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How to Measure a Door for Replacement

Sep 20, 2024

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A man is measuring a door with a tape measure.

Every front door is different. When the time comes to replace your front door, it's important to measure the opening properly to ensure that the replacement will fit.

Woodland Windows and Doors sells front entryway doors and other doors in many many styles. We're your source for entry door replacement in Chicago. We want our clients to have choices, so we sell doors made from many materials and with many hardware options. We prioritize entry doors that have curb appeal, to help raise your home's value. We also provide a range of custom finishing options for windows and doors, so you can enjoy a custom aesthetic for your home.

In this article, we'll talk about how to measure a door for replacement. Here's what you need to know.

Tools You Will Need

Before you start measuring your door, you'll need the following tools for replacement:

Tape measure - Use a tape measure that's at least as tall as your door, plus a foot.
Pen and paper - Keep a pen and paper on hand for taking notes.
Step stool - Use a step stool to access the parts of your door that are above your head.

You may also need a partner to hold the tape measure in place. If possible, work with a partner to make this process easier for you.

How to Measure a Front Door

There are many different ways toways how to measure a door for replacement, depending on whether the door is currently hanging in the frame, whether there are sidelights, or whether the door is a single or double. Below are the instructions for replacing a door only - not the jamb.

How to Measure When Replacing Door Only (Not Jamb)

Measure the height. Measure the height of the door from top to bottom. Measure the height in three different places on the door (in the center, to the right of the center, and to the left). Record the tallest measurement.
Measure the width. Measure the width of the door from three different places (in the center, near the top, and near the bottom). Record the widest measurement.
Measure the depth. Open the door to measure the thickness. Record the measurement.

How to Measure a Front Door with Sidelights

Sidelights are windows on either side of the door. They're both decorative and functional, because they allow natural light into the foyer and allow homeowners to see when someone is at the door. When your front door has sidelights, it's important to measure sidelights so they can be replaced if needed.

Measure the width of the door as described in the section above.
Measure the width of the sidelights by measuring the distance between the inside of the jamb on both sides. Record the measurement.

Measure the door height as described in the section above.
Measure the height of the sidelight by measuring the distance between the inside of the top jamb to the inside bottom of the jamb. Record the measurement.
Measure the door thickness as described above.
Measure the thickness of the jamb (the wooden frame that holds the door in place). You may need to remove trim to do this. Record the measurements of both.

How to Measure a Double Door

To measure a double door, stand outside your home and measure the width across both doors. Measure in multiple locations on the door and record the widest measurement.
Measure the height of your double door standing outside your home, taking measurements from top to bottom. Measure the height in multiple places on the doors and record the largest number.
Measure the thickness of both doors, then record the largest measurement.

A room with a sliding glass door leading to a garden.

How to Measure a Sliding Door

Measure your sliding door on the side of the door without a lock (in most cases, this is the outside). Measuring a sliding door is different from measuring a hinged door, because hinged doors require there to be a gap between the door and frame, while sliding doors do not. This means you'll need to measure the entire sliding door opening.

Measure the width. Measure from the inner sides of the jamb. Measure in three different areas on the door and record the smallest number.
Measure the height. Measure starting from the top of the bottom track up to the top. Measure in three different areas on the door and record the smallest number.

Door Measuring Tips

Measuring a front door isn't as easy as you might think. Below are some to help ensure that your front door measurements are accurate.

Take notice of whether your door is inward swinging (swings into the room) or outward swinging (swings out into the yard). Also make note of which side the door handle can be found on (right or left). This is important information when replacing a front door.
If the home is older and the existing door doesn't fit well anymore, consider taking the measurement from the inside of the jamb instead of the door itself.
When installing a wooden door, keep in mind that wooden doors can expand and contract based on the humidity outside. Allow a clearance of an extra two to four millimeters to ensure that your wooden door fits at all times, even when it's humid.

Need a New Front Door? Get in Touch with Woodland Today!

When you need a new front door, work with the experts. Woodland Windows and Doors carries the best brands in exterior doors for homeowners in the Chicagoland area. We're the experts at window and door installation.

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