Door Hardware Handedness - Williams Gateworks
hardware guide

Door Hardware Handedness

Determining the correct handedness for your door hardware is essential for proper installation and operation. Follow our simple guide to identify whether you need left-hand or right-hand hardware for your custom gate.

learn the simple method below

Step 1: Identify the Outside

First, determine which side is the "outside" of the door

To determine handing for door sets, you must first determine which side is the outside of the door. This is the key to getting your hardware handedness correct.

Home Entry Door
If you are standing at the door to your home, and are going inside, you are on the OUTSIDE of that door.
Bedroom Door
If you are in a hallway, looking at your bedroom door, you are on the OUTSIDE of that door.
Bathroom Door
If you are standing in a bedroom with a bathroom attached, you are standing on the OUTSIDE of the bathroom door.
Garage to Home
If you are in your garage and going in to your home, you are on the OUTSIDE of that door.

Step 2: Determine Handedness

Now for the easy part...

Stand on the OUTSIDE facing the door. Whichever side the hinges are on determines the door handing.

If the hinges are on the right, it's a right hand door. If the hinges are on the left, it's a left hand door.

Visual Guide

Left Hand Door
Hinges on the left side when viewed from outside
Right Hand Door
Hinges on the right side when viewed from outside

Special Case: Outward Swinging Doors

Reverse Hand Doors

If the door swings out toward the outside then the handing is left handed reverse or right handed reverse depending upon which side hinges are on.

Most residential doors swing inward, but some gates and exterior doors swing outward. In these cases, you'll need to specify "reverse" handedness when ordering hardware.

Need Hardware for Your Gate?

Now that you know how to determine door handedness, let us help you select the perfect hardware for your custom gate. We offer high-quality bronze hardware designed to last a lifetime.

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