Whether you’re purchasing a new door or having one custom-built, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. You’ve probably thought about the style, color, and material, but what about the door swing direction? There are technically four ways a standard door can swing. Read on so you can decide which swing direction is best for your home’s layout!
(Image from Bighorn Iron Doors)
What’s the Difference Between Inswing and Outswing?
Let’s first break down the four different ways your door can swing when opened:
- Right Hand Inswing: A door you open from the right that swings forward and away from you
- Left Hand Inswing: A door you open from the left that swings forward and away from you
- Right Hand Outswing: A door you open from the right that swings toward you
- Left Hand Outswing: A door you open from the left that swings toward you
Do Doors Have to Swing a Certain Way?
When homes are being constructed, builders generally adhere to standard door swing practices. These standards exist for a reason, as they want to prevent doors from blocking the flow of traffic in a home.
We’ll explain these norms below for both exit and interior doors, but these aren’t rules you have to adhere to. There are situations where it’s beneficial to deviate from these norms, such as making a home more accessible or safer for elderly people. For example, homes for older folks may have bathroom doors that open out (outswing), as falling in the bathroom could result in blocking the door if it swung inward.
What Direction Should Exit Doors Swing?
Most homes have exit/exterior doors with an inswing. Having an exit door open inward is ideal because the hinges will be placed inside the home, making it inaccessible to burglars. That said, if you have a strong wrought iron door and other forms of security, having an exit door with an outswing shouldn’t be a concern.
A notable exception to this practice exists for homes in areas with harsher weather conditions. For homes that may be exposed to high winds and flooding, it’s often preferred to have an exit door with an outswing. This helps prevent wind from pushing the door open and from having water seep into the home.
(Image from Bighorn Iron Doors)
What Direction Should Interior Doors Swing?
Traditionally, the design of the room determines whether a door should swing from the left or right. Regardless of direction, interior doors usually have an inswing, preventing the door from blocking the hallway. Again, these are just general practices. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure your doors don’t block any passages or objects in your home, like a cabinet. If having a door with an inswing ends up blocking your toilet, for example, an outswing may be preferable.
Enjoy April Specials on Customizable Iron Doors
With Bighorn Iron Doors, you can shop doors of all swing directions or order customizable exterior doors and interior doors. With our custom iron doors, you can select your preferred swing direction, style, color, glass type, and more. Of course, we also have countless options in stock that you can purchase today. Here are a few top models among our affordable April specials:
- Right Hand Inswing: Story Medium Copper Doors – was $7,625, now $3,050
- Left Hand Inswing: Dolce Flat Black Doors – was $9,000, now $3,600
- Right Hand Outswing: Linda Medium Copper Door – was $8,263, now $3,305
- Left Hand Outswing: Buttons Left Hand Door – was $5,400, now $2,160
Buy Iron Doors in Arlington with Bighorn Iron Doors
As the largest distributor of iron doors in the country, we pride ourselves on our massive inventory of gorgeous, secure, and long-lasting doors. We encourage you to view our wrought iron doors, steel French doors, pocket doors, pivot doors, and more in our gallery.
With a 100% satisfaction guarantee and free local delivery, you can count on Bighorn Iron Doors to provide excellent customer service. If you have any questions, please reach out by calling (833) 811-7199, emailing sales@bighornirondoors.com, or filling out our contact form.
