Discover the average door height before you start your next home improvement project! For homeowners who find themselves wondering, “Is there an average door height?” while planning their next renovation, we have the answer: Yes! Find out the average door height, along with other crucial measurements, below.

What Is the Average Door Height?

At most hardware stores, shoppers can find interior doors available in standard heights, widths, and thicknesses. All passageway door measurements must comply with modern building codes. The average door measures 80 inches in height, 32 inches in width, and 1⅜ inches in thickness. However, other door sizes may also be available and in stock.

Is there an average door height for closets? Yes, there is. Closet and utility doors often come in smaller sizes than passageway doors. They usually measure 78 inches in height, 24-30 inches in width, and 1⅜ inches in thickness.

Hardware stores also stock wider passageway doors that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some doors and doorways measure 36 inches wide to allow for the ingress and egress of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Some homeowners like to install 36-inch-wide slabs as their front doors for aesthetics, even if no one who lives in the home suffers from a disability.

Finally, shoppers may discover that a few doors have slightly thicker profiles. Often made from hardwood or containing insulation, some front doors measure 1½ or 1¾ inches in thickness.

What about Door Jamb Measurements?

Homeowners will find that most door jambs bear conventional measurements, too. For pre-hung doors, the standard thickness of a door jamb is 4-9/16 inches, which is slightly thicker than walls constructed with 2x4 pieces of wood. You may also come across pre-hung doors with door jambs that measure 6-9/16 inches in thickness, suitable for walls constructed out of 2x6 pieces.

Purchasing a Pre-hung Door

If you’re planning to replace a door as part of your home improvement project, purchase one that’s smaller than the rough opening in the wall. You will likely need to insert a few shims to ensure a proper fit; however, buying a pre-hung door larger than your rough opening would require wall alterations.

Purchasing a Door Without Door Jambs

If you plan to hang a new door on your existing door jambs, you will need to purchase a slab door. Choose one with larger dimensions than your door jambs. You can always plane it down to perfectly fit your door jambs. However, if you buy a door with smaller measurements than your door jambs, you will see gaps between the door and the jambs once you hang it.

Keep in mind that hanging a slab door presents far more challenges than installing a pre-hung door. You will probably need to create or alter the jamb’s indentations to fit the hinges and strike plate. Also, you should expect to spend a lot of time making minor adjustments because even slight miscues can cause a door to close improperly.

Other Types of Doors and Their Standard Sizes

Maybe you referred to a sliding glass door or even French doors when you asked yourself, ‘Is there an average door height?’ In those cases, we’ve got you covered. Check out these average measurements for specialty doors:

  • Sliding glass doors - 80 inches tall, 72 inches wide
  • French doors - 79.5 inches tall, 72 inches wide
  • Pocket doors - 80 inches tall, 30 or 36 inches wide

Hey there! Have you ever hung your own door? If so, contact me and let me know how it went. Include any tips or tricks for hanging a door, and I will add them to the article during the next update.