How To Measure An Exterior Entry Door For Online Shopping

Posted by doornmore on March 25th, 2013

A contractor replacing your exterior door has the knowledge to measure your door appropriately to ensure the proper door size is ordered. If you intend on doing the work yourself, then the following information can be helpful to you. Most new installations are based on the rough opening of the door; however, when you already have a door installed then it can seem more complicated than it is. The guide below will help reduce those questions you have.

Measuring the Door Jamb Width

• Begin your measurements by placing your measuring tape between the molding on the inside edge and the wall, where the jamb is.
• Measure the distance from the jamb edge to the molding on the opposite side in case the molding is not symmetrical. This will provide the width of the jamb.
• You should compare the width of your measurements to standard choices. Most jambs are 4 9/16 inches. This is for the width of your jamb only. Some jambs are 5 1/4" or 6 9/16 inches. If you find your door jamb is something different you may need a custom order or purchase the option that is the most similar. 

Measuring the Exterior Door Frame Size

Width: When measuring the width of the exterior front doors, you should add 1 ½” to the measurement. The measurement should be taken from inside the frames.

Height: Always adds 1 ¾ inches to a door’s height to ensure you have the proper one.

Above is way to take a rough measurement to see if the door would fit or not, but it is always better to remove the casing from inside to take the accurate size.

Measuring the Rough Opening

Door size must be correct for your prehung exterior front doors to fit right. A prehung door includes the frame ensuring it will hang properly within the frame. The frame is what becomes attached to the house by way of the jambs. There are studs behind the jambs which you nail or screw your door too. You can use shims to reduce flexibility between the jamb; however, it is best to get the right fit.

Exterior doors have hidden frames. The frames are behind the trim or casing, which is why you might need to remove any brickmold or casing you have on the way. In this way you can get the appropriate rough opening and door size. The rough opening should be measured based on the studs your current door is nailed to. You want to measure the distance from the overhead stud to the floor in order to get the appropriate height. Starting with the appropriate door sizes it will be easier to shop online for your exterior doors.

About the Author:

Shayann Behjati is the CEO of the US Door & More Inc.

He has studied Architecture & Design, and has been working in the design and manufacturing and field since 2001. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the woodworking and door industries.

US Door & More Inc. offers a range of exterior doors, wood entry doors, interior doors, fibreglass doors, pre hung doors and glass entry doors.