Door Handing Explained
Door Handing: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Door Orientation
Selecting the correct door handing is essential when purchasing doors for your home. However, the door industry uses two common methods to determine door handing, and understanding these is key to making the right choice. At US Door & More, we use the outside-facing method for determining door handing, and each of our product listings includes clear images to help you visualize the handing.
This guide explains both methods, highlights their differences, and ensures you select the correct handing when shopping with us.
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Two Common Methods for Determining Door Handing
1. The Outside-Facing Method (Used by US Door & More)
- Stand outside the room or building, facing the door.
- Inswing Doors:
- Hinges are not visible.
- If the door opens inward to the right = Right-Hand Inswing (RHIS).
- If the door opens inward to the left = Left-Hand Inswing (LHIS).
- Outswing Doors:
- Hinges are visible.
- If the door opens outward to the right = Right-Hand Outswing (RHOS).
- If the door opens outward to the left = Left-Hand Outswing (LHOS).








Quick Reference Table
Door Type | Swing Direction | Hinge Visibility | Handing |
---|---|---|---|
Single Door, Inswing | Pushes inward to the right | Hinges not visible | Right-Hand Inswing (RHIS) |
Single Door, Inswing | Pushes inward to the left | Hinges not visible | Left-Hand Inswing (LHIS) |
Single Door, Outswing | Pulls outward to the right | Hinges visible | Right-Hand Outswing (RHOS) |
Single Door, Outswing | Pulls outward to the left | Hinges visible | Left-Hand Outswing (LHOS) |
Double Door, Active Inswing | Pushes inward (primary right) | Hinges not visible | Right-Hand Active Inswing |
Double Door, Active Outswing | Pulls outward (primary left) | Hinges visible | Left-Hand Active Outswing |
2. The Hinge-Facing Method
The hinge-facing method is a simple way to determine door handing by focusing on the hinges' placement and the direction the door swings. Follow these steps:
-
Stand With Your Back to the Hinges
- Face the direction of the door's swing (whether it’s inward or outward) with the hinges directly behind you.
-
Observe Which Hand the Door Opens Toward
- For Inswing Doors (no reverse terminology):
- If the door swings inward to the right, it is a Right-Hand Inswing (RHIS).
- If the door swings inward to the left, it is a Left-Hand Inswing (LHIS).
- For Outswing Doors (reverse terminology):
- If the door swings outward to the right, it is a Right-Hand Reverse (RHR) (equivalent to a Left-Hand Outswing in the outside-facing method).
- If the door swings outward to the left, it is a Left-Hand Reverse (LHR) (equivalent to a Right-Hand Outswing in the outside-facing method).
- For Inswing Doors (no reverse terminology):




Comparison of Methods
To ensure clarity, here’s how the hinge-facing method (with reverse terminology) compares to the outside-facing method:
Door Swing Direction | Outside-Facing Method | Hinge-Facing Method (Reverse) |
---|---|---|
Pushes inward to the right | Right-Hand Inswing (RHIS) | Right-Hand Inswing (RHIS) |
Pushes inward to the left | Left-Hand Inswing (LHIS) | Left-Hand Inswing (LHIS) |
Pulls outward to the right | Right-Hand Outswing (RHOS) | Left-Hand Reverse (LHR) |
Pulls outward to the left | Left-Hand Outswing (LHOS) | Right-Hand Reverse (RHR) |
Key Takeaways
- Inswing Doors: Both methods use identical terminology.
- Outswing Doors: The terminology differs:
- Right-Hand Outswing (RHOS) = Left-Hand Reverse (LHR).
- Left-Hand Outswing (LHOS) = Right-Hand Reverse (RHR).
This aligns with industry standards and explains the distinction when switching between the outside-facing method and the hinge-facing method with reverse terminology.
Conclusion
At US Door & More, we use the outside-facing method, where the handing of outswing doors directly corresponds to the visible hinge placement and the swing direction when viewed from outside. Each product on our website includes detailed images and descriptions to make choosing the correct door handing clear and straightforward. If you have questions or need further clarification, our team is always here to help!