Tools You Will Need for Door Measurements

Frank Fisher 2 min read

Front door standard sizes in inches are:

28 x 79.5

30 x 79.5

32 x 79.5

34 x 79.5

36 x 79.5

Everything else, e.g. 24, 26 x 80 exterior door is a custom size, which adds to the price.

Accurate dimensions are crucial when measuring a door for replacement or installation.

The Required Tools Are:

Pencil and paper.
Measuring tape.
Level.

Table of Contents

How Do You Measure An Existing Door for Replacement?

To ensure accuracy, always double-check your measurements. If you’re still unclear, it’s a good idea to speak with an expert from Vinyl Light.

Here are the Steps Toward Measuring an Exterior Door:

Measure door width – take a measurement of the door’s width at the top, middle, and bottom, going from one side to the other.
Measure door height – take a measurement of the door’s height from the ground to the top of the left, right, and center frame.
Measure the depth and width of the jamb.
Identify the swing direction.
Verify the locations of the handle and lockset.
Make photos of your door.

How Much Smaller Should a Door Be Than the Frame?

The dimensions of a door and its frame must be appropriate for the door to be installed and work properly.

The area in the wall where the door will be inserted is known as the rough opening. To accommodate the door frame and allow for changes during installation, the frame dimensions are larger than the actual door size.

Generally, the rough opening for the frame is 2 inches more in width and 1 inch more in height than the prehung door dimension. For instance, a typical 36 by 80-inch door slab with a frame is 37.5” x 82.25”, would require the RSO of 39.5 by 83.25 inches.