Door hardware might not be something you think about every day, but it’s helpful to know the correct terminology when you’re talking to a professional. Whether you’re looking to update your home’s curb appeal, need to replace some old hardware or just troubleshooting, our helpful guide to door hardware will make the process easier by giving you the right language to use.
In this article, we cover:
Door Hardware Grading
Common Types Of Door Hardware
Parts Of A Door Knob
Parts Of A Door
Standard Door Hardware Measurements
Product grade levels are a standard defined by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to help consumers select the right hardware for their needs.
The current ANSI grading system has 3 grades and indicates more about the hardware than just security:
Grade 1 - is the highest performance
Grade 2 - moderate performance
Grade 3 - basic performance
Where a piece of hardware falls on the ANSI grading scale is determined with extensive testing in the following 6 categories:
Operational
Cycle
Strength
Security
Material Evaluation
Finish Tests
The BHMA grading system is simplified for consumers and rates locks with letters A, B, or C based on security, durability, and finish. The best possible BHMA grade is AAA.
The basic types of door hardware include:
Door Knobs/Handles - The mechanism that enables you to open and close the door is called a door knob, handle, or lever depending on the type of hardware you have. Learn about the most common types of door knobs & handles.
What are the parts of a door knob called? The essential parts of a door knob include:
Escutcheon - general term used for the decorative metal plate around a door handle/knob
Latch Strike Plate -this is the metal plate that is on the frame of the door where the latch enters to secure the door shut
Latch Plate or Face Plate - this is the metal plate that is on the door surrounding the latch
Latch - the piece of metal that extends from the door into the frame. This is what keeps your door shut and what is moved out of the way when you turn the handle or knob. Generally these are spring-action and will automatically extend when not acted upon or obstructed. The most common standard backset lengths of the latch are 2 ⅜ and 2 ¾
Spindle - also called plunger, tongue, torque blade; this is an inner rod that connects the knob/handle to the latch assembly
Door Hinges - The mechanism that attaches a door to the frame, enabling you to open and close the door. There are different types of hinges, but generally there are 2 - 3 per door opposite the knob-side.
Lockset - This term generally refers to the components that make up the complete assembly of the lock system, including the lock mechanism, knob or handle, keys, strike plate, face plate, and other accessories.
Deadbolt - The part of a lock that extends from the door into the frame, engaged by turning a key or knob on the lock, rather than by the action of a spring.
Door Frame - The supporting structure around a door, consisting of the jamb, sill, and head
Door Jamb - The vertical piece of the door frame running along the side of the door
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Door Head - Sometimes called head jamb; refers to the top of a door frame that sits horizontally above the door
Sill - The bottom of a door frame that sits horizontally against the floor
Threshold - Also sometimes called a saddle, this is the protective covering for the sill and is usually sloped outwards to help keep wind, water, and other elements from entering
Rail - The top rail, lock rail, and bottom rail of a door are the horizontal pieces situated at the top, middle, and bottom of the door respectively
Stile - The lock stile and hinge stile are the vertical pieces of a door on either the lock side or the hinge side
Doorway - The opening you walk through
Mullion or Mull - The vertical pieces of the door that run parallel to the stiles, typically making up the middle of the door. There are multiple mullions on doors that have a lock rail interesting horizontally
Casing - The decorative trim around a door
Weatherstripping - Material used to insulate the gaps around a door
Astragal - The hardware that is used to seal the gap between double doors, different from the mullion because it is attached to the door itself
Your doors may differ from the standard specifications, so it’s always a good idea to measure the one you’re working with before purchasing hardware. It’s sometimes possible to modify parts of the door like the bore hole, though it’s much easier to make sure you know what size hardware fits your door before you buy. Other factors to consider are the materials your door is made of, for example, hardware needs for wood and metal doors will likely differ.
Door hardware is probably not the first thing you'll notice in a room, but it's definitely not something to be overlooked. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...details like these make a big impact on the way a home feels, so I don't regret all the time I spent going back and forth on this!
With all the different styles, finishes and types of hardware to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start and how to narrow it down. I learned a whole bunch through the process of choosing our interior door hardware, and I'm going to break it all down here.
A good starting point is with the practicalities, and working out what kind of door hardware you will need in your home. I used our house plans to make a list of all the interior doors, and then tallied up the different types of hardware we would need:
Passage hardware (for doors that don't need to lock)
Privacy hardware (for doors that need to lock eg. bathrooms)
Dummy hardware (one-sided "fake" hardware for reach-in closets and the fixed side of a set of double doors)
Flush pulls (for our pocket doors)
With this list in hand, the next step is to consider the style of interior hardware that will work best with your home.
Door hardware is a great way to reinforce the overall design style of your home. It's subtle, but it really does make a difference. Although I'm definitely mixing it up with different decor styles, overall I want the bones of our home to feel timeless and classic, so I was drawn to more traditional hardware that would bring some age and depth to our new construction.
The other thing to take into consideration is the interior door style. Our interior doors are simple 2-panel shaker style which have the potential to feel very modern/minimalistic paired with clean-lined door hardware. Instead I opted for a classic rectangular rosette which has a decorative detail around the edge, along with simple Providence Knobs to hopefully achieve a more transitional look.
For the most part, this is the style of hardware I'll be using everywhere in the house, but there are a few doors that get special treatment. All the pocket doors (the office, laundry room and toilet room in the primary bath) will have 6" flush pulls. The dining room french doors leading to the back patio will have Merrimack Levers instead of knobs since they are exterior doors. And the kids' bedrooms upstairs will have Melon Knobs with Rope Rosettes for the closet doors—a fun little detail that will only be noticed once inside the room.
Overall, I am keeping the style as consistent as possible, but it can add interest to change it up a little, as long as it's done with intention.
Picking a finish was the hardest part of the process as there were so many good options to choose from. I changed my mind multiple times because there were a lot of different elements to consider.
My first consideration was the practicalities of each finish. I love the look of unlacquered brass and polished nickel, but could my perfectionist side handle the fingerprints? Probably not. For that reason, I decided to stick with a matte option.
That narrowed things down a lot, so at this point it was choosing something that would complement the door color (SW Modern Gray—a light taupe) and the other fixtures I had already decided on in the house. The hardware finish would essentially become the main metal finish in the house since it's repeated everywhere, so it was important for me to get it right.
I eventually landed on Oil Rubbed Bronze which is something I never would have considered at first. I think I'd discounted it as brass and matte black are having a moment right now, but when I took a step back and looked at how it might work in my home, I realized that Oil Rubbed Bronze could be the perfect match.
Emtek's Oil Rubbed Bronze finish is a beautiful rich black/brown with an aged feel. It provides that high contrast look—similar to matte black, but with more softness. It's a true "transitional" finish—it feels both modern and timeless, exactly what I wanted. It will complement the accent metal finishes I'm using (brass and nickel) and act as a neutral anchor to pull it all together.
I’m a big fan of mixing metal finishes when it’s done well. It adds a lot of depth and character to a space. However, my personal preference is to stick to one metal finish for all the interior hardware so that it feels cohesive throughout. I will be layering in different metal finishes in other areas—lighting, mirrors, and plumbing fixtures.
The one area I'm breaking my own rule (although you might not even notice) is with the flush pulls, which are actually solid bronze vs. brass with a bronze finish.
It's also a good idea to match hinges and accessories (eg. flush bolts, ball and catch) to knobs/levers. Emtek has matching hinges available for all their finishes.
To recap, here are my tips for choosing interior hardware:
1. Function goes first: make a list of what you need.
2. Consider the style of your home and your interior doors.
3. Mix up styles if you like, but don't overdo it.
4. Choose a finish that works with the style of your home—don't worry about trends.
5. Be consistent with your door hardware finishes throughout the house. Add accent metal finishes with lighting and other fixtures.
If you are on the hunt for hardware for your home then look no further! Emtek is such high quality and I cannot WAIT to see this beautiful hardware installed in the house—just a few short weeks away now.
Our home is built and I am thrilled with how the door hardware looks. It is timeless and looks like it belongs—exactly as I was hoping! Here's a few sneak peeks of our new home:
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