Door Handing Chart: Inswing and Outswing, Left Hand and Right Hand

Open the printable Door Handing Guide | Watch: Door handing explained

Door handing tells the manufacturer which way your door swings so the lock, latch, and handles are made for that door. You need it when ordering mortise locks, handlesets, levers, and many replacement doors. Print the guide at 100%, not scaled to fit the page.

How to Find Your Door Handing

1. Stand outside the room and close the door. Outside is the side you would lock with a key. If there is no lock, imagine one.
2. Find the handle side. Note whether the handle is on the left or the right.
3. Open the door. Does it push away from you or pull toward you?

• Handle on the left, door pushes open: Right Hand Inswing (RHI)
• Handle on the right, door pushes open: Left Hand Inswing (LHI)
• Handle on the left, door pulls open: Right Hand Outswing (RHO)
• Handle on the right, door pulls open: Left Hand Outswing (LHO)

Door Handing Questions

How can I tell if my door is left hand or right hand?

Stand outside the room facing the door. If the hinges are on the right, it is a right hand door. If the hinges are on the left, it is a left hand door. Then note whether it swings away from you (inswing) or toward you (outswing).

What does left hand hinge mean?

The hinges are on the left when you stand on the outside of the door.

What is right hand reverse?

A right hand reverse door has the hinges on the right and swings toward you when you stand outside. It is the same as right hand outswing (RHO).

Is there a left and right door handle?

Knobs work on either hand. Levers, handlesets, and mortise locks are often handed, and some can be reversed. Check the handing before ordering.

Guides That Use Door Handing

• Baldwin Entry Mortise Lock Guide
• Accurate Entry Mortise Lock Guide
• Mortise locks and parts
• Order a custom door