measuring tape. Most entry door manufacturers list product sizes in inches, so take measurements in this format for fewer conversions down the road.
Round your measurements up to the nearest inch to ensure a correct fit.
1. Measure Door Width
Stretch your measuring tape horizontally across the entry door. Ideally, you will take this measurement with the door in the open position from corner to corner. Remember that you are only taking the measurement of the door, so refrain from including any weatherstrip pieces or decorative attachments specific to your current installation.
Measure the width of the door in multiple spots to account for aging and imperfections. You’ll want to go with the largest measurement when purchasing a new front entry door. Most standard residential doors sit between 30 and 36 inches in width.
2. Measure Door Height
Open the entry door and measure from the bottom edge to the very top. This part of the measurement process may call for two people to ensure an accurate reading. Similar to the width, be sure to measure in multiple spots and take the largest measurement for your order. Residential entry doors are typically around 80 inches in height.
3. Determine Door Thickness
You can find the thickness of the door by running your tape measure along the inside edge of the installation. This measurement should be close or identical to the width of the side door jamb, the section of the frame where the door sits when shut. Do not include extended pieces of the door frame when gathering the width of the door jamb.
4. Record the Width and Height of the Door Opening
Gather the width and height of the open space where your new installation will fit. If you are only replacing the entry door without a new frame, take the inner dimensions of the current frame to verify that your purchase will fit the opening. Complete this step from the inside of your home as well as the outside to see if the frame materials are warping.
Reach out to Quality Overhead Door for Your New Entry Door
If you’re ready to replace your entry door, Quality Overhead Door offers stylish Clopay® products for all architectural layouts. We’ve been serving customers near Toledo for over three decades, and we’re well-known across our service area for having exceptional reviews. Check out our front entry door collections online today and contact us to learn more.
Additional Resources on Entry Doors:
- Why Won’t My Front Door Open
- How to Make Your Front Door More Secure
- How to Know When it is Time to Replace Your Front Door
- What to do if Your Front Door Lock Breaks