How To Measure For Doors Interior

## How to Measure for Interior Doors: A Comprehensive Guide Measuring for interior doors is a crucial step that ensures a perfect fit and seamless installation. Whether you're a seasoned DIYer or hiring a professional, accurate measurements are essential to avoid costly mistakes. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you measure for interior doors like a pro: ### Step 1: Determine the Door Type Before you measure, determine the type of door you'll need. Common interior door types include: - **Single Swinging Door:** Opens in one direction. - **Double Swinging Door:** Opens in both directions. - **Sliding Door:** Moves horizontally on a track. - **Pocket Door:** Slides into a wall cavity for space-saving. ### Step 2: Measure the Doorway Opening Use a measuring tape to determine the width and height of the doorway opening. Measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the opening, and use the widest measurement as your final width. Measure the height from the finished floor to the top of the doorway. ### Step 3: Measure the Wall Thickness Measure the thickness of the wall where the door will be installed. This measurement is necessary to determine the jamb depth and the size of the necessary casing. ### Step 4: Calculate the Door Size To calculate the door size, subtract the wall thickness from the doorway opening width. For example, if the doorway opening is 36 inches wide and the wall thickness is 6 inches, the door width should be 30 inches (36 - 6 = 30). Similarly, subtract 1 inch from the doorway opening height to calculate the door height. ### Step 5: Measure for the Jamb and Casing The jamb is the framing that surrounds the door and the casing is the decorative trim that goes around the jamb. To determine the jamb depth, add 1.5 inches to the wall thickness. To determine the casing width, add 1 inch to the door width. ### Step 6: Check for Square Use a level or square to ensure that the doorway opening is square. If the opening is not square, adjust the measurements accordingly to account for any discrepancies. ### Measuring for Sliding Doors Measuring for sliding doors is slightly different: - **Width:** Measure from the inside edge of the wall opening on one side to the inside edge on the opposite side. Subtract 3 inches for the track and overlap. - **Height:** Measure from the finished floor to the top of the doorway opening, and subtract 1 inch for the bottom track. ### Measuring for Pocket Doors Measuring for pocket doors is also unique: - **Width:** Measure the width of the doorway opening and add 2 inches for the pocket door frame. - **Height:** Measure from the finished floor to the top of the doorway opening and subtract 2.5 inches for the top and bottom tracks. ### Tips for Accurate Measurements - Use a measuring tape with inch markings. - Take multiple measurements to ensure accuracy. - If you're unsure about any of the measurements, consult a professional. - Always add an extra inch or two to your measurements for wiggle room during installation.