Quick answer
A standard interior door is about 76 to 81 cm (30 to 32 in) wide and 198 to 203 cm (78 to 80 in) tall. Front doors are wider, around 84 to 91 cm (33 to 36 in). The clear opening you can actually move furniture through is roughly 5 to 6 cm (2 in) less than the door’s nominal width, so always measure the gap, not the label.
Door width is the number that decides whether a sofa, wardrobe, or fridge can get into the room at all, so it is worth getting right before delivery day. The catch is that the “30 inch door” on the label is the door leaf, not the space you move through. Once the frame, hinges, and door stop are accounted for, the real clear opening is smaller. Below are the standard sizes and how to measure what you actually have.
All measurements are approximate and vary by country, building age, and manufacturer. Always measure your own doors before ordering or moving large items.
Interior door widths
| Door type | Metric | Imperial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom / closet (narrow) | 610–686 mm | 24–27 in | Tightest common opening |
| Standard internal (UK) | 762 mm | 30 in | Most common UK size |
| Standard bedroom (US) | 762–813 mm | 30–32 in | |
| Wide internal | 838 mm | 33 in | |
| Standard internal height | 1981–2032 mm | 78–80 in | UK 1981 mm, US 80 in |
Front, external, and patio doors
| Door type | Metric | Imperial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard front door (UK) | 838 mm | 33 in | |
| Standard front door (US) | 914 mm | 36 in | |
| External door height | 1981–2032 mm | 78–80 in | |
| French doors (per leaf) | 610–762 mm | 24–30 in | Central mullion reduces the clear gap |
| Sliding patio door (opening) | 1500–2400 mm | 59–94 in | Only about half opens at once |
Accessible door widths
For wheelchair access, the number that matters is the clear opening, not the door leaf. US ADA guidance requires a minimum clear width of 813 mm (32 in). UK Part M recommends 775–800 mm (31–32 in) clear for internal doors on accessible routes, with wider openings where the approach is not head-on. Because the frame and open door eat into the leaf width, an accessible door leaf is typically 860–926 mm (34–36 in) wide.
How to measure the clear opening
Open the door fully and measure the narrowest gap the item has to pass through:
- Width: from the face of the open door (or the door stop) to the frame on the opposite side, not frame to frame.
- Height: from the floor to the underside of the frame head.
- Approach: note the space in the hall or landing on both sides, since you need room to turn a long item as it comes through.
The clear opening is usually 5–6 cm (about 2 in) less than the nominal door width. Taking the door off its hinges can recover most of that.
Checking that furniture fits
Getting a large item through the door is a separate question from fitting it in the room. For the item itself, compare its smallest cross-section against the clear opening, remembering that most furniture can be tilted or turned. The sofa-through-a-door guide covers the tilt test in full. To plan the room itself, upload your floor plan to Layoutr, set the scale, and place furniture at real dimensions to see what fits once it is in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard width of an interior door?
A standard interior door is about 76–81 cm (30–32 in) wide and 198–203 cm (78–80 in) tall. In the UK, 762 mm (30 in) is the most common internal door width; in the US, 30–32 in (762–813 mm) is typical for bedrooms, with narrower 24–28 in (610–711 mm) doors used for bathrooms and closets.
How wide is a standard front door?
External and front doors are wider than internal ones, typically 84–91 cm (33–36 in). The UK standard external door is around 838 mm (33 in) and the US standard is 36 in (914 mm). Double or French doors give a much wider opening but usually have a central mullion or a fixed leaf that reduces the clear passage.
What is the clear opening of a door?
The clear opening is the actual gap you can move through with the door open, measured from the door face (or stop) to the frame on the far side. It is roughly 5–6 cm (2 in) less than the door's nominal width because of the frame, the door thickness, and the stop. Always measure the clear opening, not the door label, when checking whether furniture fits.
What is the minimum door width for a wheelchair?
Accessible guidance calls for a clear opening of at least 81–85 cm (32–34 in). US ADA guidance specifies a 32 in (813 mm) minimum clear width; UK Part M recommends 775–800 mm clear for internal doors on accessible routes. That is clear opening, so the door leaf itself needs to be wider than the minimum.
Will my furniture fit through the door?
Compare the item's smallest cross-section against the clear opening, remembering you can tilt and turn most furniture. A sofa, for example, often goes through on its end or tilted, so its height and depth matter more than its width. See the sofa-through-a-door guide for the full method.
Plan the room, not just the doorway
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