Doors come in all shapes and sizes, but the standard door rough opening is uniform. Knowing the specific door frame sizes and measurements helps when replacing or installing a new door. A rough opening is an unfinished opening that precedes the installation of a window, a patio door, or a prehung interior door. Rough openings should be slightly larger than the door or window being installed. This allows room for easy fitting and necessary shimming of the unit when it is being put in place. If the rough opening is the same size as the unit being installed then it is nearly impossible to ensure the opening and unit will be perfectly square - an absolute must for a proper installation.Door Rough Opening Sizes: Door Frame Sizes and Measurements
A rough opening is the designed opening in the wall interior which allows for the eventual installation of a door frame and door unit. As mentioned, the size of the rough opening is not the same as the size of the door frame and door unit, it is slightly larger. To ensure proper installation, there should be an even 1/8 inch gap between the unit and the rough opening for wood units and 3/16" for steel units. This gap ensures space for shimming and any minor adjustments which may be necessary during the actual installation.What is a Rough Opening for a Door?
The standard door sizes for interior and exterior doors can vary depending on the manufacturer and door opening. Standard interior door sizes are used for all types of homes, dating back to the 1950s. Standard interior door sizes are 2'8", 2'10" and 3'0" inches wide by 6'8" inches tall. Standard exterior door sizes have traditionally been wider than interior door sizes, mainly because of the need for functional insulation or the protection against weather elements. The standard exterior door sizes are typically 3 feet wide and 6 feet 8 inches tall.Standard Door Sizes for Interior & Exterior Doors
A pre-hung door is a door unit that includes a frame, a door, and hardware you can install quickly. When you purchase a pre-hung door, you would measure following the instructions on the brochure. The standard door opening for pre-hung doors comes in three sizes, namely 28 inches, 30 inches, and 32 inches. These measurements refer to the door size. Recent trends have shifted toward extending the door frames past the standard door size of 32 inches. Common door sizes for homes can range up to 42 inches.Brochure: Install Pre-Hung Interior Doors
An important aspect of closing off a room is framing a door opening. Framing a door rough opening is very similar to framing a window opening but with a few key differences. When framing a door opening, you would decide on the door size you want; the standard door opening for pre-hung doors is 28 inches, 30 inches, or 32 inches. Once you have the door size, you must construct the door frame. This is done by using lumber that is the same width as the door and attaching it to the wall studs. For a 28 inch door, the opening must be 30 inches wide, and for a 30 or 32 inch door, the opening must be 32 inches.How to Frame a Door Opening: 13 Steps (with Pictures)
The standard sizes of doors used in houses can vary depending on the door opening. Traditional standard door sizes are 28, 30, and 32 inches. The rough opening for each of these door sizes is 30, 32, and 34 inches, respectively. However, as homes become larger, and more architectural trends start to enter the market, homes are seeing an increase in door sizes. Commonly, door sizes in homes can now range up to 42 inches.What are the Standard Sizes of Doors in a House?
Measuring for a pre-hung interior door is a straightforward task. All you need is a measuring tape, a pencil, and your journal for notes. With your measuring tape, you will take three measurements of the door rough opening. The first measurement is of the opening’s width. Make sure to measure from the left side of the opening to the right. The rough opening for a pre-hung door should be 30 inches, 32 inches, or 34 inches. The second measurement is of the height of the door opening.How to Measure for a Prehung Interior Door
House designs can vary by type and application, but doors play a big part in home styles. While the materials used for creating a door can affect the design and style, the rough door opening size remains constant for interior door styles. Standard rough door opening sizes are 28 inches, 30 inches, and 32 inches. For wider openings such as double doors, the rough opening would be the sum of the two single door sizes. When it comes to interior door styles, traditional styles include the solid core doors, hollow-core doors, French doors, sliding doors, sliding closet doors, and barn-style doors. These styles are typically used alongside walls and partitions, while smaller panels and windows are used for bathroom and closet entries.House Designs: Different Interior-Door Styles by Type and Application
If you have a 36-inch door, your rough opening must accommodate both the pre-hung frame and the door itself. Therefore, the rough opening must be 38 inches wide and should be between 79 and 81 inches tall, depending on the height of the door. Remember that a rough opening should already be measure to the next inch, this allows for space on either side of the frame for secure fitting and eventual shimming. So, in this case, the 36-inch door calls for a 38-inch rough opening.What Size Rough Opening for a 36-Inch Door?
The types of doors used in building construction vary from function to function. Some of the common doors types include sliding doors, bi-fold doors, tilt and turn doors, French doors, Dutch doors, exterior doors, interior doors, and barn doors. For any of the door types used, the standard rough opening size applies. For pre-hung doors, the rough opening sizes are usually 28 inches, 30 inches, or 32 inches. Again, the rough opening should be slightly larger in width than the pre-hung unit itself to allow for fitting and shimming.Different Types of Doors Used in Building Construction